Li Lanqing Education Interview Records

Author: Li Lanqing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-11-01
Features: During my ten years of working in the State Council, I was responsible for foreign economic and trade, commercial circulation, customs and industry and commerce, machinery and light industry, finance and taxation, science, education, culture and health, press and publication, sports, and other aspects of work. Education is fundamental to the nation and its people, holding great importance, spanning a long front, and facing significant challenges, especially so. Originally, education was unfamiliar to me, and I had to learn on the go, spending considerable effort and deeply experiencing its ups and downs. From being concerned about education to being emotionally connected to it, I have gained much and my feelings have grown even stronger. If I were to write, education should come first, and this also serves as a respectful expression of gratitude to all educators and those who care for and support education. The past ten years have been a decade of tremendous transformation and unprecedented development in China's education sector. During this time, what changes have occurred in Chinese education? What progress has been made? How were the series of major decisions that drove these changes and developments made? How were the corresponding measures implemented? These questions are of great concern not only to educators but also to people from all walks of life. The recently published Li Lanqing on Education: An Interview Record by our press provides a comprehensive and profound elaboration on these issues. As a member of the third-generation leadership collective of the Communist Party of China, Comrade Li Lanqing served as Vice Premier of the State Council for two terms from 1993 to 2003, overseeing national education for ten years and becoming one of the key decision-makers in Chinese education. He led and promoted the historical process of reform and development in Chinese education. After stepping down from his leadership position, Comrade Li Lanqing accepted interviews from journalists, discussing the formulation of major educational decisions during these ten years, sharing his personal experiences and reflections on his work in education, offering insightful views on educational issues, and outlining the future prospects and trends of Chinese education. Through these interviews, readers can appreciate his deep reflections on major theoretical and practical issues in Chinese education, as well as on national public policy and social management. They can also explore his approach to work, working style, and wisdom in handling matters. The book is rich in content and divided into nine parts: "I am willing to be the 'logistics director' for national education work"; "Making teachers truly a respected profession"; "Fulfilling government responsibilities and increasing investment in education"; "Bringing higher education into the 21st century to meet the demands of the times"; "The foundation for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation"; "Comprehensively implementing quality-oriented education and improving educational quality"; "Creating a new chapter in vocational education and adult education"; "Random notes from the interviews"; and "A chronicle of major educational events in the past ten years." Among these, "Random notes from the interviews" vividly records Comrade Li Lanqing's life experiences, hobbies, leisure activities, personality, and life insights. The book is presented in the form of interviews with a colloquial style, giving it a unique charm. It reads lively and engagingly. Comrade Li Lanqing answered over 150 questions from journalists, focusing on educational issues but also covering politics, economics, science and technology, culture and arts, medical care, and other fields, making the book highly informative, interesting, and story-driven. Whether describing situations, explaining principles, clarifying doubts, or expressing feelings, he combines historical analysis with emotional depth, offering clear and insightful perspectives. On the inside cover, Comrade Li Lanqing wrote with deep emotion: "This book is dedicated to all educators in China." This book is not only highly instructive for leaders, especially those in educational administration, but also suitable for educational researchers, principals and teachers at all levels of schools, students at teacher training institutions, and people from all walks of life who care about education. The editorial team for this book includes: Li Lianing, former Deputy Minister of Education and Director of the Basic Education Department; Bi Quanzhong, senior reporter at People's Daily and National Inspector; Yin Hongzhu, deputy director and reporter at Xinhua News Agency; Zhai Bo, deputy editor-in-chief and chief editor of China Education Daily, among others. The book contains approximately 400,000 words, is accompanied by nearly 50 illustrations, and includes photographs, Comrade Li Lanqing's handwriting, and seal carving, some of which are published for the first time.