Panel discussion: does China have an image problem?

This afternoon, a panel discussion on the topic ‘Does China have an image problem?’ took place in Beijing Angle Modern Art Gallery (BAMA). As an emerging power, China feels it has an image problem which does not commensurate with its rising status in the world. The incidents such as Olympic Torch Relay, Violence in Lhasa. Successful 2008 Olympic reports were mixed with China’s lack of openness by not approving any peaceful demonstration. These incidents plus the powerful Sichuan earthquake have effected a series of discussion and introspection by the domestic intellectual and political class. These are now press reports (SCMP, People’s Daily) which claimed that the Central Government may soon approve a budget as much as 45 billon RMB (6.6 billon U.S.) to boost its state-owned media outlets: CCTV, Xinhua News Agency and People’s Daily. The new funding may be used to launch a CNN-like Chinese television news channel, expanding existing Xinhua News Agency overseas bureaus, and publishing Global Times in English. The panel discussion was moderated by Liu Heung Shing, who is editorial director of Modern Weekly. Several authors of great reputation such as James Fallows, Jasper Becker and Glenn Mott were invited as international panelists. Some Chinese artists and scholars e.g. Chen Danqing, Shi Yinhong, Li Kun, participated the discussion of image problem with which China is confronted in the course of rising period.

Liu Heung Shing, editorial director of Modern Weekly and Australian scholar Geremie Barme

Liu Heung Shing

British media veteran Jasper Becker

Author and film critic Zhou Liming

James Fallows, author of Reports from China

Thomas Shao, chief director of Modern Media Group

Pallavi Aiyar, author of Smoke and Mirrors: an Experience of China

Artist, author Chen Danqing

Xu Zhiyuan, chief editor of Life Magazine

Ou Ning, director of Shao Foundation

James Fallows

Li Yifei, managing director of GLG China, former manager director of MTV Networks Greater China

American poet Glenn Mott, Fullbright Fellow at Tsinghua University

Professor Li Kun, department director of the School of Journalism & Communication, Pekin University

Chen Danqing speaks

Professor Shi Yinhong, director of the Centre for American Studies, Renmin University of China

Audience

All photos by Sun Xiaoxi