British experts and scholars held a heated public debate in London Saturday on some key issues of China's recent development and called for a balanced portrayal of China.
The one-day debate, dubbed "Battle for China," was organized by the Institute of Ideas and drew a full house of some 300 participants from all walks of life.
The debate had eight sessions covering topics ranging from the impact of China's development on the rest of the world and its implications, China's environmental and human rights concerns, intellectual renaissance and the country's role in the new world order.
In the session on whether China's growth is a threat or opportunity to the West, Hugo de Burgh, director of China Media Center at the University of Westminster, said that Westerners tend to evaluate China by proceeding from their own their interests in the country.
"Some people want to sell western democracy to China, some want to make money," he said.
A Malaysian woman from the audience said "China's neighboring countries all view China as an inspiration and cooperate with it. I can't understand why the West should fear for China."
Frank Furedi, professor of sociology at the University of Kent noted the "moral illiteracy in the West about China's problems," saying pressurizing China on many issues is "unhelpful."
China and the West have different cultures, but they share some common values, he added.
On human rights, Brendan O'Neill, organizer of the Beijing 2008-- Challenging China-Bashing Campaign, said the Western countries should not apply double standards in dealing with China's human rights issue.
During the session on environment, Lu Yiyi, research fellow from the China Policy Institute at the University of Nottingham, made a frank statement about water and air pollution faced by China now and briefed the audience on the Scientific Outlook on Development advocated by the Chinese government to address the problem.
Lu's views on China's environmental challenges were shared by three British experts, who described these as issues in the courseof the economic growth just like what the British experienced during the industrialization.
They will be resolved with economic prosperity and technology advancement, they said.
As for China's role in the new world order, Philip Cunliffe, a scholar on international relations, suggested that as Chinese people become richer and have more oversea tours, Mandarin might become a global language just as French or Spanish. This is especially true given the fact that China now has the world's largest number of internet surfers.
He also warned that along with China's rise, there will be more friction between China and the West. Any issue, however trivial it seems in China, might be played up out of proportion in the West. But he said that the West should not impose its values on China.
Bill Durodie, associate fellow from the Chatham House, defendedChina's role in Africa.
China's investment is well-intentioned and the Chinese always get things done and pay promptly," he said.
China is a developing country with "no strings attached to" itsaid and investment in Africa, he added.
"Battle for China" debate is part of China Now, a six-month celebration of Chinese culture in Britain in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics. The Institute of Ideas, organizer of the annual debates, will run another forum on emerging economies this year.
Source:Xinhua
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