China’s Rise Unveiled: A Conversation with Heine
Amb. Jorge Heine, Research Professor at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies and Interim Director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, was recently featured in a Radio University of Chile broadcast, published on October 17, 2023, where he engaged in a conversation with Manuel Antonio Garretón, a prominent Chilean sociologist, political scientist, and essayist.
In the conversation, Professor Heine discussed his book, Xi-Na en el Siglo del Dragon, published by LOM, which provides insight into China’s rapid transformation. Heine emphasized China’s significance in the contemporary world and its unique path to becoming a global superpower. The video delves into China’s astonishing progress, emphasizing its ability to lift 800 million people out of poverty within a short period.
Heine underlines that China’s success is not solely due to its large population and low wages but rather to its efficient policies and ability to implement them swiftly. While China is an authoritarian regime, its effectiveness in implementing public policies sets it apart. He argues that China’s unique development model and its approach to infrastructure development make it stand out on the global stage.
Moreover, Heine discusses the importance of China’s engagement with Latin America, emphasizing its complementarity with the region. China’s need for food and raw materials aligns with Latin America’s resources, making the region an essential partner for China. Heine mentions that while Latin America can benefit significantly from its relationship with China, it must also focus on value-added industrialization and knowledge transfer to maximize the benefits of this partnership.
Professor Heine’s insights in this video shed light on China’s extraordinary transformation, its global impact, and the potential for Latin America to forge a mutually beneficial relationship with the world’s second-largest economy. Watch the full interview on Conversations with Manuel Antonio Garretón’s YouTube channel here.
Ambassador Jorge Heine is a Research Professor at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. He has served as ambassador of Chile to China (2014-2017), to India (2003-2007), and to South Africa (1994-1999), and as a Cabinet Minister in the Chilean Government. Read more about Ambassador Heine on his Pardee School faculty profile.