China has become a superpower over the past thirty years, and slowly, a mindset of animosity is developing in Western societies towards this largest and most powerful developing nation. China is stealing our wealth and our jobs. China isn’t playing fair. China is the great polluter and the new colonizer. China wants war. For each of these statements, however, a completely different one can be made. China is the country where the greatest reduction in poverty in history has taken place since 1980. China gave the world the cheap solar panel and builds half of all solar panels and wind turbines worldwide each year. China provided us with incredibly cheap products for years. China is the country where Western multinationals achieved an average return on investment of 20 percent. China is building the infrastructure that Africa desperately needs. China is claiming its rightful place in the governance of the world, and so on, and so forth…
John Vandaele first visited China in the spring of 1989 and has been there many times since. He has witnessed its growth firsthand.
In his talk, he connects the two sides of the Chinese coin: a country that cannot be judged in black and white terms, and with which we should aim to collaborate in a balanced way. It’s a country that follows its own path, and one from which we can learn something—Western nations are already imitating China, in fact—but it’s also a country we can think critically about. And… China is not Xina.
John Vandaele is a journalist for MO* and author of ‘De melkboer en de geschiedenis’ (The Milkman and History)
Wanneer: 11:00
Waar: Bol zaal
Spreker: John Vandaele
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Read moreForward Fest 2024 invites you to join the conversation, share your perspective, and collaborate with others to build a future that is fair, inclusive, and interconnected. Explore, learn, and contribute to the change our world needs.
LEARN, SHARE, INSPIRE
Prepare for a day filled with inspiring lectures, surprising workshops, and professional connections that will not only stimulate your thinking but also touch your heart. This is your chance to learn from leading thinkers, network with like-minded individuals, and actively contribute to a more just world.
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Forward Fest is organized by 11.11.11, ngo-federation and VLIR-UOS in collaboration with MO* with the support of Belgian development cooperation.
11.11.11
THE COALITION FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY.
11.11.11 aims to eradicate exploitation from the world. Everyone – anywhere in the world – has the right to a dignified existence. To truly make a change, power and resources must be distributed more fairly, and the current system must be questioned.
More info on 11.be
NGO-FEDERATIE
FLEMISH FEDERATION OF NGOS FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION.
The ngo-federation represents its members to the federal and other governments, supports the members in their discussions with those governments, promotes cooperation within the sector, and strengthens the quality of NGOs’ operations.
More info on ngo-federatie.be
VLIR-UOS
INNOVATIVE RESPONSES TO GLOBAL AND LOCAL CHALLENGES
VLIR-UOS supports partnerships and scholarships between universities and colleges in both Flanders and the Global South, seeking innovative solutions for global as well as local challenges.
More info on vliruos.be