May 16,
2018

ISSUE
No. 131

AMS Weekly Newsletter
Dedicated to the development of the future stewards of U.S.-China relations
This week we focus on Marxism in contemporary China, a special event on diversity in diplomacy, a chengyu delivered recently by Xi Jinping at Peking University, and a video outlining Xi's strategy on cybersecurity in China.
Weekly Readings

With the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx's birth on  May 5, official  Chin ese  media and scholars all over the country are busy writing about the importance of Marxism in China. The truth of the matter is, Marx is still much more important to contemporary Chinese governance than most outside observers understand. One of the most influential pieces making the rounds is this penetrating essay by Jiang Shigong, law professor at Peking University. It is long and dense, but we have included both Chinese an English versions for those that are feeling ambitious.
俗语 in Xi Jinping's Speeches

敲锣打鼓
qiāo luó dǎ gǔ

Meaning: beat drums and gongs

In a speech on May 2 at Peking University, Xi Jinping used this chengyu to tell students that China's development and rejuvenation cannot just be cheered along, but must be earned through hard work and sacrifice. Using this chengyu in the negative is a good way to think about incorporating it into your vocabulary: " 绝不是轻轻松松、敲锣打鼓就能实现的."  The rest of the speech focused on the importance of correct political thought, ethical teachers, and developing talent for the future.

Original:  我说过,中华民族伟大复兴,绝不是轻轻松松、敲锣打鼓就能实现的,我们必须准备付出更为艰巨、更为艰苦的努力。

Special Dinner Event on Diversity in Diplomacy, June 14th 4-8pm



The American Mandarin Society is a proud supporter of this special event, which will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the US-China Education Trust and mark 25 years since USCET Founding President Julia Chang Bloch served as the first Asian American Ambassador of the United States. It will also celebrate the 26th year of the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowships, a flagship recruitment program dedicated to increasing Foreign Service diversity. 

The program will include keynote speakers, a dinner reception, and a panel discussion on the status of women in diplomacy today. We very much hope to see you on this special occasion as we look to encourage, inspire, and address barriers limiting women in the diplomatic field.

The event is free, thanks to generous underwriting by Accume Partners and Mark Erwin, CAA, but space is limited. AMS members can find details and rsvp here.

Support the American Mandarin Society!

If you appreciate the effort we put into organizing Chinese-language policy events, providing robust language and policy resources on our website, and the kind of content you see in this newsletter, please consider supporting us with a tax-deductible contribution--every bit helps!

The American Mandarin Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.