The many subject areas within this book — contemporary China, economics, international affairs, political theory and ideology, history, law, journalism, and in effect, biography — are often treated as distinct genres that appear on separate bookshelves. These pages offer a unique hybrid of all of the above. They are meant to be appreciated, however, not as scholarship, rhetoric, or public relations, but as an illuminating record.
Zhu Rongji, arguably one of the most recognizable, worldly, and potent Chinese figures to emerge on the international scene in recent times, was first Vice Premier (1993 to 1998) and the Premier of China from March 1998 to March 2003. This book presents a selection of his press briefings, speeches, and conversations with reporters from around the world during this time. Collectively, they convey the wide array of international and domestic challenges that China was facing in the late 1990s and into the new century. They present the various ways in which Premier Zhu explained to the world China’s plans, policies, and transitions. And they track China’s historic shift from a developing country waiting in the wings to a major player on the world stage — in international trade, diplomacy and security. China’s expanding and deepening diplomatic relations and cooperative treaties with its neighbors and other countries during this period are all reflected in Zhu’s discussions in this book, and in his dizzying itinerary around the globe. The photographs in this book alone offer a vivid, visual essay of China’s diplomacy during these years.
The book is divided into two parts: the first, and shorter section, covers Zhu Rongji’s earlier year as Vice Premier, and the second, his time as Premier of the People’s Republic of China. Within these are sections featuring his exchanges with the media (grouped by individual interviews; press conferences; and briefings to the Hong Kong press corps) and his speeches to business, diplomatic, and academic communities abroad.
This book is significant in several respects. It was published first in 2009 in Chinese for the benefit of mainland Chinese readers, who had had limited access to the international press coverage (in its variety of languages) of Premier Zhu’s talks with foreigners. Unlike many officials, Premier Zhu was known to speak often and skillfully off-script, so the audio transcripts of his interviews and talks take on a new value in the Chinese context. For many Chinese, this was an important and edifying glimpse into the ways in which their leader had represented them and their country abroad. In some cases, it was a chance to view him outside of his usual, official roles (as when giving an impromptu musical performance for a Japanese audience, for example, or joking about his appearance on American news magazine covers).
The value for English readers is not so different. Published first-person accounts by high-level Chinese leaders are rare (in any language); in the absence as yet of these kinds of memoirs, the words and opinions of the leader, as recorded in conversation on a broad array of issues, are the closest reflection of the individual during his time in office that are available. While many of the press transcripts, or parts of their contents have been written into articles published in the foreign media, or found their way into news stories around the world, taken as a whole in English, and in chronological order, these provide a new look back at a man and a country on the move.
Premier Zhu’s tenure coincided with a strong effort by the Chinese leadership to rationalize, streamline, and strengthen China’s industry and agriculture. These efforts grew more urgent with the specter of increased foreign competition; as China anticipated opening its market further to meet with World Trade Organization (WTO) membership requirements. Zhu’s leadership, in particular, guided the nation through a series of unprecedented, top-down reforms in China’s banking system, in rural taxation, state-owned enterprises, and unemployment compensation. He pushed through a major overhaul in the size, structure and functioning of the Chinese government. He was instrumental in getting China through the long and often frustrating negotiations to join the WTO. He is also credited with a sweeping crackdown on corruption that crept in with rampant real estate development and other entrepreneurial activities in China’s special economic zones.
The reader can follow these developments as Zhu discusses them over time, from their roll-out, through their often difficult and controversial implementation. At the same time, the questions raised by foreign journalists in this book express other nations’ perceptions of and interests in China and their concerns about a nation growing so quickly economically and rising on the world scene.
Just as significant, the book reveals many (sometimes surprising) aspects of Zhu’s strong character, from his passion for debate, wide-ranging intellect (he cites Merchant of Venice and Don Quixote), and self-deprecating humor. His reputation as a man with an encyclopedic mind for statistics comes across clearly in his summaries to journalists of the latest achievements in railway construction or grain production. Zhu’s famous impatience sometimes comes out for the Hong Kong press corps, who seem to follow him around the world and press him on Hong Kong-Mainland relations in no matter which foreign country they have landed. He is clearly at his most effusive and eloquent on economic topics, and the absolute need for wrenching change; at the same time, he reveals a sense of compassion for China’s farmers, for example, or state workers who have been impacted by the reforms.
In publishing this book, Oxford intends to make this informative record available in English. It does not take positions on the political views expressed herein.
The Press thanks Li Bjingjun, Lian Yong, Zhang Changyi, Xie Minggan, Lin Zhaomu, Lu Jing, and Hou Chun, who are in Beijing, for their unstinting assistance in the heavy work of the book.
We are grateful to the large team of translators and editors who labored to provide the English transcripts for the book. We wish especially to thank J. Mei, Robert Allen, and professors from Beijing University and China Foreign Affairs University, whose resourceful advice helped shape the editorial and translation guidelines for this English edition.
The Press would like to acknowledge the many foreign journalists and their publications (or media companies) whose words appear in this book (some of which have been translated into Chinese for the China edition, and back again into English for this book).
We also wish to thank the photographers whose works grace the page.
Finally, we thank the former Premier and his office for making available his unusually extensive and wide-ranging conversations abroad. By publishing them, the Press hopes to help foster understanding of this extraordinary period of growth and challenge in China.
From Zhu Rongji Meets The Press
