China Wants the World to Understand Its Ruling Party (CPC), Leaders and Policies

NEW YORK, May 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- China's latest efforts to inform the world about itself are a weekly primetime CCTV News television series broadcast in English in over 100 countries, including the United States--"Closer to China with R.L.Kuhn"—and an unprecedented outreach by the Communist Party of China ("CPC"), China's ruling party, at the largest publishing convention in the United States with a new series of books—"Understanding the CPC."

As China has become the world's second-largest economy and involved with every important matter in international affairs, its leadership is acting to explain their nation to other peoples and governments, based on the belief that mutual understanding is the strongest foundation for international peace and prosperity. 

One of the most dramatic examples of this outreach program is the CCTV News series "Closer to China with R.L.Kuhn," which has been broadcast weekly worldwide and in China since January, as well as via the CCTV News website.  Links to the shows already broadcast are below. 

The series tells the dynamic, complex story of contemporary China through candid, intimate discussions with China's thought leaders and decision makers. The program's host, Dr. Robert Lawrence Kuhn, an American corporate strategist and China political/economic advisor and commentator for more than 20 years, said, "'Closer to China' is an experiment in open communications initiated and supported by China's senior leaders in the belief that when China's thought leaders and decision makers are seen and heard, both the world and China are well served. The program embraces honesty, candor, critical thinking, transparency, debate, and open access to ideas and information in China's vital areas: politics, Party/CPC, government, governance, reform, law, judiciary, foreign affairs, diplomacy, economics, business, finance, society, culture, religion, ethnicity, defense, science, technology and sports. Executive Producer Adam Zhu and I have the flexibility, as agreed to by China's senior leaders, to ask tough, specific questions that the world wants to know about China."

"Closer to China" Broadcast Schedule
China Time - Sunday 09:30; Sunday 21:30 (9:30 pm)
U.S. East Coast Time – Saturday 20:30 (8:30 pm); Sunday 8:30 am
GMT Time - Sunday 01:30; Sunday 13:30 (1:30 pm)

Closer to China Website - http://cctv.cntv.cn/lm/closertochina/

With the publishing initiative, China is sending 500 top publishing professionals, internationally acclaimed authors, as well as senior government officials to attend BookExpo America (BEA) in New York at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center May 27-29.  This will be a unique effort to widen and deepen the cultural and business ties between the world's two largest publishing markets. 

"This is the most significant foreign delegation that we have ever hosted at America's largest publishing convention," noted Steven Rosato, BEA's Show Director.  Publishers in both China and America are very interested in developing a strong presence in each other's markets.  The China presence will have both a professional and a cultural component, with events scheduled at Javits Center and throughout New York City.

Dr. Kuhn will give keynote speeches at the two major China events of the BEA.  One will be a seminar on the governing philosophy of Xi Jinping, President of China, and his book about governance, "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China."  The second will be the launch of the Communist Party of China's first English language book series explaining the CPC to the world, "Understanding the CPC."

Dr. Kuhn said Xi's book, "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," is a milestone, both in substance and symbol.

"It offers openly the political philosophy of President Xi Jinping and recognizes his emergence as China's senior leader. While misunderstandings about China and its leadership abound, there is now no need to speculate about President Xi. Here is how he thinks, candidly and comprehensively," he said.

The books about the Communist Party of China are another milestone, Dr. Kuhn said.

"'Understanding the CPC', this unprecedented series of books published by the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, marks the CPC's dual commitment to domestic renewal and international outreach, a confluence that is not coincidental," Kuhn said.

"If the world does not understand the CPC, it is the CPC's responsibility to reach out to the world. That's what this series of books is all about: a clear, comprehensive description of the CPC by the CPC—its philosophies and policies, organization and governance, vision and challenges. Disagree with the CPC, argue with the CPC, but all who need to know China, and all who think they know China, must understand the CPC."

For further discussion of the CPC's outreach, see Dr. Kuhn's column published today by the South China Morning Post: http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1809033/know-china-one-must-understand-communist-party.

Kuhn noted the CCTV News show, "Closer To China with R.L. Kuhn," is producing five exclusive shows on "Understanding the CPC" and already has broadcast two on Xi's book and governance. 

SOURCE Robert Lawrence Kuhn