China Watch and Guangdong People’s Publishing House produce book on China's reforms

China Watch Institute, China Daily’s communication-led think tank, has partnered with Guangdong People’s Publishing House to produce a book on how prominent politicians, scholars and business leaders worldwide view China's development miracle and lessons learned since its reform and opening-up in 1978.

China Watch and the publishing house made the announcement at the ongoing Frankfurt book fair on Oct 10 to mark the 40th anniversary of the country’s reform and opening-up drive. The bilingual English-Chinese-collection, The Sleeping Giant Awakens, will be printed before December, when the country celebrates the outstanding achievements of the past 40 years.

More than 40 world-class figures, such as Massimo D'alema, former prime minister of Italy, who believes the giant strides forward that China has made is simply extraordinary and something to be proud of, have contributed to the book.

Edmund Phelps, the 2006 Nobel Laureate in Economics, who said the shift in recent years from “Made in China” to “Created in China” is essential, and Erik Solheim, under-secretary-general of the United Nations and executive director of UN Environment, saying the rise of China is, with the end of the Cold War, arguably the most important change that has taken place in the world in the past 50 years, also present their insights in the opinion-centered book.

Four contributing authors shared their insights at a seminar, China and the World, which served as is pre-launch event.

Addressing the seminar, Bai Jie, executive vice-director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and director of Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of Guangdong Province, praised the project, The Sleeping Giant Awakens: How prominent politicians, scholars and business leaders worldwide view China’s development miracle and lessons learnt since its reform and opening up in 1978, jointly published by China Watch Institute and Southern Publishing and Media.

Bai said that the book will not only be published in English, German, French, Spanish and many other languages but also selected pieces will also be promoted through China Daily's numerous channels internationally. A series of seminars and lectures are also planned.

“Like today, our dialogue on China’s four decades of reform and opening-up and the impact on China and the world is one important link in the whole promotion campaign,” Bai added.

She also extended her thanks to David Gosset, founder of the Europe-China Forum; Luigi Gambardella, president of ChinaEU; Ivona Ladjevac, head of the regional center for the Belt and Road Initiative at the Institute of International Politics and Economics in Belgrade, Serbia; and Dennis Pamlin, founder and CEO of 21st Century Frontiers; for sharing their insightful views on the development on China and the world.

“We eagerly anticipated the book launch and also welcome greater attention from the media and foreign readers. Hopefully this book can offer useful reference material for the world to understand China in a more comprehensive and objective angle and share the Chinese experience to help the world tackle the problems which are in the way of human development. ”

Gosset said there are very few real giants in world history, and Deng Xiaoping is one of them. He changed China and the world, and is a fascinating figure, he said.

“The 40th anniversary gives us an opportunity to discuss the Chinese renaissance. In Limited Views On The Chinese Renaissance, I present a combination of economic, political, cultural and geopolitical dynamics which form the renaissance of the Chinese civilization,” said Gosset.

“China should not be reduced to a market. It is much more than a market. China’s Opening-up 2.0 (China goes to the world) enriches our world both from a quantitative and qualitative perspective and China’s strong presence at the Frankfurt Book Fair is an illustration of China’s intellectual and cultural projection.”

Luigi Gambardella, president of ChinaEU said what China has achieved over the past 40 years is a miracle, not only economically but also technologically. "China’s decades of efforts have yielded fruitful results; and now, in the digital sector, China is the future."

Ivona Ladjevac, at the Institute of International Politics and Economics in Belgrade said after four decades of enduring struggle and indisputable will to develop, China rose from a poor developing country to a major economic power and influential actor in contemporary international relations.

“Its remarkable growth justifies the belief that the 21st century belongs to China,” she said.

Dennis Pamlin of 21st Century Frontiers said the radical transformation that China has experienced over the last 40 years is inspiring as China has moved from the periphery to the very center of the sustainability efforts.

“Even more inspiring is the fact that initiatives such as the belt and road initiative and ideas such as ecological civilization could help society move to the next level of suitability with Chinese stakeholders at the centre of new clusters during the next 40 years,” said Pamlin.