保持我们的“年轻态” | 盘古智库2024新年献词

保持我们的“年轻态”

——盘古智库2024新年献词

又到辞旧迎新时。这是从盘古智库发出的第十份新年祝词。

我们刚刚庆祝了盘古智库成立十周年。庆典播放的宣传片结尾，密密麻麻滚动播出了十年来所有支持过盘古智库的中外友人名单。现在，当庆典余温尤在，请再次接受我们的新年祝福。

2013年我们初创盘古智库时，心情忐忑，对未来并无把握，更无法想象十年后，能在诸多宏观和微观领域取得如此长足的发展。都是拜时代所赐，蒙众友托举，我们绝不辜负，要走好下一个十年的路，为国为民做更多实实在在的事。

坦率讲，不是没有疲惫感。这十年的路，走得太不容易。百年未有之变局，国内国际环境转换让很多事情无法继续遵循常轨，必须找到新的思维和路径，形成新的常态，这其中难免有阻力、有干扰、有挫折，甚至有破坏，但我们终归闯了过来，站稳了脚跟，确立了自己的发展模式。

没有一副尚且年轻的身心，很难坚持下来。而我们之所以“尚且年轻”，是因为始终怀揣相信——相信国家内外承压时的韧性，相信人民面对历史关头的抉择，相信天道也即事物自身的发展规律。所以我们能够秉持自己的价值判断，坚持走下去，迎来又一个新的十年。

2023年极流行的一个词是“去风险”：欧洲人、美国人要对对华供应链依赖“去风险”，商界精英要对高杠杆“去风险”，战略家们要对战争和冲突“去风险”。固然，风险高抬是当今世界的一大特征，但“去风险”的背后，更多还是既有优势和既得利益持据者对优势和利益流失的本能恐惧。

在“去风险”思维驱使下，更多人选择保守，拒绝继续开放。这种“保守”反映在对新崛起力量的过度防范和打压，以及推动经济、社会生活的泛安全化上。鼓吹这种趋势的人，身尚健，心先衰。我们不愿世界被这种趋势所主导，希望包括自己在内的整个国家和社会保持“年轻态”。

保持“年轻态”，是要承认并正视思想老化趋势的存在。什么时候，当一个社会群体喜欢把自己的价值判断和思考结果强加于其他社会群体，总是煞有介事地指出别人的“错误”，并且告诉别人应该怎么想怎么做，那么这个群体已经不知不觉地走在老化的路上。

思考是每个人的权利，是上天赋予每个人的平等禀赋，没有谁能代替谁思考，也没有谁能垄断一个社会的思考。心态年轻的一个很重要指标是包容思考，并且善于从他人的思考中汲取营养、发现灵感，形成站在他人肩头的更高层次的思考。很难想像，一个失去独立思考空间的社会将会是怎样一潭死水。盘古智库能量有限，但仍可营造一个鼓励思考、包容思考的小环境，继续为思考者们提供一个温暖、舒适的交流平台。

盘古智库的一个重要研究方向是应对人口老龄化、推动社会适老化改革。我们进行的思考和提出的建议往往是器物层面上的，而一个社会拥有足够的精神产品供给能力，帮助逐渐老去的人口群体保持年轻化的心态，同样十分重要。在此方面，盘古智库会有意识地加强努力。

保持“年轻态”，是要始终具备目标意识。我们都历经时间打磨，活着活着就失去了棱角，变得溜光水滑。这似乎没有什么不好，在这个不同思想意识板块日趋激烈摩擦碰撞的世界上，不失为一种自我保护和人际润泽。但是，不能失去方向感，任由自己曾经立志为之奋斗的目标，无论其大其小，也随心态和性情的改变而失去棱角与光泽。

这种方向感便是初心，任世间变幻而不能泯灭的初心。盘古智库的初心是建设一家“为天地立心、为生民立命”的社会化思想交流平台和改革促进机制。过去十年，我们守住了初心，所有的课题、报告和政策建议都是立足于它。新的十年，我们会继续守好初心，发展出更加可感知、有建树、能总结的“盘古精神”和“盘古价值”。

保持“年轻态”，是要肯和年轻人平等坦诚对话。人的代际转换无时无刻不在进行，站在代际链前端的“老资格”总是对新人不满意、不放心，无法理解他们的思维方式和兴趣爱好。处于代际链后端的“新面孔”也会对老几代有怨言、有抵触，难以接受他们的思维方式和兴趣爱好。这是人之常情，人性使然，需要通过积极的沟通构筑相互理解的氛围。

年轻人总要去尝试去闯荡去高飞，而不是被圈在草窝里啾啾咕咕。一个对年轻人构成层层束缚无法试错容错的社会，难以形成鼓励创新的土壤，也不可能产生希望，新老群体两看相厌各行其道更是最坏的结果。

再不要被“一代不如一代”的傲慢自负情绪所包裹。真正起作用的，是“一代人有一代人的使命，一代人有一代人的担当”。不管我们如何说教，怎样怀疑，年轻人已经在用他们自己的方式对我们习已为常的业态和路径做出事实上的改变。我们甚至要对年轻人心怀感念，因为在越来越多的历史拐点上，是年轻人率先打破沉默做出抉择，推着国家采取为时还不算晚的改革调整措施。

年长的社会群体有必要养成走进年轻人群体的习惯，在了解他们的关切的同时，也向年轻人学习，多听听拥有更完整、更立体知识结构的他们对国家和世界走向的构想及建议，从中发现闪光的地方，特别是上几代人想不到的角度。年长的社会群体更要承认自己日益老迈的指关节已不能适应智能化时代的高频要求，善于与年轻人合作，推动实现经验值、判断力、践行力与脑筋急转弯的完美结合，共同抬升中国在各个关键领域的竞争力。

在中国人奔向星辰大海的征程上，年轻人是应然且必然的主力。就像在15万中国航天领域的研究员当中，10万人属于“80后”，这些人的平均年龄为30多岁，比世界主要航天大国的同行年轻15岁。其中，“嫦娥”团队平均33岁，“天问一号”团队平均35岁，“北斗”团队平均31岁。

盘古智库是家年轻的智库，不仅表现在它的履历年轻，也表现在它的人员结构年轻，平均员工年龄不过35岁。很庆幸有年轻人在，盘古智库才能不拘一格地接受新概念新观点，娴熟地采用新工具去探索认知盲区和参与大众传播。新的十年，着眼于在“新大航海时代”的扬帆远航，盘古智库将更多启用年轻人的智慧和能量，开展面向年轻人需求的研究项目，深入探索绿色经济、科技创新等具有年轻态特点的领域，大力发展相关知识和信息推广平台，把激发社会创新、大众活力和帮助年轻人把握发展机会当作一项使命来加以推进。

保持“年轻态”，还要时常拿出“傻乐”与“穷游”的精神来。说白了，就是无论时势怎样充满压力和挑战，都能云淡风轻，笑着应对，不让逼仄和压抑的情绪主导了我们的生活。

2023年，我们的社会层出不穷地“发明”了各种跨代际欢乐方式，从初春淄博烧烤出圈上位，“村超”“村BA”激起乡野狂欢，到夏天“天津大爷跳桥”引发全民打卡，再到“科目三”横扫这个冬天，以及“多巴胺色”在时尚圈流行，背后所反映的，是这个社会需要情绪释放和心理提振。

无需官方引导，没有任何脚本，总有一股自发的力量和激情以大家意想不到的方式漫卷大地。就算锦囊羞涩，哪怕卷尽牛腰，每个人也有办法唤醒自己心里住着的那个年轻人，唱响属于自己的欢歌。这是多么好的现象，说明我们这个民族从未真正老去，不会向困难低头。

出走半生，归来少年。千帆历尽，不坠青云。各位，请爱护心里住着的那个从未走远的年轻人，把他（她）请出来，与我们携手走进新的一年，走向梦的远方。

盘古智库

二〇二三年十二月二十九日

STAY FOREVER YOUNG

——THE PANGOAL INSTITUTION’S 2024 NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE

This is the 10th New Year greeting from the Pangoal Institution as we ring out the old year and usher in the new.

We just celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Pangoal Institution and thanked all the Chinese and foreign friends for their support in the past decade whose name appeared on the rolling credits at the end of the promotion video played at the ceremony. Amid the lingering joy of the ceremony, here comes our New Year greeting.

When we founded Pangoal in 2013, we were perturbed and uncertain about the future, let alone imagining such significant achievements, macro and micro, ten years later. All the credits shall be given to the new era and our friends, which and who we’ll never let down. We will yield more fruits in the next decade, and serve the country and the people in a down-to-earth manner.

To be frank, fatigue is inevitable, for the past decade was a tough one. The unprecedented changes in the century, together with the changes in domestic and international landscapes, have forced many things out of track. It is necessary to explore new ways of thinking and form a new normal. During the course, we have managed to overcome resistance, interference, setbacks, and even destruction, established a firm foothold, and found our own development model.

It’s difficult to KEEP proceeding without a youthful body and mind. We are “still young” for we are always confident in China’s resilience against both domestic and international pressures, in the choices of the people at the historical moments, and in the law of heaven, namely, the development law of things themselves. Therefore, we can advance with our own value judgment to greet another decade.

The term “de-risking” prevails in 2023: Europeans and Americans pursue a strategy of “de-risking” themselves from the dependence on China’s supply chain, business elites, high leverage, and strategists, war and conflict. Of course, high risk is one of the dominating characteristics of today’s world, but in most cases, “de-risking” indicates the inherent fear among existing advantage and interest holders towards the loss of their superiority and interests.

Driven by such mindset, more and more people go from openness to conservativeness, which is reflected in the excessive prevention and suppression over emerging forces, as well as over-interpreting the concept of security of the economy and social life. These advocators have a healthy body but a weak heart. We do not want to see the world dominated by the trend, but hope that the entire country and society, including ourselves, can stay “forever young”.

To stay “forever young” is to acknowledge and face the trend of ideological aging. A social group is unconsciously aging when it tends to impose its own value judgments and thinking on other social groups, always points out others’ “mistakes” with an air of importance, and instructs others how to think or how to do it.

Thinking is the right equally bestowed to all by heaven. No one can replace others’ or monopolize the society’s thinking. Inclusive thinking and the ability to learn from and be inspired by others to gain a higher perspective, are important indicators for a youthful mindset. It’s hard to imagine what a stagnant society it would be without independent thinking space. Despite limitations, Pangoal still can create a small space that encourages and accommodates thinking and provide a warm and comfortable platform for thinkers’ communication.

One of Pangoal’s important research interests is to address population aging and promote elderly-oriented reform in the society. Our thinking and suggestions often focus on physical affairs, while it is equally important for a society to have sufficient supply capacity for spiritual products to help the aging population maintain a youthful mindset. Pangoal will consciously strengthen its efforts in this aspect.

To stay “forever young” requires a consistent sense of purpose. As time goes by, we have changed from being immature to tactful. It seems no bad, for we need to protect ourselves and get along well with others in a world where different ideological and consciousness sectors are fiercely colliding with each other. However, one cannot lose the sense of direction, or allow the goals once set, great or small, to wane with changes in mentality and temperament.

Such sense of direction is the original intention that cannot be extinguished despite the vicissitude. The original intention of Pangoal is to build a socialized ideological platform and reform mechanism that “ordains conscience for Heaven and Earth and secures life and fortune for the people.” In the past decade, we have upheld our original intention, and extended it to all our topics, reports, and policy recommendations. In the new decade, we will continue to guard it to develop perceptible, constructive, and crystallized Pangoal’s own spirit and value.

To stay “forever young”, one shall be open to equal and frank communication with the young. Generations are always renewed, and the seniors are always dissatisfied and uneasy with raw recruit, unable to understand their ways of thinking and interests. On the other hands, the younger generation may grumble and contradict to their predecessors and deny their ways of thinking and interests. It is human nature and requires active communication to build mutual understanding.

Young people always try to venture and soar to great heights, rather than being trapped in a small circle with nothing challenging to do. A society that imposes layers of constraints on young people and cannot tolerate trials and errors is rare to see the buds of innovation or hope. In the worst case, the front and rear waves cannot bear the sight of each other and go their separate ways.

Never stick to the arrogant and conceited feeling of “each generation is weaker than the previous one”. What truly works is that “each generation has its own mission and responsibility.” Despite the preach or doubt, young people are changing our accustomed business formats and paths in their own way. We should even appreciate their efforts, for at many historical moments, it is young people who first break the silence and make choices, pushing the country to take reform before it is too late.

It is necessary for older social groups to develop the habit of interacting with the younger generation. While understanding their concerns, they should listen to the ideas and suggestions of young people who are equipped with a complete and three-dimensional knowledge structure on the direction of the country and the world, and discover highlights, especially unprecedented perspectives. Older social groups should also acknowledge that their increasingly aging body and flesh cannot meet the high-frequency requirements of the intelligent era. They should cooperate with young people, realize the perfect combination of experience value, judgment, practice, and mental agility, and jointly enhance China’s competitiveness in various key fields.

On the Chinese people’s journey towards the conquest of infinity and beyond, young people are inevitably the main force. Among the 150,000 Chinese aerospace researchers, 100,000 were born after 1980, with an average age of 31 to 33, 15 years younger than their peers from major aerospace powers. Team members of Chang’e are on average 33 years old, Tianwen-1 35, and Beidou 31.

Pangoal is young in its journey and staff, who are on average 35 years old or so. Fortunately, young people help Pangoal embrace new concepts and perspectives without being limited and skillfully use new tools to explore cognitive blind spots and participate in mass communication. In the following decade, with a focus on sailing in the “new era of navigation”, Pangoal will leverage the wisdom and energy of young people, carry out research projects tailored to their needs, deeply explore emerging fields like green economy and technological innovation, vigorously develop relevant knowledge and information platforms, and stimulate social innovation and public vitality as its mission.

To stay “forever young”, it is necessary to frequently display the spirit of “foolish optimism” and “travelling light”. Simply put, we should calmly handle all the stressful and challenging situations with a smile and prevent suppressed emotions from dominating our lives.

In 2023, our society has seen various intergenerational ways of having fun emerge endlessly, like the barbecue craze in Zibo in early spring, rural revelry of “Village Super League” and “Village BA”, nationwide fever of “old male divers on Tianjin’s bridge” in summer, and the viral sensation of “Subject Three” dance in winter, which reflect that people need emotional release and psychological boost.

Without official guidance or any scripts, there is always a spontaneous force and passion sweeping us in unexpected ways. Even if embarrassingly short of money, or exhausted in severe social competition, we can always find a way to evoke the inner child and sing our own joyful songs. The favorable phenomenon indicates that our nation has never truly aged, and will never bow down to difficulties.

Years may wrinkle our skin but will never wrinkle our soul. Lofty aspirations never wane in the vicissitudes. Please nurture the inner soul that’s never outgrown and join us in the new year to embrace those distant dreams.

Pangoal Institution

December 29, 2023