Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Chinese patriotic speech

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao made a speech last week. It was the Chinese version of coming out in favor of motherhood, baseball, and apple pie.

What would your students notice about what's missing?

Chinese Premier stresses development of social undertakings

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao [at right below]… urged to boost development of social undertakings and improvement of people's livelihoods while pushing forward the transformation of economic growth mode.

Speaking to a seminar for provincial and ministerial level officials… Wen said development of science, education and culture was key to the transformation of China's economic growth mode and its sustainable development.

He urged that plans should be made to forge a number of emerging strategic industries as the mainstay of China's economy as soon as possible, and that traditional industries should be upgraded with the latest technologies to enhance their efficiency and competitiveness.

He also called for stepped-up efforts in technological self-innovation, the creation and protection of intellectual properties.

Reforms in China's education system must also be carried forward so as to promote quality education and to give the schools more say in their operation, the Premier said...