Chinese edition of Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa’s book Ecuador: From Banana Republic to Non-Republic

 

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa attended the launch of the Chinese edition of his book Ecuador: From Banana Republic to Non-Republic at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) on Jan. 6. CASS President Wang Weiguang delivered a welcome speech at the event and CASS Vice-President Li Yang presided over the ceremony.
 

Ecuador: From Banana Republic to Non-Republic is based on academic papers Correa wrote from 1993 to 2005. It comprises four parts: an introduction to the development mode of Ecuador; major crises Ecuador has undergone since 1999; criticism of some concepts; and economic development proposals for Ecuador and Latin America.
 

In his book, Correa reveals setbacks neoliberalism and related policies have imposed on Ecuador’s economic and social development. Correa writes that Latin American leaders are calling for a development road leading to social equity and poverty eradication. To this end, public policies promoting equity in labor relations are needed to realize “participatory democracy” and foster entrepreneurs with social responsibility.

Correa notes that over the past 30 years, under the influence of neoliberalism, Ecuador and other Latin American countries experienced aggravated foreign debt, dollarization of their domestic currencies, unequal treatment in free trade and other adverse conditions that hindered economic development. 

Correa opposes neoliberalism, which relies on the market to solve all economic and social problems. “We must rid our dependence on capital and free ourselves from the tyranny of the market. The market should serve us rather than dominate us,” he said.
 

Correa recommends that humanistic concern come before protection of capital, and social equity be prioritized over market development.
 

Correa notes that his views have modern relevance when analyzing social and economic issues.
 

“Despite its concentration on problems in Ecuador, the book is of great significance to Latin America,” said Correa. Challenges including fiscal and taxation policies and debt issues now faced by Argentina, Bolivia and other Latin American countries were previously experienced by Ecuador, he added.
 

At the book launch, Wang welcomed Correa and acknowledged his earlier visit to CASS seven years ago. Wang described Correa as “a politician and well-known scholar.” Ecuador: From Banana Republic to Non-Republic includes Correa’s probe into the independent development road of developing countries with profound practical and theoretical significance. It can serve as a valuable reference for China and other developing countries, said Wang.
 

Wang noted that to eliminate the side effects brought about by the development of neoliberalism, Latin American countries made efforts to actively seek a development road suited to their own conditions and they also proposed a series of new approaches in politics, and economic and social development.
 

Wang congratulated Correa for Ecuador’s remarkable achievements in political stability, economic growth, social development and autonomous development. Wang also praised Ecuador for its persistence with principles of independence, respect for other countries and safeguarding its national sovereignty.
 

Ecuador’s government has made proposals related to major regional and international issues, resulting in significant contributions to safeguarding the interests of developing countries, said Wang.
 

Correa has been president of Ecuador since Jan. 2007. During his time in office, relations between China and Ecuador have developed rapidly. In 2013, trade volume between the two countries totaled $3.74 billion. China has become Ecuador’s second largest trade partner, and Ecuador is a major investment country for China in Latin America. Correa noted at his book launch that China and Ecuador have developed friendly relations based on mutual respect since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1980. He added that he felt honored his book had been published in Chinese.

 

Wang Chunyan is a reporter from the Chinese Social Sciences Today.