"Every individual must hold himself responsible for the prosperity or decline of his country." Such is a time-honored tradition of the Chinese since ancient time.

Yue Housheng, 35, a contemporary scholar of strategic thinking, seeks to carry on this tradition and assumes such responsibilities in his own way.

He has just completed the three-volume "State Peaceful Development Strategy" (Guojia Heping Fazhan Zhanlue), the first of its kind in China to expatiate on peace and development, the two biggest concerns of our time from a globalization perspective.

The book, published by China Population Press, comes at a time as "peaceful development" have become buzzwords in China and many other countries.

Containing 1.6 million Chinese characters in three volumes, Yue's massive literary undertaking has won wide acclaim in academic circles since it rolled off the presses in late September.

"China has embarked on a scientific development path and is upholding a peaceful development cause," Yue told China Daily. "I feel much obligated to offer some 'food for thought' strategic thinking from a scientific point of view - that may become options for decision-makers in the era of globalization."

Yue's book contains six parts, and discusses theoretic grounds, historical evolution and cultural origins for his thesis. He elaborates on how China could survive and thrive in a globalizated world and on ways to implement the State's peaceful development strategy.

He also discussed the difficulties and problems that China may encounter in pursuing such a strategy.

Prolific writer

Yue writes intensifying international interdependence will increasingly prompt countries to expand co-operations for their own and mutual benefits.

Armed forces and wars, he said, may be preferably reduced to target only terrorists in "this new century."

The core of China's peaceful development strategy is to create a favorable environment for the country's progress and prosperity, he claims.

This is not the first time the young scholar has produced works of practical value.

Well before the government formally advocated fostering growth of the culture industry in early 2000, Yue branded it as a golden sector in 1997, and appealed for efforts to cope with what he thought was "a wave of cultural industry" that was entitled to reshape the landscape of society.

In his book, "Golden Industry" (Huangjin Chanye) published by the China Social Press in 2000, Yue expounded on his vision of how to tap the potentials of the culture industry, determine the direction of its development, in addition to tackling the woes and harnessing order of the cultural market.

Immediately after Beijing won its bid in July 2001 to host the 2008 Olympics, Yue again took the initiative discussing with government officials as well as entrepreneurs on the hot topic - the "Olympics-related economy."

As a result, he wrote a book based on his lectures and research, "Talks with Government Officials and Entrepreneurs on the Operation of Olympics Economy" (Yu Zhengfu Guanyuan He Qiye Renshi Tan Aoyun Jingji) which was published by the China Times Economic Publishing House in 2002.

Chinese philosophy

Yue's books and lectures pertaining to strategic development of Chinese culture industry and Olympics economy, shot him to fame and saw him attend many seminars. It also drew a flurry of friends and opponents, who were interested in his views and insights.

Yue chose to keep aloof from the hustle and bustle.

He became all but a recluse in his suburb home. He worked on, seeking to advance on his strategic research on subjects of greater magnitude and depth than he had ever encountered before.

For years, Yue has mused on how to preserve and revive the cream of traditional Chinese philosophy and culture.

As editor-in-chief of a 10-volume series "Essence of Taoist Classics" (Daojing Jinghua) published by the Times Culture and Arts Press in Northeast China's Jilin Province, Yue has tried hard to disseminate the classical teachings.

He believed the classics are relevant and helpful today, like those advocating harmony between human and nature, and between individuals and society.

Yue discussed and analyzed in detail about such Chinese traditions in his new book "State Peaceful Development Strategy," trying to draw useful lessons from historical Chinese culture and traditions.

Yue said the harmony concept, which promotes co-existence and co-prosperity, was deeply rooted in Chinese tradition, stamping peace-loving hues on the Chinese nation.

"In human relationships, a gentleman seeks harmony but not uniformity," said Confucius (551-479 BC) more than 2,000 years ago.

The principle of "harmony without sameness" has since been practiced by many people as an important principle in guiding their conduct and behavior, and in the development of social affairs and relationships.

The influence of such thinking has spread across the country's borders.

The principle compares with China's current policy of advocating peaceful competition and achieving common development by "seeking common ground while putting aside differences," Yue noted.

In addition to harmony, Chinese nation has inherited from ancient times values including honesty and good faith, Yue said.

It is safe to conclude, from reviewing and retrospecting the tradition, many overriding policies in China today, including the established Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence - a centerpiece of China's foreign policy, are a derivation and development of the values held in high esteem since ancient times, Yue said.

Chinese traditions offer a solution to the so-called "conflicts among different civilizations," as alleged by some Western scholars, Yue said.

Chinese tradition, on the other hand, favors harmonious development of all civilizations, Yue wrote.

"To a country with this tradition, the world can feel assured that even if China emerges up as a great power someday, it will only bring peace and progress to the world," he writes.

Compared with Oriental traditions, the philosophy of struggle and survival, ideals of competition, individualism and dominance have prevailed in the West for a long time.

However, those have also brought forth economic powers but also exacerbated phenomena such as hegemony, the arms race, energy crisis, environmental pollution and humanity concerns, Yue said in the preface of his book.

Such detrimental results have posed a risk to safety and survival for the whole human beings, he said.

Upon being carried forward, oriental culture and tradition, featuring peace and harmony, will surely benefit the whole world in the 21st century, Yue claimed.

"And that is part of missions of the State peaceful development strategy," he said.

(China Daily November 16, 2004)