8月23日，以"重塑现代化：中国与全球南方"为主题的华南理工大学公共政策研究院（IPP） 第十二届国际会议在广州五山校区召开。此次会议邀请到来自中国、美国、英国、新加坡、 印尼、泰国等国家的知名学者，通过跨领域、跨区域、跨文化的深入对话，就关系全球南方 国家未来发展的多个议题进行了深入研讨。 会议期间，新加坡国立大学李光耀公共政策学院李嘉诚经济学教授柯成兴（Danny Quah） 发表题为"没有'全球北方'，世界还能发展吗？"的演讲，倡导构建一个不强制任何国家参 与、具有适应性的多边主义新体系，并以"供应端冲击"和"需求端冲击"为例，提出通过自愿 联盟和规则重构实现"无恶意合作"，使国际秩序在即便缺乏大国共识的情况下仍能有效运 作。 观察者网获权整理发布柯成兴教授的演讲稿，经主办方审阅发布。 新加坡国立大学李光耀公共政策学院李嘉诚经济学教授柯成兴发表演讲图自：华南理工大学公共政策研 究院 柯成兴： 在接下来的十几分钟里，我想给大家的建议是，我们应当摆脱这种二元制的思维，而是把它想象成在这 两者之间，也可以找到有效的、切实可行的一种模式，并不是是或否。我的观点是，我们可以想象一个 有效运作的国际体系，但不见得一 ...

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the journey of Xu Guangxian and Gao Xiaoxia, who played a pivotal role in transforming China's rare earth industry from a state of dependency and humiliation to a position of global leadership through scientific innovation and perseverance [1][31]. Group 1: Historical Context - In the 1970s, China possessed approximately 37% of the world's rare earth reserves but was unable to produce high-purity rare earth products, leading to a cycle of exporting raw materials cheaply and importing refined products at high prices [1][4][31]. - The rare earth elements, often referred to as "industrial vitamins," are essential for modern technology, impacting various industries from defense to consumer electronics [3][4]. Group 2: Technological Challenges - Western companies, particularly Rhone Poulenc, dominated the rare earth market, controlling advanced separation technologies and imposing strict conditions on technology transfer to China [5][6][31]. - The existing methods for rare earth separation, such as ion exchange and fractional crystallization, were costly and inefficient, prompting the need for a new approach [16][17]. Group 3: Scientific Breakthrough - Xu Guangxian proposed a novel extraction method known as "cascade extraction," which allowed for continuous processing and higher purity levels, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods [17][20]. - The successful application of this theory in industrial settings marked a significant turning point for China's rare earth industry, leading to the first successful industrial-scale extraction of rare earth elements in 1974 [20][24]. Group 4: Impact and Recognition - By 1980, Xu and Gao were recognized as academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, reflecting their contributions to the rapid advancement of China's rare earth industry [23][31]. - The cascade extraction technology led to China capturing over 90% of the global rare earth market share, fundamentally altering the international landscape of the industry [31][33]. Group 5: Legacy - The story of Xu and Gao symbolizes the triumph of Chinese scientists over technological barriers and their commitment to national development, serving as an inspiration for future generations [34][35].