1, A few days ago I went to a senior forum about Chinese and American think tanks in Tsinghua University - Brookings’ Institute. Chairman Xi pointed out that we need to develop think tanks with Chinese characteristics. Therefore, there is an elevated status of think tanks in China. It is said the US has the largest numbers of think tanks, over 1000. And China ranks the second, with over 400. It seems that China will definitely have a great leap forward and will outnumber the US. Therefore some people say that we should definitely control the number of think tanks. This is indeed reasonable, however, I think what is more important is the quality. If we bring up the quantity control right now, then the administrative bureaus might eliminate the existence of private think tanks without any powerful connections. Among them there might be a future Brookings Institute. Therefore, I don’t advocate limiting the development at this stage. To the contrary, I think we need to have better conditions, let young plants grow bigger. Let there be natural selection from fair competition.
前几天，参加了清华布鲁金斯中心的一个中美智库高层论坛。因为习大大提出要发展有中国特色的智库，于是，智库大大提高了地位。据说，世界上美国智库数量第一，有一千多家，中国第二，有四百多家。看这个架势，中国一定会有个大跃进，在数量上超过美国。因此，有人说，应当控制智库数量。这固然有道理，但是，我认为，其实，质量更重要。如果说现在就提出要控制数量，那么管理部门限制的很可能就是没有权势的民间智库的存在，而这里面，很可能就有未来的布鲁金斯。所以，我不主张现在就提出要限制发展，我认为，相反，要提供更好的条件，让树苗栽下去，长起来。在竞争中优胜劣汰。
2, Speaking of the independence of think tanks, I am very earthy and money is the first thing that comes into my mind. The independence of a think tank primarily relies on its economic independence. There are many so-called think tanks in China that are actually fully sponsored by the government. Therefore, they are actually a writing team for the government, or a department of policy justification for the government. Right now, private donations from entrepreneurs - big or small mostly go to philanthropy or charity, very few of them direct to think tanks. If there is any, it’s mostly conditioned. Think tanks have become executional organizations for the bosses. I think the government should first have clear policies to encourage private or corporate donation to think tanks. There should also be regulation that research themes of think tanks should be free from the control of donors. If the research subject is sensitive, its donors are also free from any responsibility. Of course, a very important element is that the think tank itself needs to be good, professional and trusted.
说到智库的独立性，我这个人比较俗，一下子就想到钱上去了。一个智库要独立，首先是经济的独立。现在中国的很多所谓智库，都是政府全额拨款，因此，其实是政府的一个写作班子，或者是政策诠释部门。现在，中国的企业家或者是私人捐款，基本上还在公益和慈善领域，捐款给智库的极少，就算有少量的捐款，很多也是有具体要求的，智库其实成了老板的一个执行机构。我认为，首先，政府要有明确的政策，鼓励私人或者企业捐款转向智库一部分，而且要规定，智库研究的课题与捐款人无关，即便是有些课题涉及了敏感内容，也没有捐款人的连带责任。当然，一个重要因素是智库本身水平够高，品牌好，让捐款人信得过。
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