ChinaTalk Out of the Gobi: Weijian Shan on the Cultural Revolution, economic reform, and U.S.-China ties
Jan 15, 2020
Weijian Shan, Chairman and CEO of PAG Group and author of "Out of the Gobi," shares his inspiring journey from a teenage exile during the Cultural Revolution to leading a major investment firm. He reflects on the personal toll of this era and contrasts it with China’s current economic reforms. Shan discusses state-owned company challenges, the complexities of U.S.-China trade relations, and the recent protests in Hong Kong, urging for gradual reform and a richer discourse on freedom and democracy.
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From Gobi to Wharton
- Weijian Shan, author of "Out of the Gobi", spent six years in the Gobi Desert during the Cultural Revolution.
- He went on to study with Janet Yellen, teach at Wharton, and lead PAG Group.
Cultural Revolution: A Sensitive Topic
- The Cultural Revolution is a sensitive topic, with some dismissing it as "history."
- Shan's memoir offers a crucial firsthand account to counter such narratives.
De-urbanization Disaster
- The Party portrays the Cultural Revolution era as glorious, but Shan believes it was a disaster.
- He argues it wasted human talent and resources through forced de-urbanization.
