Editor’s note for Friday, January 22, 2021

My thoughts today: 

Two things worth your time this weekend, aside from all the summaries and links below: 

• Boon or boondoggle? “The cost and benefit of China’s bullet trains,” by Macro Polo.
• The Red capitalist — “Lessons for Jack Ma on doing the Party’s business,” from Rong Yiren, by Neil Thomas on The Wire China, which begins thusly:   

It was the spring of 1949, and 荣毅仁 Róng Yìrén had reason to worry. Reportedly one of China’s 10 richest individuals, he hid with his wife and five children in a downstairs corridor of his mansion as the People’s Liberation Army swept through Shanghai and claimed it for the Chinese Communist Party. 

Upcoming events:

• On January 27, join us as we hear from the chief researcher of the Hurun Report China Rich List.
• Come network with us at the 2021 Serica Annual Gala.

Our word of the day is China Initiative (中国行动计划 zhōngguó xíngdòng jìhuà). 

—Jeremy Goldkorn, Editor-in-Chief