Editorial #4

Harvard University President Visits China -by Yi Qian

SHANGHAI--Four days before President Clinton fielded questions on a Shanghai radio-talk show during his historic visit to China, Harvard University President Neil L. Rudenstine had also left his mark in this port city, the biggest metropolitan in the world's most populous nation. Rudenstine spoke about his plans for future relations with the Asian nation Friday evening at a reception attended by over 60 Harvard alumni and affiliates, most of whom are scholars and professionals from across the country. Shanghai was the last stop on Rudenstine's 10-day Asian trip, which also included Tokyo, Seoul, the Chinese island, Xi'an and the Chinese garden city, Suzhou. Last March, following Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit to Harvard in November, 1997, Rudenstine journeyed across Asia for the first time in his official capacity, visiting Beijing, Hong Kong and Taipei. Many throughout the Harvard community have speculated about the nature of the largely-private meetings between the University's highest ranking administrator and Chinese officials, wondering what the University seeks to gain from relations with the Chinese government. At the reception, Rudenstine said the main goal of his visit, in addition to furthering his own cultural education, is to promote intellectual exchange and cooperation between Harvard and academic institutions in Asia. "Between the March visit and this one, I met with the presidents of about 10 Chinese universities," he said. "We discussed what kind of exchange programs we might have at all levels: students, faculty, Masters of Business Administration programs, AMP programs." "The reception to these ideas has been very good. We have already had some discussions and letters." But Harvard spokesperson, Alex Huppe, says Rudenstine's trip was not purely academic in scope. It was also aimed at wooing potential donors to Harvard's $2.1 million capital campaign, due to be completed by June 1999. Those interviewed at the reception said Rudenstine had not solicited them for money. "In China, our standard of living has not reached the level that we can donate money to Harvard," said Wu Bin, whose son graduated from Harvard College in 1996. When addressing a student's question, Rudenstine talked briefly about his experience in Xi'an, Suzhou and Shanghai to show that his visit to each city has given him a new perspective on China. He also emphasized that this trip has deepened his understanding of China's present and past. Foreshadowing the complaints Peking University students would register with Clinton three days later, Rudenstine said that most people in America still know little of China or Asia beyond what the media tells them, which makes deeper levels of communication all the more necessary. "[Most Americans] know what they read in the newspapers about China," he said. "But they do not know a great deal about its history, or culture, and we want to improve that." Rudenstine detailed ways that the two countries could share knowledge and cultural traditions, saying that both Chinese and American university officials support new initiatives. One such initiative is a study by Harvard and the Chinese University Qing Hua of environmental and economic development and related problems which resulted, in part, from the discussions during Rudenstine's March visit to China. Rudenstine said that he has been impressed by the Chinese people's "exceptional energy, realism and good analysis of issues." Chinese alumni gave the president of their alma mater an enthusiastic welcome. "A new era of U.S.-China relations is beginning," said Shineng Zhu, who was a visiting scholar at Harvard from 1980-1981. "And I think President Rudenstine plays a part of that history." The reception was at the Shanghai JC Mandarin Hotel. The Harvard Alumni Association in Shanghai presented Rudenstine with a sculpture of a smiling buddha, which symbolizes the literal translation of the word "Harvard" in Chinese. On June 24, Rudenstine met with Xu Kangdi, the mayor of Shanghai, and the two leaders discussed Shanghai's economic and educational development. According to Wen Hui Bao, a major Chinese newspaper, both Rudenstine and Xu expressed hope for greater exchange and cooperation between universities in America and those in Shanghai.