From September 8th to 17th, the Chinese Association for International Understanding held the 2nd China-US-Europe Young Leaders Exchange Program. I had the honour to take part in a so rich program of meetings, seminars, lectures and guided tours. It was also an extraordinary opportunity to better understand the People’s Republic of China, especially its ancient culture and recent economic achievement.

 

The program was extremely well organized by the Chinese Association for International Understanding. Established in 1981. The organization is based in Beijing, composed of leaders of China’s political parties and NGOs, representatives from ethnic and religious organizations, as well as experts and scholars. Its purpose is to let the international society better understand China’s economic and social development. We all enjoyed a lot the high-level events and rich programs. Thanks to all the participants and the Chinese organizers, the eleven young leaders from China, the US and Europe have formed a close-knit group, and gained better understanding about China’s political, economic and cultural affairs during the ten days.

 

In Beijing, Mr. Liu Hongcai, advisor to CAFIU and Vice-Minister of the International Department of CPC Central Committee met with the delegation. He was very friendly with us, listening carefully to our briefings about our home countries and explaining to us China’s foreign policies. He said that China is willing to conduct more cooperation with other countries at various levels with a rich content. At present, CPC has already established contacts with over 600 political parties and organizations from over 160 countries and regions, and is ready to seek peaceful development based on the principle of non-interference in others’ internal affairs.

 

The program offered us a great opportunity to exchange and express ideas. I was particularly impressed by the two themed discussions presided by Professor Zhai Kun and Professor Guo Wei respectively. The theme of Professor Guo’s discussion is China’s economic development. During the past several decades of opening-up, China has witnessed fast development of its private economy, which has significantly boosted China’s overall economy and prosperity. CPC also tries to maintain a stable political environment and a harmonious social environment by carrying out proactive regulation policies. By combining the state economy and market economy, CPC sets up the socialist market economy with Chinese characteristics and is dedicated to building a harmonious society. 

 

The theme of Professor Zhai’s discussions is China’s Belt and Road initiative seen from the geo-political and geo-economic perspectives. This initiative might be able to strike a new balance in future international order. In order to build a bridge of economic cooperation, it is necessary to maintain diplomatic ties of peace and cooperation and learn about the cultural background of the participants. The Belt and Road initiative may become the engine driving global economic development in the 21st century. Its medium-term goal is to achieve mutual benefit and win-win progress between China and Europe, so that the European commodities can be exported to the Asian market, while the Chinese commodities can be exported to the Europe-Mediterranean region. Globalization is not to spread economic and cultural imperialism, but to open the market based on the principle of mutual benefit and win-win progress.

 

In Beijing, all the participants took part in an international seminar themed on “Reform, Governance and Cooperation”. I was most impressed by the remarks of Mr. Lacan who briefed us on the situation of Tibet. Since the adoption of regional ethnic autonomy in 1965, the backward Tibetan region has achieved rapid economic and cultural development through peaceful liberation, democratic reform, setting up the autonomy and outward-oriented development. There are four major development measures: first, the history of Tibet as a semi-colony was concluded, and Tibet seeks its development of mutual benefit and win-win progress with neighboring countries based on the “five principles of peaceful co-existence”; second, the construction of Xikang-Tibet Highway, Qinghai-Tibet Highway and Dangxiong Airport has strengthened the ties between Lhasa and Beijing; third, the construction of factories, modern farms, banks, trade companies, post offices and the communication companies has promoted local industrial and commercial development; and fourth, the introduction of advanced agricultural technologies and new farms has encouraged agriculture and the overall economy. Today’s Tibet has witnessed tremendous changes compared with what it used to be in the 1950s. With freedom and equality, the Tibetan people are now living a dignified life and enjoying the fruits of modern civilization.

 

We also had some field visits which helped us better understand the theme of the program. Zhongguancun Inno Way, also known as China’s Silicon Valley, is home to many avant-guard enterprises in the information industry. Supported by local government and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this Sci-tech park carries out cooperation with universities and offers the young people opportunities for entrepreneurship and R&D in the information industry. To let the delegation better understand the Chinese young people, we were invited to visit Chaowai Youth Club. Like hundreds of Youth Clubs in Beijing, it is a vibrant place for the young people in the community under the leadership of the Youth League. The place not only offers political education, but also provides a social space to the young people for sports, extra-curriculum study and entertainment (dancing, chess, cards, table games, etc.). There is even a traditional meditation room and tutors. Thanks to the participation of the young people, the place can spread the thoughts of the young people who are friendly, smiling, open-minded, disciplined and hard working.

 

The visit to Beijing City University was also impressive, which offered something unique to westerners who are used to compact and crowded western institutes. Established in 1984, the university has gained strong support from the local government. I was deeply impressed by its vast area, modernization level, spacious buildings, wide green area and playground, as well as neat dorms. After finishing undergraduate study, the students have already learnt skills helpful for their employment. China’s universities are like a small society, boasting the harmonious co-existence of innovation and tradition. Both the information industry and traditional calligraphy can offer knowledge to the modern society.

 

One thing on our agenda is to visit local families and stay with them for one day. From the perspective of sociology, in order to understand people’s daily life, nothing can compare with living together with them. What impressed us most is not only the Chinese people’s unique and unraveled hospitality, but also the greatly improved livelihood. With the rapid growth of China’s GDP in the recent decades, people’s purchasing power and livelihood have been significantly improved. The communities usually cover a large area with decent-looking and neatly-arranged buildings and vast greening space (also expanding, in order to reduce pollution), and the kindergartens and schools are within walking distance. In such a metropolitan like Beijing with a population of over 20 million, foreign visitors will surely have a sense of security in any street at any time, without worrying about encountering criminals or wanderers like those in our cities.

 

After a busy week in Beijing, we continued with our visit in Xining, the capital of Qinghai. The land-locked province may sound unfamiliar to many foreigners, but it has great economic and tourist potential. Qinghai Province is named after Qinghai Lake, meaning the “green sea”. Situated in the northeastern part of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, the province is the origin of the Yellow river and home to the branches of the Yangtze River and Lancang River. As the largest inland lake of China, Qinghai Lake boasts beautiful sceneries, abundant flora and fauna species including rare birds. There are over 200 wild plant species, many of which are precious traditional Chinese medicine materials. Qinghai Lake is only about two hours’ drive from Xining with outstanding views, around which are snow-covered mountains and grazing yaks. The place is a famous tourist resort and easily accessible, but the venturous bicycle lovers can travel along the rough paths from the southern part of Xining. Qinghai is one of the least-developed provinces of China. However, in recent years, Qinghai has achieved remarkable economic progress thanks to the development of iron and steel and other heavy industries around Xining, the refinery industry of oil and gas of Qaidam, advanced technology-based agriculture, TCM-oriented planting as well as large-scale hydro-power stations (178 in the whole province). Besides, some alternative energy industries like solar photovoltaic, geothermal and wind power are also developed.

 

In terms of infrastructure, Xining has a modern airport which has three-hour direct flights to Beijing. Another major infrastructure program is the Qinghai-Tibet Railway known as the “Road to heaven”, which connects Xining with Lhasa through 44 stops. It can accommodate 8 trains travelling at the same time. The Golmud-Lhasa section was completed on 1 July, 2006, bringing huge economic and tourist benefits. This railway is the first of its kind to connect Tibet with other cities in China. The total length of high-elevation railway is 960 kilometers, and 80% of the railway is built at an elevation of over 4000 meters. In order to cross the numerous rivers and springs, 675 bridges are built with a total length of 160 kilometers.

 

Ethnic variety is the treasure of Qinghai’s civilization. Qinghai has a population of 5.2 million, 50% of which are the Han people, and the others are Tibetan, Tu, Hui, Sala and Mongolian people. The numerous Buddhist temples and renovated cultural relics in Qinghai all reflect Tibetan elements, so Qinghai culture is widely influenced by the Tibetan culture. In fact, Qinghai is known as Anduo in history and used to be part of Tibet. The sculpture of Master Zongkaba, the founder of Gelu school of Tibetan Buddhism sits in Ta’er Temple not far from Xining. Many tourist resorts are located in the vigorous capital Xining, which witnesses the integration of the Tibetan, Hui, Han and other ethnic cultures. What makes it more special is the Museum of Tibetan Medicine, which is a typical example showing China’s protection of traditional culture. You would find the history of daily life in Tibet as well as treasures of Tibetan Buddhism. One of the most valuable pieces on exhibition is a 618-meter-long Thang-ga, made by over 400 artists. It was preserved in an exquisite maze, reflecting the history of the Tibetan culture from the legendary first Tibetan King Niechi Zanpu, Songzain Gambo of the Yarlung Zangbo River to the modern times, as well as the religious and cultural art of the time-honored Ben religion and other religions (at least eight). Those religions are not always developing in peace with one another, but they have enriched the history of Tibetan Buddhism.

 

The Great Mosque is another tourist destination of Xining, which we also visited. From the perspective of architecture, the Great Mosque in Dongguan is unique in combining the typical Islamic dome with Chinese pagoda.

 

During our short stay in Xining, we also visited Duoba National Sports Training Center, which has produced many Olympic champions including Mr. Sun Yang who set up a new world record in swimming.  

 

Besides, we also had two important meetings in Xining. One was the meeting with Mr. Ma Shunqing, member of the Standing Committee of CPC Committee in Qinghai, the other was a seminar held in Xining Municipal Party School, themed on Promoting Regional Cooperation Based on Local Strength: A Case Study of Qinghai in the Belt and Road Initiative. It is not accidental that the seminar focuses on the “Belt and Road initiative”. It shows the particular interest of Chinese scholars on the topic related to geopolitical integration as well as economic and cultural development.

 

Words can not fully express the thoughts triggered by this China visit. China is so vast that only those who have been there can be in the position to comment. According to the great Chinese thinker Confucius, “When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves", “If three of us are walking together, at least one of the other two is good enough to be my teacher. Their good qualities are to be followed, and their shortcomings are to be avoided.” The ancient wisdom is still applicable in today’s China. Only through direct contact can you understand its uniqueness in economy and institution, as well as the reason to its sustainability, stability and peaceful development. During the recent visit to China, we have more than once heard about terms like harmonious society, socialism with Chinese characteristics and socialist market economy. Those new concepts are proposed to promote China’s contemporary development based on its history and culture. Another highlighted term is China’s “Belt and Road” initiative, which will surely bring mutually-beneficial golden opportunities to Europe.

 

(The author is the Vice-Mayor of Busana City, Reggio Emilia, Italy)