Professor Tan Kong Yam in Discussions with
Guangdong Party Officials on Industrial
Upgrading Strategy

On 5 November 2008, Professor Tan Kong Yam was invited by Wang Yang, party secretary and politburo member, to visit Guangdong and address the party school on the experience of Singapore’s industrial upgrading strategy, and its policy recommendations to the Guangdong government in their present difficult policy measures on industrial restructuring and upgrading. The meeting was attended by all the top leaders in Guangdong (about 400 senior government and party officials), including Wang Yang and Governor Huang Huahua. Professor Tan was the first foreigner to address the party school.

 


Professor Tan Kong Yam delivering a lecture

The presentation was very well received and the video tape of the talk and transcription has been sent to Beijing and the state council.

In his discussion with Wang Yang and Huang Huahua, they noted the difficulty in the present restructuring of industries in Guangdong amidst the difficult global financial crisis. They discussed the policy stimulating measures Guangdong could undertake, including manpower training, real estate sector support and infrastructural development. Apparently, the state council in Beijing has finalized some contingency plans on fiscal stimulus. The state council has also formed a high power inter-agency group to monitor the global financial crisis very closely and propose strategies to the top leadership in response. President Hu Jintao’s meeting in the G20 could be a forum whereby China could take a higher profile, both to protect its interests and project an image of responsible stakeholder in the global financial system.