‘We Should Join Hands’

 

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You ' ve said that you ' ve read the works of Marcus Aurelius a hundred times. He is a famous Stoic philosopher. My reading of him says that one should not be involved in the self, and in any kind of pursuits that are self-interested, but should be more for the community as a w hole. When I go to China these days, I am struck by how much individualism there is, how much consumerism there is. Are you trying to send a signal to the Chinese people to think less about themselves and more about the community?
It is true I read the meditations of Marcus Aurelius on many occasions, and I was very deeply impressed by the words that he wrote. I very much value morality and do believe that entrepreneurs, economists and statesmen alike should pay much more attention to morality and ethics. In my mind, the highest standard to measure ethics and morality is justice. When we think about the economy, we think more about companies, capital, markets, technology, and so on. We might forget about elements like conviction and morality. Only when we combine these two kinds of factors can we [have] a full picture of the DNA of the economy. It is true that in the course of China's economic development, some companies have pursued profits at the expense of morality. We will never allow such things to happen, because such an approach simply cannot be sustained. That's why we advocate corporate, occupational and social ethics.

Let me ask you a final question. You must have been watching the American election. What is your reaction to this strange race?
The presidential election of the United States should be decided by the American people. What I follow very closely is [what] the relationship between China and the United States [will be like] after the election. In recent years, there has been sound growth in China-U.S. relations. We hope that whoever is elected president, he will continue to grow the relationship with China. And China hopes to continue to improve its relationship with the United States no matter who takes office.

Go here for a transcript of Fareed Zakaria's interview with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

© 2008

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: achina @ 10/10/2008 4:25:35 AM

    china has over 5000 history,us only over 200,americans still live in the self enjoyed confidence and admiring ,it is laughable

  • Posted By: achina @ 10/10/2008 4:22:29 AM

    i'm very impressed by how many of your people learn english while so little of my people learn chinese.

    i am a chinese ,i study english for fighting the english user liars,you westener in my eyes are foolish,you firmly believe you are something,but you do not know when china was civilized ,you americans still barbarian

  • Posted By: tmchiasson @ 10/09/2008 6:48:03 PM

    you've misunderstood what i said. I never 'pinned' wen jiabao as a lier, i merely said that a smart lier doesn't make a good leader and stated that I didn't know whether or not I could trust him. My exact words were 'i don't have an opinion one way or another on this guy yet'. please read what i said before becoming upset.

    the attitude towards tiananmen square in china has changed? do all of you even realize what happened in tiananmen square? I have lived in china recently and have found that it is extremely difficult to find any information about it.

    if the dalai lama rules wants theocracy, why did he establish a democratically elected parliament in the Tibetan-governemnt-in-exile in India? How was a prime minister elected in a theocracy? why did the dali lama threaten to step down if the protests in March didn't stop? Yes, what the dalai lama calls historical Tibet
    includes, qinghai and parts of sichuan, gansu, and yunnan, but this is because many of the people in those areas are ethnically tibetan. yes, let's watch what he does. what has the dalai lama done? please provide evidence.
    i've never heard of the 7 nations theory, and i don't know why you think i support it. i do not. and it's useless to compare 1800's America to modern day China. 1800's America was much more united in culture, language, and religion than modern day china is.

    Yes, i have listened to what chinese people have to say, like i said, i have lived there. i have the greatest respect for your people, your culture, and I am trying to learn your language, which i must say is very difficult. i'm very impressed by how many of your people learn english while so little of my people learn chinese.

    but this does not change my distrust of wen jiabao. as i have said, i do not think that china should become divided. neither am i advocating a complete overthrow of the current government, rather i think a slow stable process is necessary. i just have doubts that wen jiabao will truly bring this process about. i have seen the reports on CCTV of him crying among the rubble in sichuan province, but I have also heard him say things that I do not think are true. maybe he will win my trust in the future, but right now, i don't know if he is truly a good leader or just a very smart liar.

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