Factory of Nation's Leaders

• Source: The Global Times
• [01:22 April 27 2009]
• Comments

Born in 40s, a vital role in the political field

“The generation born in 1940s played a vital role in China’s reform and opening to the outside world during the 1980s and 1990s.

“They helped China integrate with the other part of world and digest the advanced technological and economic development of the western countries,” said Cai Xia, professor with the Party School of the CPC’s Central Committee.

Among this generation, a large number majored in science and technology in college, which contributed to their “pragmatic approach” of handling issues after they came into prominence in politics, said Cai.

As the country switched to more scientific-oriented and pragmatism-oriented, it is natural a large number of technocrats came to power. Like his class of 1965 peers, Hu Jintao’s pragmatic talents worked well in remoter regions, making him and his peers accrue valuable experience that would make them strong candidates for future leadership, according to experts.

The pragmatic attitude of leaders born in the 1940s was recognized by Feng Zhaokui, deputy director of the China Society of Sino-Japanese Relations History. Compared to Japanese politicians who often resume the political career of their father and grandfather, most Chinese politicians born in the 1940s had no unique family background and few political connections leaving campus and worked their way up step by step from local factories, institutes and government, said Feng, also an alumnus of Tsinghua graduating in 1965.

“As they came from the local public, it was much easier for them to truly understand the demands of common people,” Feng said.

According to Cai, people born in the 1940s remember what China was like before liberation in 1949.

They witnessed the dramatic political, social and economic changes and were excited about gaining the opportunity to steer China forward.

The whole generation was looking forward to a renaissance for China, which became a top responsibility, a mission and a generation’s obsession.

As teenagers, they experienced the Great Leap Forward when they began to think independently. As college graduates, they experienced the Cultural Revolution, from which they understood how wrong people could be when turning extreme-left blindly, said Cai.

“Their personal experience told them only socialism with Chinese characteristics can develop China,” said Cai. “It’s not just a slogan. When the economic and political reform led by Deng Xiaoping took place in late 1970s and early 1980s, they became major pioneers of the reform.”