Firsthand recollections of 40 years that have shaken the world
By Liu Xia |
chinawatch.cn |
Updated: 2020-01-13 10:56
Telling stories of the reform era is not only about history but also vital to China's future, said experts at a book launch on Thursday.
Oral Interviews on the Reform Era was jointly published by the Hainan-based think tank China Institute for Reform and Development and Southern Publishing and Media. The book records the oral interviews with more than 90 witnesses of reform and opening-up, covering 73 major reform events, focusing on economic restructuring, but also comprehensive political, cultural, social and ecological reforms.
“At this stage, the key to carry out reform and opening-up is to further build consensus and thus gather strength from the whole society,” said Chi Fulin, president of the China Institute for Reform and Development.
With the diversification of stakeholders and demands, views on reform and opening-up vary broadly. For instance, in 2018, different understandings of China's economy triggered a heated debate over the role of the private sector,Chi said.
In this context, the book is of great significance. It is a collection of stories told by participants, policymakers and witnesses closely related to the major events of reform and opening-up. The work is also timely not only because some of the witnesses are getting old but also because China is promoting a new round of reform and opening-up.
Chen Qingtai, former deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council, said that these first-hand testimonies show the detailed efforts made to advance reform and opening-up in a vivid way, and they are truly historical treasures with great value.
Chen said it helps today's younger generation to learn the history of China’s reform through oral interviews, but he also hoped that the interviews can be further studied and organized theoretically to a higher level “ideally in the form of textbooks".
Telling stories of the reform era is not only about history but also vital to China's future, said experts at a book launch on Thursday.
Oral Interviews on the Reform Era was jointly published by the Hainan-based think tank China Institute for Reform and Development and Southern Publishing and Media. The book records the oral interviews with more than 90 witnesses of reform and opening-up, covering 73 major reform events, focusing on economic restructuring, but also comprehensive political, cultural, social and ecological reforms.
“At this stage, the key to carry out reform and opening-up is to further build consensus and thus gather strength from the whole society,” said Chi Fulin, president of the China Institute for Reform and Development.
With the diversification of stakeholders and demands, views on reform and opening-up vary broadly. For instance, in 2018, different understandings of China's economy triggered a heated debate over the role of the private sector,Chi said.
In this context, the book is of great significance. It is a collection of stories told by participants, policymakers and witnesses closely related to the major events of reform and opening-up. The work is also timely not only because some of the witnesses are getting old but also because China is promoting a new round of reform and opening-up.
Chen Qingtai, former deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council, said that these first-hand testimonies show the detailed efforts made to advance reform and opening-up in a vivid way, and they are truly historical treasures with great value.
Chen said it helps today's younger generation to learn the history of China’s reform through oral interviews, but he also hoped that the interviews can be further studied and organized theoretically to a higher level “ideally in the form of textbooks".
