In this Book

  • Zhu Rongji on the Record: The Road to Reform 1991-–1997
  • Book
  • translated by June Mei. foreword by Henry A. Kissinger and Helmut Schmidt. Rongji Zhu
  • 2013
  • Published by: Brookings Institution Press
buy this book Buy This Book in Print
summary

China's explosive transformation from a planned economy to a more market-oriented one over the past three decades owes much to the charismatic reformer Zhu Rongji. His pragmatism and strong work ethic have been key forces in China's drive to greater modernization and global stature. He served as the mayor and party chief in Shanghai from 1987 to 1991, as vice premier of China from 1991 to 1998, and then as premier until 2003. This monumental collection brings together, for the first time in English, over one hundred important speeches, articles, letters, and instructions written during his term as vice premier, when he had major responsibility for fulfilling Deng Xiaoping's vision and setting China on a new and fruitful course.

During this time, Zhu embarked on a plan to reduce the size of government and reform the heavily indebted banking system and state-owned enterprises as well as the housing and health care systems. His sweeping efforts ranged from lobbying for the establishment of stock exchanges to revitalizing agriculture through the introduction of a modern grain market. The ramifications of these reforms are still being felt throughout China and the globe, and Zhu Rongji on the Record provides a real-time look at these plans as they were being formulated during the 1990s.

These pages also reflect the forthright personality that gained great popularity with the Chinese public. Zhu vows to speak the truth and avoid "empty talk," as he tells his compatriots. "We must tackle [reform] with both hands, and both hands must be strong." To this end, he provides lists of "musts" and "mustn'ts" that will ensure a "soft landing" during China's transition and calls for swift and resolute action, both in reform and in fighting corruption.

In addition to revealing the evolution of Zhu's thinking and demonstrating how he helped transform the world's most populous nation, this book provides insight into the course of China's economic reform from the 1990s through the first part of the twenty-first century—a period of time that is key to the global order today.

Publication of this English edition of Zhu Rongji on the Record will be an important milestone in Sino-U.S. cultural exchange and a significant contribution to greater understanding between the world's two largest economic powers.

Table of Contents

restricted access Download Full Book
  1. Front Cover
  2. p. C
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Jacket Flaps, Title Page, Copyright
  2. pp. i-iv
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Contents
  2. pp. v-viii
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Publication Note
  2. pp. ix-x
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Foreword Henry A. Kissinger
  2. pp. xi-xii
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Foreword Helmut Schmidt
  2. pp. xiii-xvi
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Note from The Brookings Institution
  2. pp. xvii-xx
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Clearing Up Triangular Debt Must Start with the Source—Fixed-Asset Investments
  2. pp. 1-16
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Comments on the Economic Development of Western China
  2. pp. 17-19
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Work Hard to Develop the Shipbuilding Industry
  2. pp. 20-24
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. On-Time Performance Is at the Heart of Civil Aviation Service Quality
  2. pp. 25-29
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Speed Up Technical Improvements and Do a Good Job at Large and Medium SOEs
  2. pp. 30-43
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. The Key to Controlling Redundant Construction Lies with the Banks
  2. pp. 44-47
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Work Hard on the Internal Restructuring of Industries
  2. pp. 48-52
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. On Comprehensively and Correctly Understanding the Spirit of Deng Xiaoping's Talks in Southern China
  2. pp. 53-68
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. On Being a Scholar and Being a Person
  2. p. 69
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Quality Is the Lifeblood of Enterprises
  2. pp. 70-82
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Raising Labor Productivity Is the Key to Turning Around Losses and Improving Efficiency in the Coal Sector
  2. pp. 83-91
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Speech at a Symposium on Stock Market Pilot Programs in Some Provinces and Cities
  2. pp. 92-101
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Guangdong's Practice Demonstrates the Success of the Policy of Reform and Opening Up
  2. pp. 102-108
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Some Comments on the Current Economic Situation and Macroeconomic Controls
  2. pp. 109-122
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Speed Up Railroad Construction and the Pace of Reform
  2. pp. 123-130
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Implement Genuine Separation of Government and Enterprises
  2. pp. 131-132
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Thirteen Measures for Strengthening Macroeconomic Controls
  2. pp. 133-143
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. "Three Ground Rules" for Financial Work
  2. pp. 144-154
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Rectify the Fiscal and Tax Order, Step Up Fiscal and Tax Reforms
  2. pp. 155-170
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Eight Measures for Solving the Shortage of Funds
  2. pp. 171-176
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Tax Streaming Will Promote Guangdong's Development
  2. pp. 177-188
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Letter to Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, and the Standing Committee of the Politburo on Implementation of the Tax-Streaming System
  2. pp. 189-193
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Establish Environmental Awareness among All the People
  2. pp. 194-197
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Summation Speech at the 1993 National Conference on Economic Work
  2. pp. 198-217
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Stabilize Grain and Oil Prices and Steady the Market Supply
  2. pp. 218-231
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. A Conversation with U.S. Secretary of the Teasury Lloyd Bentsen
  2. pp. 232-239
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Revenues from Land Sales Should First Be Used to Relocate Displaced Households
  2. p. 240
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Taking a Critical Step Forward in Financial Reforms
  2. pp. 241-255
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Establish a Social Security System with Chinese Characteristics
  2. pp. 256-258
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. A Conversation with Alan Greenspan, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board
  2. pp. 259-266
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Strengthen Management of the State's Forex Reserves and Foreign Debt
  2. pp. 267-271
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. A Letter to Central Government Leaders on the Report by the National People's Congress on Implementation of the Agricultural Law
  2. pp. 272-273
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. A Conversation with Japanese Finance Minister Takemura Masayoshi
  2. pp. 274-279
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. On Current Monetary Policy
  2. pp. 280-282
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. On Economic Work in Beijing
  2. pp. 283-285
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. A Memorable Two Years as Governor of the Central Bank
  2. pp. 286-291
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Thoughts on How Xinjiang Should Develop Its Economy
  2. pp. 292-301
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Congratulations to Mr. Chen Daisun on His 95th Birthday
  2. pp. 302-304
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Letters and Petitions Are an Important Channel for Gaining a Sense of the People
  2. pp. 305-308
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Take Effective Measures to Lift Impoverished Areas Out of Poverty
  2. pp. 309-314
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Selling Off Small SOEs Is Not a "Miracle Cure"
  2. pp. 315-321
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Adjust and Refine Processing Trade Policy
  2. pp. 322-328
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Do a Good Job of Opening Up the Financial and Insurance Market to the Outside
  2. pp. 329-333
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. On Enterprise Bankruptcy and Capital Restructuring
  2. pp. 334-341
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Some Issues in Macroeconomic and Tax Work
  2. pp. 342-365
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Forcefully Promote Enterprise Reforms and Actively Implement Reemployment Projects
  2. pp. 366-374
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. What to Do after a Bumper Harvest
  2. pp. 375-381
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. On Reform of the Housing System
  2. pp. 382-390
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. A Conversation with Alan Greenspan, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve
  2. pp. 391-396
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Having a Lot of Cotton Is a Joyous Burden
  2. pp. 397-405
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Don't Start a Fad When Implementing a Shareholding System
  2. pp. 406-409
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Basic Medical Insurance Should Be Low in Level but Broad in Coverage
  2. pp. 410-417
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Deepen Financial Reforms and Guard Against Financial Risks
  2. pp. 418-436
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Truly Learn the Lessons of the Asian Financial Crisis
  2. pp. 437-444
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Index
  2. pp. 445-460
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Back Cover
  2. p. BC
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
Back To Top

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.