容闳:中国近代化的卓越先驱

Rong Hong: The Outstanding Pioneer of Chinese Modernization

容闳是中国留学美国的第一个大学毕业生。“以西方之学术,灌输于中国,使中国日趋于文明富强之境”,是容闳毕生的追求。从率领幼童留美,完成“中华创始之举”,为社会转型提供一批栋梁之材;到引入“制器之器”,在中国历史上第一次从国外引进成套先进设备,为近代机器制造业奠基;再到同情太平天国起义,参预戊戌变法维新,促进辛亥革命,走在社会政治变革的前沿———容闳的认识与实践,表明他一生追求光明,与时俱进,无愧为中国近代化的卓越先驱。

Rong Hong is the first Chinese student studying in America. He devoted his whole life in pushing China on the road to prosperity and strength by bringing in the Westem knowledge. The first group of children studying in America headed by him was a great undertaking, which provided talents for the transition of society. The complete sets of advanced equipment firstly imported by him established the basis for the modem ma- chine building in China. Rong Hong sympathized with the Taiping Revolution, participated in the Reform Movement of 1898, and promoted the Revolution of 1911, always standing on the frontier of social and political revolutions. Rong Hong pursued brightness and kept up with the pace of time all his life, worthy of the tide of the outstanding pioneer of Chinese modernization.