More than 30 yrs for China to be a superpower: MM
The Business Times
2009-12-30
Singapore, too, will maintain its relevance to the rest of the world
[SINGAPORE] Just over 30 years have gone by since China first adopted an open-door policy on its way to soon becoming the world's second largest economy, but it will take a much longer time for the country to rise to the status of a world superpower.
Making this point was Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who said that it would take more than another 30 years to "train and educate a whole generation" in a wide spectrum of specialties.
"Yes, China will have a big gross domestic product, but the GDP per capita is still about a third of that in America. (China) has got very poor provinces," said Mr Lee at a dinner dialogue yesterday held in conjunction with Business China's second anniversary celebrations. "For the coastal areas, they will be as good if not better than Singapore. There will be big infrastructures and investments, good education. Some of the Chinese are already very confident and assertive."
Business China, launched in November 2007 by Mr Lee and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, is an initiative by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The organisation helps encourage businessmen to better understand the language, culture, and social and economic conditions of modern-day China.
The dinner, held at the Pyramid Club, was attended by 100 guests, including Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Swee Say, who are both advisers to the organisation. Also present were Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong and Chinese Ambassador to Singapore Zhang Xiaokang.
Mr Lee, who is also the patron of Business China, has visited China no fewer than 30 times since his first trip there in 1976. And as Singapore and China prepare to mark the 20-year anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Singaporean diplomatic ties next year, Mr Lee spent time to pay tribute to the efforts of the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who made a historic visit to Singapore in November 1978.
Singapore's relationship with China was one that came about "by accident", said Mr Lee. "If Deng Xiaoping had not come here that year, the relationship would not have developed. He saw what we were doing in Singapore and he was taken up by our society – clean, safe, everyone owns their own homes," he said. "He visited some of the flats, and saw how we made use of capitalism to build a fair society. That set into his mind that he could do the same (for China)."
But even as China continues to advance in its efforts to become a world superpower, Singapore, too, will maintain its relevance to the rest of the world, said the Minister Mentor.
"For us to remain an effective player in the world, we must have our own point of view. Singapore is a little red dot, but we are a special red dot. We are connected to the world and we play a special role," said Mr Lee. "We are not going to be in anybody's pocket. If we lose that status, we are meaningless."
Courtesy of The Business Times, 30 December 2009
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