Newsletter By 2022-09-23
【KC's Column】It is worth noting that China's relationship with Russia has actually undergone great shifts, according to
ANBOUND's founder Kung Chan. If Russia still thinks too highly of itself and that it can "instruct" China on how to improve the latter's relationship with it, this would be anything but practical. After all, the war in Ukraine has brought some major changes. The relationship between Russia and China can be summed up in this way: Chinese leaders do want to form a stronger relationship with Russia, but in this relationship, China must be in the leadership position, not Russia under Vladimir Putin. In addition, this alliance must also be realized according to the Chinese way, not the Russian way. Russia will certainly not be happy with such kind of outcome, and it can also have other options, but China obviously has a lot of time to wait for it to make a choice.
>> In an
interview with the French daily
Le Figaro,
ANBOUND's founder Kung Chan talked his perspectives on China’s current situation as the country faces pressures due to the war in Ukraine and new technological sanctions imposed by the United States, as well as the challenges of its measures against the COVID-19 pandemic. "China is facing a period of unprecedented low since the era of reform and opening-up,” Chan said. “The COVID-19 policy has a huge cost, and the economy will not be able to recover as many hoped, because it is structurally damaged", he further noted. The uncertainties faced by China are also changing the country’s economy and expectations. “Many young Chinese have lost the enthusiasm to start businesses. China of the future will be like what we imagine it to be”, Chan said.
>>Dr. Benjamin B. Olshin, a senior advisor at Econsult Solutions Inc (ESI), shared his thoughts on Chinese students in the United States. He noted that there are more than 300,000 Chinese students in the U.S., approximately 25% of the international students in the country. While Chinese students have already come to the U.S. since the 19th century, their current motivation is the desire to learn about the West in a more subtle way, to be exposed to different cultures, and to learn in a different technological environment. In addition, there is also the intention to be exposed to an anglophone environment, as well as the consideration of working in the U.S. either in the short or long term. American universities, according to Dr. Olshin, have to consider approaching Chinese students with a multi-faceted approach and to see if these students can adjust themselves culturally and linguistically. These universities also need to consider if geopolitical factors are affecting the experience of Chinese students in the U.S. Click
here to watch Dr. Olshin’s presentation.
Despite the huge population in China, the pool of highly skilled and educated workers is rather limited. Visible hurdles remain, from enrollment, and employment to career development. Higher education in China is regarded as a public good or a quasi-public good, mainly sponsored by the government. Traditionally, this kind of education assessment system emphasizes tests and textbook-instructive academic competencies, but not much on practical employment skills. In contrast, vocational education and training institutions that mostly offer certificates are often perceived to be socioeconomically inferior to the general education in universities and colleges, including polytechnic institutes. The policy incentives for vocational education should foster an inclusive, equitable future, and lifelong learning for dignity in the workplace. The importance of industry associations is to take leverage of social partnerships to offer more options in labor skills and workforce development. Youths and adults will all be beneficiaries of this. It is time for the policymakers to revisit the original purposes for Chinese vocational education and make the needed improvements, discussed
Yi Wang, Head of Global Development Program and Senior Consulting Fellow at ANBOUND, and Research Assistant Yuhong Nie.
>>