LSE SU China Development Forum 2015: Paths to Modernisation- 1730 Session

Summary

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Podcast Summary

LSE SU China Development Forum 2015: Paths to Modernisation – 17:30 Session

Date: February 7, 2015
Host: LSE Film and Audio Team
Speaker: Professor Zhou Han Min (Vice Chairman, Shanghai Committee, Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference)
Special Segment: Forum closing remarks and reflections

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Episode Overview

This final session of the LSE SU China Development Forum 2015 features a heartfelt and forward-thinking closing address by Professor Zhou Han Min. He reflects on the spirit and achievement of the day’s event, extends gratitude to all participants, and outlines his three core expectations for China’s ongoing modernization: maintaining openness, embracing reform, and pursuing development with determination. Professor Zhou’s remarks blend personal anecdote, historical reflection, and a global perspective on China’s role in the world.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Expressing Gratitude

(00:24–03:54)

• To the Organizers:
  Professor Zhou praises the student-run China Development Society for its professionalism, heartfelt arrangements, and a strong sense of responsibility. The event’s volunteer-driven spirit particularly impressed him.

  “Frankly, this is the only one organized wholly by students themselves as volunteers. So the spirit of volunteerism is something we appreciate so highly.” (B, 01:40)

• Memorable Moment:
  Zhou presents a personal gift, a silk-bound collection of Confucius quotations, to a student leader, symbolizing enduring gratitude and the value of wisdom.

  “This is my personal gift to you. This is Silk Maid quotations by Confucius. Silk mate never fade out.” (B, 01:54)

• To the Speakers:
  Commends the diverse contributors, highlighting the constructive and vivid exchange of ideas.

  “We share whatever we could while we live. Disagreements as agreements. So this is a wonderful forum.” (B, 02:56)

• To the Audience:
  Thanks attendees for their enthusiasm and commitment, reflecting on the importance of such “human gathering” for fostering global citizenship and cooperation.

  “Nationalities sometimes are so important. But we all deem ourselves as citizens of the world. We hold the responsibility for peace, development, and harmony for this society.” (B/C, 03:33–03:54)

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2. Three Expectations for China’s Future Path

(03:54–10:14)

a. Sustaining Momentum of Openness

“With Passion”
(04:14–05:53)

• Reviews China’s progressive history of opening up since 1978, including Special Economic Zones, joining the WTO, and establishing the Shanghai Free Trade Zone.
• Stresses that openness has been forged “with pressure, not pleasure,” and calls for continued passionate engagement with the world.

• “I do hope China will never lose its momentum of openness to the outside with passion, because passion is something to mean the further step of success.” (B, 05:38)

b. Advancing Reform with International Vision

“With Vision”
(05:53–08:52)

• Notes the importance of participating in multilateral and regional initiatives (e.g., WTO, TPP, APEC), arguing that international integration is essential for national success.
• Quotes Dr. Sun Yat-sen on adapting to the major trends of the world:

  “The founder of the Republic of China, Dr. Sun, used to say the major trend of the world, with its tide moving so fast, if you get along, you will survive. If you go against, you will die. ... We need to get along.” (C, 08:06)

• Underscores China’s aspirations to not just keep up, but to proactively shape new partnerships and frameworks for cooperation.

c. Pursuing Development with Determination

“With Determination”
(08:52–10:13)

• Acknowledges China’s complexities and international perceptions—both positive and negative—but insists that hope and resilience prevail.
• Emphasizes China’s commitment to global responsibility as a founding member of the UN.

  “Just because you are a member of the international community, you should get along with the understanding, sympathy, and recognition by the international community. ... China is a country with hope. The hope is not only for the people of its country. It's also hope of the world.” (B/C, 09:26–10:13)

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3. Closing Sentiments

(10:13–10:36)

• Ends by quoting Winston Churchill, emphasizing the ongoing journey of China’s modernization:

  “This is not the end, not even the beginning of the end, but this is the end of the beginning.” (C/B, 10:16–10:30)

• Offers blessings of hope and gratitude to all present.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Volunteerism:

  “Frankly, this is the only one organized wholly by students themselves as volunteers. So the spirit of volunteerism is something we appreciate so highly.” (B, 01:40)

• On Openness:

  “We opened five places in 10 years as special economic zones ... Now we have 14 other alike in China.” (B/C, 04:37–05:12)

• On Vision:

  “China is no longer an isolated island in the world.” (C, 07:37)

• On Determination:

  “China is a country with hope. The hope is not only for the people of its country. It's also hope of the world.” (B/C, 10:13)

• On the Forum’s Importance:

  “Frankly, that's the greatest aim for such kinds of academic forum.” (B, 03:54)

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Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:24: Prof. Zhou begins closing remarks, expresses gratitude to organizers
• 01:54: Gift of silk Confucius quotations presented
• 02:51: Gratitude to speakers and audience
• 03:54: Transition to expectations for China’s modernization
• 05:53: First expectation: Openness with passion
• 06:53: Second expectation: Reform with vision
• 08:52: Third expectation: Development with determination
• 10:16: Churchill quote—“end of the beginning”
• 10:36: Blessings and conclusion

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Conclusion

Professor Zhou’s closing address provided a fitting capstone to the forum, merging gratitude with a persuasive vision for China’s engagement with the world. His observations blend historical perspective, pragmatic optimism, and a call for international cooperation, offering both inspiration and substantive food for thought to the forum’s participants and listeners alike.

Transcript

[A]

We have now come to the last part of the forum. Professor Zhou Han Min, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Shanghai Committee, will be delivering the closing speech. Let's put our hands together to welcome Professor Zhou.

[B]

Ladies and gentlemen, dear students, it's really more than a great honor for me to make something as a closing remark for today's very wonderful forum. I think I have three gratitudes to express together with another three expectations for China to go. I do hope that all of you will join me to express our gratitude so sincerely to the organizer for today's forum. This is China Development Society.

[C]

This is a student union.

[B]

They have done this great job with.

[C]

Professionalism, heartfelt arrangement, sense of responsibility, and.

[B]

What is more, efficiency for the job.

[C]

I have attended many forms of alike. Frankly, this is the only one organized.

[B]

Wholly by students themselves as volunteers.

[C]

So the spirit of volunteerism is something.

[B]

We appreciate so highly.

[C]

I have brought something from Shanghai, so cheer. Lady, please come over. This is my personal gift to you. This is Silk Maid quotations by Confucius.

[B]

Silk mate never fade out. Secondly, our gratitude to all speakers home and abroad. You came down to make a very vivid, meaningful, constructive exchanges of ideas.

[C]

Like an old, very old Chinese saying.

[B]

We share whatever we could while we live. Disagreements as agreements. So this is a wonderful forum. Thirdly, our gratitude to all the audience today. I've been told you have bought tickets to be here. I think it could worth of your doing. Do hope we can meet here or there for this or for that in the near future. Because through and by such kinds of.

[C]

Human gathering, we know it's so important. Nationalities sometimes are so important.

[B]

But we all deem ourselves as citizens of the world.

[C]

We hold the responsibility for peace, development.

[B]

And harmony for this society. Frankly, that's the greatest aim for such kinds of academic forum. I have now three expectations for China, my country and a country also important for the rest of the world.

[C]

I do hope China is going to keep up with its momentum of transformation with passion.

[B]

For the previous 36 years of opening door policy adopted in China, all four waves of opening to the outside have.

[C]

Been so heavily forced with pressure, not.

[B]

Pleasure, the pressure of openness itself. We opened five places in 10 years as special economic zones, together with another 14 cities in a period of 1978 to 1988, we opened Pudong as the first showcase of opening up in a further step. Now we have 14 other alike in China.

[C]

We used 15 years and another five.

[B]

Months to join an international organization that.

[C]

Is WTO 1/4 of the total period.

[B]

After the formation of the People's Republic and now we have the first FTZ.

[C]

In Shanghai to launch another strong wave of opening up. I do hope China will never lose.

[B]

Its momentum of openness to the outside with passion because passion is something to mean the further step of success. That's my first expectation.

[C]

The second expectation is we do hope China is going on with its reform with vision.

[B]

What is international vision today?

[C]

Multilateral international organizations like WTO is still.

[B]

Going on though slowly. However, regional freedom is another strong trend. The United States is leading a very important negotiation called TPP Trans Pacific.

[C]

Partnership.

[B]

Of Agreement okay Or a kind of economic partnership including 12 countries amounting to 40% of overall GDP in the world.

[C]

It is said that negotiation to be.

[B]

Completed within 2 months time China look.

[C]

Forward to the success because we notice.

[B]

This is another step of freedom and further opening at international arena we welcome the positive result of that. However, China has suggested strongly to have.

[C]

A larger one to include TPP that's.

[B]

To include all all members of APEC in total 21 nations we welcome the initiativeness by ASEAN 10 plus 1, 10 plus 3 and 10 plus 6 no.

[C]

Matter 1, 3 or 6, China is there Therefore this is something we should keep up in mind this is a kind of international vision China is no longer an isolated island in the world. Just now people say following IMB Renminbi and I will say we just try to follow the major trend of the world the founder of the Republic of China, Dr. Sun used to say the major trend of the world with its tide moving so fast if you get along, you will survive if you go against, you will die. Then China is going to get along not smoothly, not favorably, with lots of challenges but with we have that kind of vision, we need to get along. That's my second expectation the last but not least expectation of mine is China should have its development with determination. China is a country so complicated to be recognized in the world. Someone picked this part to say it's good Someone pick up that part to say it's difficult to understand, even dangerous for tomorrow but history tells us if you have the determination within 1.37 billion.

[B]

People in mainland China mainly you can.

[C]

Overcome most part of the difficulties however, just because you are a member of the international community, you should get along with the understanding, sympathy and recognition by international community. This is the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. As one of the founding members of that institution, we recognize that we have lots of responsibilities on our shoulders we never try to get away, we never try to escape China is a country with hope. The hope is not only for the people of its country.

[B]

It's also hope of the world.

[C]

Finally, I just try to quote what Mr. Winston Churchill said. This is not the end, not even the beginning of the end, but this.

[B]

Is the end of the beginning.

[C]

So that's the end of today.

[B]

With my blessing to all of you.

[D]

Hello everyone. My name is Yan Wei, so I'm the Chief Director of this forum. Thank you for coming today. This is our seventh forum. So we are going to show you a short video of our past history to take this opportunity again to thank our collaborators, LSE Asia Resistance Sector center, all of our collaborators, sponsors, supporting partners, interpretation service providers and thank you, all of you and all of our brilliant speakers here to deliver this brilliant speech. The forum and also the volunteers today are fantastic. Without you, the forum is impossible. So I hope I could see you again next year. Thank you.