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2009-10-01 | All chapters

Sidney Rittenberg Recalls Six Decades of Dramatic Changes
European Chamber, 30th September 2009

Sidney Rittenberg, the famous American scholar of China and the Chinese, yesterday gave European Chamber members in Beijing a vivid first-hand account of the founding of the People's Republic in a captivating 2-hour presentation that drew on his personal experiences of pivotal moments in modern Chinese history.

Mr. Rittenberg, who first came to China in 1944 and worked alongside Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De in the legendary communist base of Yan'an in the 1940s, shared his personal experience of the Communist revolution, discussed his memories of the first generation of China’s leaders, and offered his unique perspectives on modern economic and political trends in China. He also spoke movingly of the 16 years he spent in prison, and the dramatic changes he witnessed across China over the past six decades.

Mr. Igor Rogachev, the former Russian Ambassador to China, and over 170 members of the European and American business communities attended the event, which was co-organised by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, ACA Publishing and the American Chamber of Commerce.

For more upcoming events by the European Chamber, please visit:
http://www.europeanchamber.com.cn/view/events

PHOTO: (from left to right) Mr Rittenberg's wife Mrs Yulin, European Chamber President Joerg Wuttke, former Russian Ambassador to China Mr. Igor Rogachev, Mr Sidney Rittenberg, European Chamber Vice President Jacques de Boisseson, General Manager of ACA Publishing Ms Wang Ying and Mr Rittenberg's daughter

PHOTO: Mr Sidney Rittenberg (2nd from right) talks with former Russian Ambassador to China Mr. Igor Rogachev (1st from right), European Chamber President Joerg Wuttke (2nd from left) and European Chamber Vice President Jacques de Boisseson (1st from left)