WHAT THEY SAY
“Rescuing private enterprises should not be about purchasing or swallowing them up with State capital… So we hope that State-owned enterprises bailing out private ones is‘purely’a rescue.”
Li Yang, director-general of the National Institute for Finance & Development, on how to rescue private enterprises from the economic slowdown, on Caixin Video & Audio, a program by financial news portal Caixin
“What is Chinese science fiction? No science fiction is ‘Chinese’ until it delivers the core of Chinese culture and spirit. Otherwise we are simply copying an American-style story.” Guo Fan, director of The Wandering Earth, a new sci-fi movie adapted from Chinese author Liu Cixin’s novel of the same title, defining what the movie delivers as “Chinese people’s unique affection for the Earth” as a characteristic of Chinese science fiction
“It’s not the size of cities that causes urban malaise but the insufficient management and unreasonable planning of them... If we conducted better management, big cities would not necessarily be overpopulated.”
Wang Xiaolu, deputy director of the National Economic Research Institute, talking about urban malaise with Caixin Video & Audio, a program by financial news portal Caixin
“Many people do not like globalization because it is not inclusive enough. Current globalization is dominated by big enterprises. So from now on, we have to attract more developing countries, more small- and medium-sized enterprises and young people to join the trend.”
Jack Ma, founder of China’s largest e-commerce platform Alibaba, at the 2019 World Economics Forum held in Davos from January 22-25
“Sino-us relations are a crucial link in current world diplomacy. Although [US President] Donald Trump will bring some troubles, it is impossible for the two countries to come into a ‘new cold war.’”
Ezra Feivel Vogel, a professor at the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies, Harvard University, delivering a speech on China-us relations at Shanghai-based Fudan University in late 2018, as cited by Shanghai-based newspaper Wenhuibao
“Currently the private economy is supported by policy adjustments. But these policies are not static – they frequently change. Only innovative institutions can stabilize each party in the market and attract stable investment.”
Guan Tao, former director of the International Balance of Payment Department, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, appealing for deeper institutional reform, at the 35th monthly meeting of a forum hosted by the China Development Research Foundation
“I was angry watching the Asian Cup [when South Korea defeated China 2-0]. If China’s no good at soccer, then it has to be good at Go.”
Chinese Go player Ke Jie at a press conference after he won his seventh world championship on January 17
“More people will realize that believing hard work changes your fate is a luxury only true in a fast-growing economy.” Economist He Fan warning that China’s current modes of business, education, economic growth and social management may no longer be suited for a slowing economy during an interview with Wechat media outlet “zhenghedao”
“It is inaccurate to describe [China’s] current consumption trends as ‘upgraded’ or ‘downgraded.’‘divided’ is a more appropriate word, meaning people further differentiate in consumption.” Guo Haiyan, managing director of the research department of China International Capital Corporation Ltd., talking about the changes in Chinese people’s consumption habits during an exclusive interview with financial portal Caixin