By staff reporter MICHAEL ZARATE

ALAN García Pérez has always considered himself an admirer of the late former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, the former president of Peru told China Today. Perez twice came to power in Peru, serving as president from 1985 to 1990 and from 2006 to 2011. During the latter term China surpassed the United States to become Peru’s largest trading partner. Perez spoke with China Today in Beijing last July following his participation in the World Peace Forum hosted by Tsinghua University in the Chinese capital.

Former Peru President Alan García Pérez at an interview with China Today.

China’s Reforms “the Largest Social Transformation in History”

China Today: Mr. President, in the last 20 years the world has undergone events that have changed the global geopolitical climate, such as the fall of Berlin Wall in 1989, the September 11, 2001 attacks and the 2008 global financial crisis. What do you think about the current global situation?

Alan García Pérez: This is an era of new productivity. High-tech and the information industry have taken the place of fuel and oil to become the major creators of wealth. The world political structure has changed immensely since the fall of the Berlin Wall. We, the young generation included, are unprepared for the high-speed development, soaring creativity and manipulation of strong powers around the world. The financial crisis in 2008 is an obvious example.

China Today: What do you think is the root reason for China’s rapid development in recent years?

Alan García Pérez: China is a socialist country with its own characteristics that does not lack muscle when it comes to technological innovation. China has made the changes necessary to allow this country with a population of 1.3 billion to live in abundance, which amounts to the largest social transformation in the history of the human race. In my opinion, this is mainly due to the leadership of Deng Xiaoping as well as to the aggregation of Chinese wisdom and hard work. Deng was one of the greatest leaders of all time. He predicted everything that would happen in the information era. Even today, we are constantly reminded of his importance.

China Today: You have visited China eight times. Which of the changes in China have impressed you the most?

Alan García Pérez: When I visit China, I pay most attention to the food, means of transport, clothing and even the facial expressions of people on the street, rather than to the construction of skyscrapers and highways. These fine details apparent in average citizens convey the dramatic changes that have occurred in the country over the past three decades. I notice that Chinese people today have the same fashion sense as their peers in the West and are no longer timid in conversation with foreigners. It is no exaggeration to define these changes as a revolution in human development.

Chinese Plan Creates “Better Conditions for Free Trade”

China Today: During your second term as president, China became Peru’s largest trading partner. Peru also ran a trade surplus, which was very good for its development. What factors caused this?

Alan García Pérez: First, we realized that Peru must be open to the world. Peru’s government at that time reduced import taxes from 13 percent to three percent and imposed zero tariffs on 86 percent of imported goods. Meanwhile, a series of international trading deals were signed, including one with China. Second, China’s realistic policies have played a key role. Compared with capitalist nations, China’s long-term development plan, under the leadership of the central government, creates better conditions for free trade.

China Today: When you were in power, Peru signed a free trade agreement with China that came into effect on March 1, 2010. What benefits has this agreement brought to the two countries?

Alan García Pérez: Trade between our two countries has thrived since signing the agreement, the volume of bilateral trade having tripled from US $4 billion in 2005 to US $12 billion. This growth also bolsters the confidence of Chinese investors in Peru. I believe that trade between our two nations will easily double in the next few years.

China Today: What do you think Peru can learn from China’s rapid development?

Alan Garcia Pérez: I can say in all sincerity that I found the official visit I made to China in 2004 while I was president greatly inspiring. I witnessed the obvious changes that had occurred in Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and in Beijing’s suburbs. I first learned about the development plans in these two respects one evening in 1983 at the home of the late President Li Xiannian during talks with Mr. Li and Mr. Deng Xiaoping. I later made trips to Beijing’s outskirts and to Shenzhen, but construction there had barely started. Deng foresaw the investment opportunities and rapid economic development that the new information technology boom would bring about. Any government’s failure to keep abreast of the times and seize such opportunities amounts to its own shame and a loss for its people.

“China Treats All Nations with Respect”

China Today: A growing conundrum confronting the world today is that of the conflict between the sovereign rights of countries and international security concerns. Two recent examples are Libya and Syria. In your opinion, what kind of role does China play in maintaining world peace?

Alan García Pérez: Early in my political career, I thought that equal relationships among nations were just words on paper. Some nations treat other countries differently based on their military prowess or economic power. China, however, influenced by Confucianism, treats other nations equally and with respect.

I remember the time during the year I was 33 when I had the chance to have dinner with the Chinese president. The manner in which I was treated did not give me the slightest impression of being regarded merely as a Party leader of a small country. From then on, I started to believe that mutual respect and harmony among countries around the world was not just empty talk.

I once had a conversation with China’s foreign minister. We both agreed that economic and security issues know no boundaries, but that this in no way means a country can willfully meddle in another’s internal affairs. Under circumstance where domestic problems have repercussions outside of the country that jeopardize the security of its neighbors or even of the entire international community, however, outside interference is both necessary and justified. Given the likelihood of the latter scenarios, I fully support the limitation of nuclear weapons.

China Capable of “Setting the Pace of World Development”

China Today: Why do you think so highly of China’s traditional philosophy?

Alan García Pérez: This new world of rapid development and high creativity requires strong competitiveness of every nation. In the past, the economic development of Peru and other Latin American nations mainly depended on natural resources and domestic markets. Geographical boundaries, however, have been broken in recent years. Only industrious, highly disciplined nations that use the least amount of resources to create the greatest wealth can set the pace of world development and succeed in global competition. China is such a nation. In contrast, certain European nations unrestrainedly waste their rich social resources rather than generating utility for the world.

Traditional Chinese qualities, such as respect for history and the older generation, the concept of social harmony, and extraordinary fortitude amid suffering, have allowed China and the Chinese people to stand at the forefront of world development.

China Today: Besides Deng Xiao-ping and Confucius, which other Chinese people do you admire?

Alan García Pérez: Former President Jiang Zemin is an excellent writer of high virtue and strong spirit. Deng Xiaoping was a charismatic leader. I also hold President Hu Jintao in high esteem. Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, along with other Chinese senior leaders, is a wise politician whose intelligence and insight greatly impress me. The Chinese political system is based on the choice of the people and embodies collective wisdom, rather than the grasp of a dynastic family or imperial court.