Rong Yiren
Encyclopedia
Rong Yiren (May 1, 1916 - October 26, 2005) was the Vice-President of the People's Republic of China
from 1993 to 1998 and was heavily involved with the opening of the Chinese economy to western investment. It is from this second accomplishment, that the western media
called him "The Red Capitalist".
, a town near Shanghai
in Jiangsu Province. His father and uncle were the founders and operators of a flour- and cotton-milling business. He was educated at the Christian-run St. John's University
, one of China's most prestigious colleges at the time. After graduation, Rong was assigned to manage a part of the family business and was running all 24 mills by the late 1940s.
At the end of the Chinese Civil War
and the founding of the PRC, Rong chose to stay on the Chinese mainland instead of fleeing to Hong Kong
or Taiwan
as most businessmen did. His family was allowed to keep their business until 1956, when all private businesses became state-owned. His family was given $6 million of compensation. He was appointed the vice-mayor of Shanghai
in 1957 and later served as an advisor on economics
for the Communist Party of China
.
During the Cultural Revolution
, he was denounced as a "capitalist." He lost a great deal of his personal wealth and was the target of death threats from the Red Guards
, radical youth organizations aligned with the new social and cultural policies of Mao Zedong
. In a situation typical to disgraced government officials during the Cultural Revolution, Rong was given a demeaning job as a janitor for a period of time. He received some political protection from Zhou Enlai
and was thus protected from further abuse and mistreatment.
After the death of Mao Zedong and the end of Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiaoping
appointed Rong as an advisor for the economic opening of China
. He set up the China International Trust and Investment Corp., or CITIC, in 1978, which was responsible for much of the initial western investment in China.
At the height of pro-democracy movement in 1989, he risked his life by asking the top Chinese leaders to negotiate with the students. After the Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989
, many political analysis believed that he would receive severe punishment. But he was appointed to the ceremonial post of vice-president in 1993.
Rong retired in 1998 and died on October 26, 2005. He is listed as one of the richest men in Asia, with family fortune of $1.9 billion.
Although regarded as a non-Communist during his lifetime, he was a member of Communist Party of China since 1985, according to official obituary in Chinese; yet at his request that his membership be unveiled only after his death, almost nobody knew about his Communist status even after his vice presidency.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
from 1993 to 1998 and was heavily involved with the opening of the Chinese economy to western investment. It is from this second accomplishment, that the western media
Media bias
Media bias refers to the bias of journalists and news producers within the mass media in the selection of events and stories that are reported and how they are covered. The term "media bias" implies a pervasive or widespread bias contravening the standards of journalism, rather than the...
called him "The Red Capitalist".
Biography
Rong was born in 1916 in WuxiWuxi
Wuxi is an old city in Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. Split in half by Lake Tai, Wuxi borders Changzhou to the west and Suzhou to the east. The northern half looks across to Taizhou across the Yangtze River, while the southern half also borders the province of Zhejiang to the south...
, a town near Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
in Jiangsu Province. His father and uncle were the founders and operators of a flour- and cotton-milling business. He was educated at the Christian-run St. John's University
Saint John's University, Shanghai
St. John's University was an Anglican university located in Shanghai, China. Before the Chinese Civil War it was regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in Shanghai and China...
, one of China's most prestigious colleges at the time. After graduation, Rong was assigned to manage a part of the family business and was running all 24 mills by the late 1940s.
At the end of the Chinese Civil War
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
and the founding of the PRC, Rong chose to stay on the Chinese mainland instead of fleeing to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
or Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
as most businessmen did. His family was allowed to keep their business until 1956, when all private businesses became state-owned. His family was given $6 million of compensation. He was appointed the vice-mayor of Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
in 1957 and later served as an advisor on economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
for the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
.
During the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
, he was denounced as a "capitalist." He lost a great deal of his personal wealth and was the target of death threats from the Red Guards
Red Guards (China)
Red Guards were a mass movement of civilians, mostly students and other young people in the People's Republic of China , who were mobilized by Mao Zedong in 1966 and 1967, during the Cultural Revolution.-Origins:...
, radical youth organizations aligned with the new social and cultural policies of Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
. In a situation typical to disgraced government officials during the Cultural Revolution, Rong was given a demeaning job as a janitor for a period of time. He received some political protection from Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from October 1949 until his death in January 1976...
and was thus protected from further abuse and mistreatment.
After the death of Mao Zedong and the end of Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician, statesman, and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy...
appointed Rong as an advisor for the economic opening of China
Chinese economic reform
The Chinese economic reform refers to the program of economic reforms called "Socialism with Chinese characteristics" in the People's Republic of China that were started in December 1978 by reformists within the Communist Party of China led by Deng Xiaoping.China had one of the world's largest...
. He set up the China International Trust and Investment Corp., or CITIC, in 1978, which was responsible for much of the initial western investment in China.
At the height of pro-democracy movement in 1989, he risked his life by asking the top Chinese leaders to negotiate with the students. After the Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
, many political analysis believed that he would receive severe punishment. But he was appointed to the ceremonial post of vice-president in 1993.
Rong retired in 1998 and died on October 26, 2005. He is listed as one of the richest men in Asia, with family fortune of $1.9 billion.
Although regarded as a non-Communist during his lifetime, he was a member of Communist Party of China since 1985, according to official obituary in Chinese; yet at his request that his membership be unveiled only after his death, almost nobody knew about his Communist status even after his vice presidency.
External links
- Obituary: Rong Yiren, 89, China's famed 'red capitalist' By David Lague International Herald Tribune
- Former Chinese VP Rong Yiren Dies Yahoo!