A Tribute to President Hu and Premier Wen.

[FairAndUnbiased]

In 2002, we were a nation on the edge.

Inflation hit 20% a few years earlier. There was loss of 50 million high paying technical jobs. An entire nation of 1 billion people could not even compete with tiny Italy economically. Average wages were less than 1000 RMB, or 125 dollars, per month.

Scientifically, an entire nation of 1 billion could not even compete with France and only ranked 6th in scientific output. We had zero commercial semiconductor foundries, zero multinational companies, our highest tech planes were imported Su-27s, our entire internet backbone was made of foreign suppliers, foreign cell phones held 80% market share, and not even in fast food noodles could we compete with Japan.

Socially, we were a nation in despair. Our young people in the rural areas were burdened with the triple humiliation of agricultural taxes, strictly enforced hukou (temporary pass 暂住证）system and no public medical care. Over 30% of people lived on less than 1 dollar a day. It is no wonder that it was in these days that emigration hit an all time high and so did rates of marriage to foreigners. We had no confidence in ourselves. Our intelligentsia was openly questioning the very merits of Chinese culture, asking, "were we really simply worse?"

In 2012, we are a nation on the edge - of prosperity.

Inflation has never exceeded 10% this decade. Unemployment has gone down to 4%. Average wages have risen to 3000 RMB, or 450 USD, per month, and still growing at double digit rates. We have the 2nd most number of companies in the Fortune Global 500 list. Our currency appreciated over 50%.

Scientifically, we have a long way to go, but we've also gone far. Today we have the 2nd greatest amount of published papers. We have a top 4 domestic semiconductor foundry and several multinational invested ones. We are the second nation in the world to field two 5th gen projects, a long way from the J-8's and Su-27's of the past. We've sent not just a man, but multiple men, and a woman, into space, being one of 3 countries able to do so. We've set world records in high speed rail length, quantum optics and supercomputing. All major infrastructure is now domestic. Domestic firms enjoy 80% market share in the mobile phone sector. We have our own computer chips now, designed and fabricated at home.

Socially, we now have hope. The agricultural tax has been abolished, as has the temporary pass system. 90% of the people have public medical care. Emigration is down. The public debate is now on "how will we take our rightful place in the world", not about the value of our own culture. The number of people living in absolute poverty has gone down to less than 10% of the population. We finally have confidence in ourselves. We can hold our heads up high in the world today.

胡书记，人民的好书记，我们想您了！只可惜岁月不饶人，10年一晃而过，我们长大了，您也老了。在您的领导下，中国从一个没地位的第三世界国家迈向了大国强国的方向。迷信的中国人变成了理智的中国人；丑陋的中国人变成了受欢迎的中国人。中华民族从一个自卑的民族变成了一个抬得起头的民族。祝您福如东海长流水，寿如南山不老松！

温总理，人民的好总理，我们想您了！当国家有难，您永远站在前线指挥工作。无论什么重要场合，从汶川地震的废墟，到每年的G20经济论坛，我们都能见到您单薄的身影。您伴随着我们的成长，让我们这一代年轻人在您的领导下看到了希望，看到了未来还有一个”中国梦“。有您在，明天会更好！祝您身体健康，寿比南山。

 

[Interpreter]

They do what they should do,just like doctors should save lives or police should protect the public.That's all,nothing worth exalting.

It's a long road for our nation to go.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

People don't appreciate good doctors, until they've had bad ones.

 

[JSCh]

Whether you like their style, personality, policy, political bent or not, 感恩 is a huge part of Chinese traditional value that I think no Chinese should forget!

 

[TR.1]

how did he do this

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

I was born in the late 80's. For the 80's and 90's generation, the Hu era has been the era of firsts. No era before, and no era after, will ever compare.

我是晚期80后。对于80，90后来说，胡锦涛时代是许多”第一“的时代，是一个史无前例的时代。

Our stories are endless, yet somehow, all typical.

我们的故事众多，但，都是很典型的。

For 30% of us, we were first generation college students. Do you remember how mom and dad said "study hard!" as they waved us off at the bus stop?

对于30%的年轻人，我们是第一代大学生。你还记得在公交站爸妈送行时嘱咐我们”要认真学习“吗？

For 70% of us, it was our first time leaving the farm and the village high school. Do you remember how mom and dad said "take care in the big city?" as they waved us off at the bus stop?

对于70%的年轻人，这是我们第一次离开养育我们的农村和镇上的高中。你还记得爸妈在公交站送行时嘱咐我们”在城里要当心“吗？

For 80% of us, it was the first time we've used a mobile phone.

对于80%的年轻人，这是我们第一次使用手机。

For 90% of us, it was the first time we've used the internet.

对于90%的年轻人，这是我们第一次接触互联网。

For 100 million of us, it was the first time we've boarded a train to Shanghai or Beijing with 500 RMB in the pocket and some crazy dreams of striking it rich. It was also the first time some of us boarded a train back, disappointed but stronger and ready for the next round. And some of us, well, we've made it and when we boarded the train back, it was with pride.

对于1亿年轻的农民工，这是我们第一次出远门，是我们第一次怀揣着天真的梦想和500块人民币搭上开往上海或北京的列车。这也是很多人第一次失败而归，但失败后的我们会更坚强，下次回到城市会更有竞争力。也有很多人梦想成真，回家乡时成为了全村的骄傲。

For another 100 million of us, it was the first time we've lived in a college dorm and talked with someone our age about our dreams and aspirations. It was the first time we made friends and made mistakes. It was our first time internet dating, and learning in the big school of society. It was our first time designing a project, it was our first glimpse at research.

对于1亿大学生，这是我们第一次住大学宿舍，第一次与室友促膝长谈聊理想和未来。这是我们第一次交到真心朋友，也是第一次犯错误。这是我们第一次接触网恋，在社会的大学堂里上人身最刻骨铭心的课。这是我们第一次做设计，第一次做研究。

For 30 million of us, it was our first time graduating, and then finding, that we're now adults and unemployed adults at that. But in a rapidly rising world power, jobs get filled quickly, wages rise quickly, and soon we've gone from living in basements to getting married in a 100 m2 apartment.

对于3000万毕业即失业的大学生，这是我们第一次毕业后发现，我们长大了，并且不仅长大了，是无业人员！但在一个快速崛起中的大国，工作岗位日益增多，工资也随之上升，很快我们从挤在地下室苟且偷生的蚁族成为了住在100平米商品房准备结婚的人。

Never forget where you came from. Never lose sight of where you're going.

永远不要忘本。永远不要迷失方向。

To the 80's generation, 90's generation and our Hu era. 2002-2012

致80后，90后，和伴随我们长大的胡锦涛时代。2002-2012

 

[terranMarine]

how did he do this

Why don't you go ask the Japanese as you are convinced China was a 3rd world country and we should be grateful to Japan that China is now a rich country.

 

[HongWu]

Yuck, Hu and Wen let China accumulate too much foreign currency reserves and now they are worthless (especially US treasury). Should never have exported any natural resources, never privatized so many state assets and should have saved the environment instead. Hu Jintao and (much worst) Wen Jiabao are the worst Chinese leaders since Chiang Kai-Shek.

 

[FairAndUnbiased]

Lol kid, how about open wikipedia, type in Zhu or Jiang's names, and see who actually did everything you said. In 2002 SOEs were on the verge of dying out because of Zhu's reforms. 50 million people were out of jobs because of them. Today people are talking about 国进民退 because the SOE's are incredibly profitable and powerful.

 

[TR.1]

Why don't you go ask the Japanese as you are convinced China was a 3rd world country and we should be grateful to Japan that China is now a rich country.

Why get emotional so much.

 

[terranMarine]

Why get emotional so much.

That's all you can come up with?

 

[ahfatzia]

As an outsider looking in, I think Hu and Wen did as good a job as any pair of leaders did for their respective country, contemporary or historically. Their quiet demeanor hide their professional skills as economic managers, bureaucratic administrators and diplomats.

They are underrated and their services will be missed.

 

[HongWu]

Lol kid, how about open wikipedia, type in Zhu or Jiang's names, and see who actually did everything you said. In 2002 SOEs were on the verge of dying out because of Zhu's reforms. 50 million people were out of jobs because of them. Today people are talking about 国进民退 because the SOE's are incredibly profitable and powerful.

What do you know about China when you don't even live here?

When Hu took over, China had just $200 billion foreign exchange reserves. Today China has $3,290 billion. That $3000 billion difference is basically wealth handed over to foreign countries that China will never get back. Some of it came from backbreaking labor, some of it came from exploiting natural resources. $3000 billion divided by China's population works out to about $2500 or about 50% of China's GDP / capita. In other words, Hu and Wen over their 10 years in power handed over about 6 months of income from every single Chinese citizen to foreign countries and we'll never see that back.

Only Chinese people living abroad whose wealth came from "suspicious sources" could thank Hu and Wen for what they did