China is both chaotic and orderly. It is both conventional and extraordinary: in many ways it is contradictory. It is stable, yet has the propensity to self-destruct. It is extremely difficult to describe accurately the sheer complexity of China. It would definitely require multiple and extended visits to really get inside China. With the third edition of our carefully planned Inside China program we do, however, provide participants with a head-start. Through a combination of face-to-face meetings and site visits, it allows our delegates - with or without prior knowledge of China - the opportunity to see and experience the country firsthand. As an earlier participant remarked after his return: "APEP's Inside China program is how you can get the most out of China in seven days”.
Led by Dr. Bernard Rudolf (Ben) Bot, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and currently Chairman of the Foreign Policy Institute Clingendael, Inside China 2010 will contain diverse elements to reflect the mixed backgrounds of the delegation members, but will also address topical issues including:
· Government policy and reform - ‘How do you ride a dragon in full flight, let alone dictate her movements?' The Chinese government is faced with this challenge as it seeks to improve and intensify cooperation between various local and central bodies of government. As a professor of the Executive Leadership Academy observed, China needs to reform "...to discover the shortcomings of the system, to make criticisms in order to make the system better, not to make it worse”. We will visit the Executive Leadership Academy as part of this year's program.
· Economic policy The largest contribution to economic growth used to come from the south-eastern part of China, the part now most hit by the enormous drop in export.Will other parts of China, such as the inland region of Chengdu and Chongqing - whose exports are more geared towards other emerging markets - take over as the prime engines of growth? And what is China's economic outlook - how effective will the government stimulus package be? Will China obtain a structural advantage, benefiting from a shorter economic downturn than Western economies, and use this to increase outbound investments and build global brands? Financial and economic experts will offer their perspective.
· Social policy. There is a vast economic disparity between urban China and the rural hinterlands. Many impoverished rural dwellers who have waited patiently for their time to come - mindful of Deng Xiaoping's mantra "Everyone will get rich, but let some get rich first” - are still facing grim and worsening prospects. Will the global economic crisis fuel social unrest? We will visit a rural area and talk to factory workers.
· Environmental policy. Recent figures show that China has overtaken the US as the world's largest single producer of carbon emissions and despite its poor reputation for climate policy, China has recently launched a green power revolution. The government plans a vast increase in its use of wind and solar power and believes it can match Europe by 2020. We will look at this new strategy and visit an eco-city.
The program will include a visit to the Shanghai World Expo 2010, where, by dedicating a 5.28 km2 area at the core of the city to exhibitions, events and forums on the Expo theme, "Better City, Better Life," Shanghai hopes to build a powerful and lasting pilot example of sustainable and harmonious urban living.
Just like our other successful Inside programs in Brussels and Washington, Inside China offers participants a great networking opportunity, with ample time for informal discussions with fellow delegation members from various sectors and backgrounds. Participants will depart from Schiphol Airport for Shanghai on Saturday 25 September and return from Chengdu on Saturday 2 October.