What term best defined China in 2009?
- Source: Global Times
- [23:57 December 30 2009]
- Comments
Jeremy Goldkorn, a native of South Africa and the founder of the danwei.org website
Confidence 信心
The Chinese government and ordinary Chinese people this year displayed more self confidence than I have ever observed since my arrival in Beijing in 1995.
The successful Olympic Games in 2008 and China's emergence from the financial crisis as one of the few bright spots in the global economy have made 2009 a watershed moment for China.
They have also changed China's view of itself as a player on the world stage.
The question is: Where will this confidence lead?
As someone who has lived most of his adult life in China and whose livelihood depends on China's growth, I do not share the fears of some pundits overseas.
Rather, I hope that China's new confidence will allow the country to make progress on some issues that have not kept pace with economic growth but that I see as vital to the future prosperity of the Chinese people, such as increased transparency, clearer land rights, and more media tolerance.
