Renowned as the “national master” of the Chinese Communist Party, Professor Zhang Weiwei from Fudan University recently encountered an embarrassing situation during a speech in Malaysia. A local university student raised a question about Zhang holding a “Swiss permanent residency permit,” sparking discussions and laughter back in China.
According to a report by the Chinese-language newspaper “Nanyang Siang Pau” in Malaysia on May 4th, Zhang Weiwei, the director of the China Institute at Fudan University, held a series of lectures in Malaysia in May. The first lecture titled “Chinese Model and Its International Significance” took place on May 8th at the University of Malaya’s Research, Management and Service Center, with three more scheduled for May 9th.
On May 9th, a video clip posted by Professor Huang Rihan from Minzu University of China on social media caught the attention. In the video, a Chinese student at the lecture asked Zhang Weiwei: “Professor Zhang, I am considering applying for permanent residency in Switzerland. As someone with experience, can you offer me some advice?”
The student’s question triggered laughter among the audience, with one student even audibly expressing disdain in Chinese. Judging from the reactions of the students present, most of them were Chinese.
However, facing the student’s inquiry, Zhang Weiwei never provided a direct response during the event.
The student’s question stemmed from longstanding rumors about Zhang Weiwei holding “Swiss citizenship” or “Swiss permanent residency.” Zhang’s resume reveals he lived in Europe for over 20 years, primarily in Switzerland and France.
It is suggested in a report by Sina.com that this question posed a dilemma for Professor Zhang. If he did not possess permanent residency in Switzerland, a simple response could have sufficed like, “I am not someone to advise you on this matter.” But if he did hold permanent residency, it posed an awkward situation. Given Zhang’s established image as a prominent figure known for praising China and contrasting it with the decline of the West, being perceived as a “two-faced” person would severely damage his reputation.
The article also referenced similar incidents in the past involving other professors, like Chen Ping from Fudan University, who once commented on the superiority of living on a $2,000 Chinese salary over a $3,000 American income but eventually relocated to the US for a more affluent lifestyle. Similarly, another patriotic performer, Sima Nan, was found to have bought a house in the US while publicly denouncing American values.
The speculation about Zhang Weiwei’s Swiss ties originated from previous reports by domestic magazines and newspapers. In 2010, the official CCP site “People’s Net” referred to Zhang as a “Swiss scholar,” a report later reposted by the State Council Information Office.
To address the rumors, Zhang Weiwei clarified that the label “Swiss scholar” was a simple editorial mistake.
In recent years, Zhang Weiwei, a figure favored by the authorities, has made controversial remarks, such as praising the living standards of Chinese laborers over American middle-class citizens and downplaying Western concepts like income inequality and press freedom.
Prior to his lectures in Malaysia, Zhang Weiwei attended events like the Second Sino-French Global Governance Forum in France where his anti-American remarks attracted criticism. Zheng Qinmo, associate professor and department head of European Studies at Tamkang University in Taiwan, suggested Zhang Weiwei’s attempts to drive a wedge between Europe and the United States would eventually backfire on China’s economy.
Zhang Weiwei, born in 1957, began his career in China’s Foreign Ministry in 1983 as a translator for high-ranking officials like Qiao Shi, Li Peng, Wan Li, and Deng Xiaoping.
In 1988, at the age of 31, Zhang Weiwei became a UN interpreter and pursued higher studies at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva. He later served as a professor at the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations from 2004 to 2010.
Returning to China in 2010, Zhang Weiwei is currently the director of the China Institute at Fudan University.
In 2016, during a forum chaired by CCP’s leader Xi Jinping, Zhang Weiwei delivered a speech.
In May 2021, Zhang participated in the 30th group study session of the CCP Central Political Bureau, focusing on “enhancing China’s international communication capabilities” and providing insights on the topic alongside Xi Jinping. Consequently, Zhang Weiwei has been dubbed as the emerging “national master” by the public.