Monday, March 22, 2021

Allow retired ministers to sit in policy making bodies

The two senior negotiators in the China delegation to the Alaska meeting with the US were Yang Jiechi and Wang Yi (the current foreign minister).


I checked the background of Yang Yiechi. I was surprised to learn that he is more senior than Wang Yi. Indeed, YJ was the foreign minister of China from 2007 to 2013.

I was amazed that he did not retire from public life after completing his term as foreign minister. He remained in the policy making body of the Chinese Communist Party and was in charge of foreign affairs. WY reports to him.

This is how China retained the experience of their senior ministers, even as they stepped aside for younger ministers to take over their role.

The depth of the expertise and experience of the government leaders in China is remarkable. It accounts for their impressive performance in Alaska.

I hope that Singapore can learn from this lesson and keep our retired ministers in useful roles in the government.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Many ministers have the resources of skills and qualifications. But are their skills and qualifications a "scarce" one?

Anonymous said...

All boils down to:

If they keep giving glowing praise for every little thing they do, they've devalued the real praise.

Anonymous said...

*I hope that Singapore can learn from this lesson and keep our retired ministers in useful roles in the government.*

It will not work here. Why?

Firstly, if you watch them in parliament, they are too argumentative like they already know everything.

Secondly, people have a mind of their own. I wouldn't want my parents to dish out advice all the time, I would still prefer certain things my own way. Why is it that the son is always between the mother and wife?

Thirdly, the human race is just too complicated. Hierarchy creates loopholes?

Fourthly, too many emotions and egos involved. No focal point, we already see it now.




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