Full coverage: China's reform and opening-up, 40 years on

By Li Shouen, CCTV.com Reporter

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's Reform and Opening up, initiated by Deng Xiaoping at the Third Plenary Sessions of the Eleventh Central Committee in 1978. During the past four decades, China has been both a beneficiary and a contributor to globalization. But amid the trend of isolationism, globalization has come to its crossroad.

A forum organized by Haiwainet.cn, the official website for People's Daily overseas edition, was held on June 28 (Thursday) to discuss China's further opening up and the trend of globalization. Experts and scholars from various institutions and universities gathered to analyze the world situation, share their opinions and proposed suggestions.

(Forum held by Haiwainet.cn on June 28, 2018 to discuss China’s further opening up and the trend of globalization  Photo/Li Shouen)

As to whether China should and will continue on with its open door policy, all participants gave unanimous support Han Qingxiang, a member of the administrative committee of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, pointed out that to open its door is driven by China's need of its domestic development, as well as to respond to the call of the international community, especially when China has become the world's second largest economy. But Beijing should and will continue on with the policy at its own pace, to fulfill its own people’s needs, instead of feeling disturbed by outside pressures.

He also said China has entered the new era, when it has reached a new historical start point after its stand-up in the mid of last century and getting rich with the progress achieved during the past few decades. To getting closer to the center of the world stage, China needs to make it stronger gradually. To adapt to it, China's open door should also evolve into a higher level and remain clear-minded to maintain its independence.

(Forum held by Haiwainet.cn on June 28, 2018 to discuss China’s further opening up and the trend of globalization  Photo/Li Shouen)

Then, what is the exact phase of China's open door standing at? Jin Jianbin, professor at Journalism and Communication College of Tsinghua University, believes China is at the key moments of advancing from its open door 2.0 to 3.0. The 1.0 version of China's open door refers to the period when China basically imported and absorbed everything ranging from technology, capital, products, talents to culture from the West; the 2.0 version brings a two way exchange after China has accumulated its own experiences and wealth, meaning it can at the same time export its products and capital. In the future 3.0 version, except for products, technology, capital, etc., China might have the capability of sharing its culture and even its experiences and wisdom in global governance with other global citizens.

But as Teng Jianqun, Director of the Department of U.S. Studies at China Institute of International Studies pointed, there is a "difference in temperature" between China's internal public opinions and the outside responses as to China's rapid development. He stressed that we should remain calm-headed to our achievements and it's not necessary to exaggerate China's ambitions to take the lead in our world order.

He also noted that to further open up, China must handle both its internal and the international general situations, which are closely interlinked and inseparable. He suggested that internally, China should continue to transform its politics, economy, culture, ideology and society, etc, and internationally, China should move to shape a better environment for its development. He called on the participating experts, scholars, as well as the media outlets to tell the Chinese stories to the outside world in a wiser and more flexible method, which can make them understood by their audiences, especially to Westerners.

(The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )

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