‘Sorry the system is not working....’ --- well this is not in India.
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| The Phoenix Post: Portblair |
And of course it happened with a group of Indian journalists on board MU 564 in between Shanghai and Beijing. The entertainment system on the flight was not working. So theme of the story remains such lapses...happen not only in India.
This can happen in China too - a communist regime where everything is expected to be organised, planned and executed well – if not perfect.
This was dated August, 24 2019. The Indian journalists were on a weeklong 'media delegation' visit of China for interactions with officials from ministries such as Water Resources and a Chinese think tank working with Tibetans.
So, is there a lot of similarities between people of two Asian giants?
When we just landed in China, we are yet to confirm these.
Five out of six journalists travelling to China on this trip were making first visit to the land of Dragons.
Of course as expected...food was an issue; more for my colleagues who believe in vege! At Shanghai Pudong airport as the connective flight was delayed, the complimentary food packet was unpalatable.
Most of us just took few spoons of corn boiled and that too with chop sticks. Struggles !
Imagine the tough time - ...we passed through.
One colleague was caustic when she said: “And everyone back home thinking, I am having all fun”.
The excitement had just begun and we were looking forward for more fun and thrill.
Like every coin - each venture too has two sides or more than that.
But all in all – the China sojourn was educative more for a scribe with hunger about ‘curiosity’.
In short – people are friendly despite the language being a major weakness. Chinese are also hardworking and no doubt that’s how today they are Asia’s anchor economy, which provides a connectivity and innovation platform to its neighbours.
In 2013-17, the country accounted for 35 per cent of Asia’s total outward FDI, with about one-quarter of that investment going to other Asian economies. Reflecting its rapidly growing innovation capacity, China also accounts for 44 per cent of the world’s patent applications in 2017.
As I ponder after a month to write a piece – another striking feature that drew my attention has been that the Chinese have laws and practices that would combine together to help their national growth.
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| Nehru and Me, Blogger |
Huang Canbin, chief economist with Guangxi Poverty Allleviation and Development office at Nanning said: "The fact that land belongs to the state in China has helped undertake the poverty alleviation programme at a massive scale”.
One cannot agree more ! This is more relevant for a Bengali as ‘opposing’ development and playing Singur and Nandigram made Marxists in my state see blues and we heralded a new era of ‘populism’ politics.
Well, the result is there for us to look back.
Nevertheless in Chinese context again, Chinese officials said - A right synthesis of multi-pronged approach including Partnership Assistance Model, selective shift from agro to non-agro sector jobs and fund raising involving community and private players have helped bring in revolutionary changes in socio-economic scene.
The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region or for that matter Shenzhen city were much underdeveloped but things have changed.
"In our country, poverty is not only decided by incomes; even as someone has reasonable income but no house, he may be considered poor. If someone has health issues, similarly his family may be identified as below poverty and thus state would be responsible to help him," says Huang Canbin.
Guangxi has 14 municipal cities with Nanning as the capital city of the autonomous region houses 12 ethnic groups, including Zhuang ethnic minority group making about 32 per cent of the total population.
Other ethnic groups include Yao, Miao, Han, Jing, Dong and Mulao.
Another official said, "While the fundamental status of agriculture is constantly enhanced; industrialisation process has been accelerated too."
Nanning with about 7 million population has emerged as an important industrial and business hub for China also largely blessed with tax incentives.
Since 2004, officials say China-ASEAN Expo has been held in Nanning annually with the city also serving as a key link for China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.
Officials say over six lakh people were taken out of non-productive agro related jobs and put in sectors like poultry farming, fishing and piggery --- which were more viable from marketing and in general economic point of view.
Self Confidence : Also faith in western companies
In the season of trade disputes, according to industry watchers in the country’s capital Beijing and in booming business hubs like Shenzhen; the ongoing crisis has not dampened the spirit of the foreign companies operating in China.
The confidence in the ‘bright future’ of Chinese economy is also guided by China’s decision to establish six new pilot free trade zones.
“It is a good move and also a courageous one. The new free trade zones are coming up in Yunnan, Hebei, Shandong, Guangxi Zhuang, Jiangsu and Heilongjiang. It shows the Chinese government wants to support an opening world economy. This will promote cross border trades, investment cooperation and promote trades in commodities,” says business woman Chen-Lanying in Nanning.
The optimism is shared by business community and entrepreneurs in Shenzhen too.One businessman on the condition of anonymity said: “China has come out of its closed economy in a big way. Now, we are part of inter-dependent world. Even hardcore Communists realise this. Thus by deepening reforms in free trade zones and streamlining regulations on foreign investment, the Chinese government has given strong and positive signals to foreign companies.”
Some also say contrary to the aggressiveness shown by the US on trade ties with China, it is the American retail sector that is going to feel the pinch of the new tariff regimes.Some US retail players have over 12000 stores including in interiors of America – and these companies could face immense hurdles in pushing their business without Chinese suppliers.
Moreover, among both the Chinese business community and the government, another driving point is the fact that the US consumers in particular and customers in the western countries in general are very particular about product quality and China has the 'reputation' of sending good products overseas.
It is being analysed in details among industry players in Beijing and Shenzhen that US President Donald Trump’s ‘threat’ to levy a 10-per cent additional tariff on shoes, clothing and other items is likely to hit US business only.
"In fact, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told journalists on August 27 during our presence in the briefing room that that ‘threats and intimidation’ do not work with China. He said if the US companies withdraw from China; “others will fill in the vacancy”.
Ends
'India Garden pavilion' attracting Chinese admirers of Indian culture and heritage
Beijing, Aug 25 The rich horticulture strength of China is in display in a spacious exhibition centre in Beijing for last four months portraying the consummate traditional techniques and the future of this art form.
As part of the mega show which would continue till October, a unique Heritage pavilion is thrown open for the admirers of Indian tradition and culture.
The name of the pavilion 'India Garden -Samras, Harmony With Nature' is also in tune with the demand of the time and yet fitting into the traditional legacy.
In fact there are pavilions of about 100 countries including the likes of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal and Palestine.
"The art of Chinese flower arrangements and culture enjoys an illustrious history and continues to enthrall horticulture lovers across the world. This exhibition displays consummate traditional techniques, modern artistry and the future of this art form," says Y L Zhou, a function art associated in the extravaganza of flowers, art and heritage.
Sanjeev Chopra, General Manager with the Heritage Art House of New Delhi shows the Chinese people and also an overwhelming number of foreign tourists from across the world, a taste of rich Indian tradition and culture.
In order to give respect to the local sentiment, the Indian pavilion has large replica of Sanchi Stupa gate and also a statue of Lord Gautam Buddha.
Delhi-based Mehndiwala Amar Singh is seen doing brisk business as people and admirers of Indian tradition including males take keen interest to have Mehdi designs drawn on their arms and palms.
"However, our expectations were bigger," Chopra told UNI. Although the pavilion is witnessing a decent reception, yet, he maintained that a large number of people, especially local Chinese would have thronged the Indian pavilion, had the venue been within the Beijing city vicinity. There is no subway train or city buses connecting the venue with the main city, he complained.
The business and enthusiasm is not much in Pakistani pavilion.
However, in the Afghan pavillion, Anwar Rahimi of Rahimi Group from Kabul said there has been substantial demand for Afghanistani stones like 'pannas'. There have been also good sale of carpets and high quality Afghani carpets can be easily sold at 200 US Dollars per metre.
A group of Indian journalists are on tour to China under the aegis of Chinese Foreign ministry and Chinese embassy in Delhi.
The group was taken for site seeing at the marvelous Great Wall of China - one of the seven wonders of the world. Winding for several kilometres in the outskirts of Beijing, the historic Great Wall of China is perhaps the only man-made structure which could be seen from space.
India should be reassured, no activities on dams happening in Tibet, says China
Beijing, Aug 27 China has assured India that it will not do anything vis-a-vis constructions of dams in Tibetan and other regions that could adversely impact in terms of floods and related natural calamities in India.
"Our Indian friends be rest assured ....so far the water consumption in Tibetan region is concerned, the outbound water is clean and moreover whatever is happening in Tibet is for socio economic development and for consumption of people," Dr YU Xingjun, Consultant at Department of
International Cooperation, Science and Technology, told a group of visiting Indian journalists here.
He sought to clarify that making use of water in Tibetan region is not necessarily for any other reason but for mere survival of the Tibetan people who are living in much hardships and under development conditions.
"The Chinese side has always maintained a responsible attitude to the hydro power development," he emphasised adding whatever development is happening with regards power projects in such areas is strictly for 'socio economic' development of the Tibetan people.
Dr Xingjun also said conditions of local inhabitants in Tibet are really precarious.
"I have been to such areas in Tibet many times and the conditions there are beyond imagination," he said.
Mr Xingjun was asked what is China doing to dispel apprehension of India especially with regard dam building areas in some rivers who flow down to India and could have adverse impact.
A group of Indian journalists are on tour of China as part of a programme organised by the Chinese embassy in India and the Chinese foreign ministry.
Dr Xingjun said that both India and China have over the years carried out fruitful cooperation in hydrological information and emergency and disaster handling.
To a question, he further went onto say that ".... proceeding from the overall situation of China-India relations and the spirit of humanitarianism, China has overcame enormous difficulties but did provide India with hydrological data of trans-border rivers in flood seasons".
This "fruitful cooperation" has made positive contributions to a closer development partnership between China and India.
He also said the hydrological data in flood seasons provided by China has helped India to ensure safety of people in coastal areas.
Answering questions, he said China is facing four main challenges in water management related matters.
These are floods or water related disasters, water scarcity, water-environment pollution and water ecology.
In this context, Dr Xingjun said in order to meet the challenges, the Chinese government is taking a multi-pronged measures.
He said, China has also decided to lay emphasis on 'saving water'.
"Rather than taking up grand development, we will adopt grand protection of water," he underlined.
Therefore, in many places projects are coming for water diversion from water rich areas to water scarcity areas, he said.
Tibetans at crossroads: Should Dalai Lama give up 'freedom movement' ?
Beijing, Aug 28 Tibetan culture and people are definitely part of 'bigger Chinese culture' and the 'freedom movement' must be given up, pro-Chinese two youth Tibetan leaders have said here.
"First, the Tibetan people are all part of bigger Tibetan culture," said La Xian Jia, Deputy Director with Institute of Tibetan Religious Studies.
"And I think everyone share my views in China. The Chinese culture and policy on Tibet people and religion has been consistent," he told a group of visiting Indian journalists here.
Answering questions during an interaction in presence of a handful of pro-Chinese Tibetan leaders, he further said: "The Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama should give the Freedom Movement."
In order to strengthen his argument, the young leader said," In fact, the Tibetan culture is well protected by law."
The visiting journalist from India are on a week-long tour of China beginning from August 24 and reached Nanning in southern part of China on Tuesday.
The Chinese officials are expected to brief them on Wednesday on mega and unique poverty alleviation programme in Nanning on Wednesday.
Nanning- also called Green City of China-falls under Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Meanwhile, answering questions, Xian Jia also said, "Some accusations'' made in the western media that the Chinese government is against Tibetan culture and pursuing high handed policy is "unfounded".
He also argued rather strongly that his own family members and relatives residing in Tibet are "protecting" their religious and cultural freedom without any fear or apprehension.
On India's role in the entire Tibetan issue and the Dalai Lama moving into India in 1960s; he said, "It is true the Dalai Lama was very active in pursuing freedom movement for Tibet. I only hope he gives up his actions on the freedom movement."
"After he left for India; development of Tibet has been remarkable," he added.
Sharing similar views, another youth Tibetan leader and a researcher with the Institute of Tibetan Contemporary Studies C Xiao Jie said, "There are differences between India and China on the Tibetan issue."But he argued, the Dalai Lama has never said he is 'not a Chinese' and thus he also went onto say, "I also hope India's government will also give up supporting Dalai Lama as a leader of a freedom movement."
Indian scribes travel in high speed train from Nanningdong to Shenzhen
Shenzhen (China), Aug 29 (UNI) The visiting journalists from India and Nepal, who are on a week long tour to China, were on Thursday taken for a ride on high speed bullet train from Nanningdon to Shenzhen township.
Traveling on high speed of around 350 kmph, the journey took about four hours and passed through important stations including Guangzhounan and Humen.
Despite the language barrier several commuters and staff showed keen interest to interact with Indian and Nepali scribes on board.
"I am a frequent traveler on this route and I use high speed trains only. The high speed trains have changed the face of commuting within China," said one female medico but maintained as her 'government company' would not appreciate her for talking to media hence she need not be identified.
Six Indian journalists and three from Nepal including one from UNI, who are on a week long tour of China beginning August 24, reached Shenzhen here on Thursday.The tour has been organised by the Chinese foreign ministry and the Chinese embassy in Delhi.
Sources said that the high speed trains have proved immensely successful and altogether as much as 312 railway stations have facilities to operate bullet trains in China.
Several commuters said they knew of Prime Minister Narendra Modi but "heard" Mr Modi did not speak to Chinese president Xi Jinping after terrorist attack earlier this year.
While such information is half baked and half-truth based specially from reading in local Chinese tabloids, a section of local people knew well of fresh developments in Sino-India relations and that two leaders PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping were 'great friends'.
This school of thought remains optimistic that big break through may be made during PM Modi and President Xi Jinping talks in India soon.
One commuter was, however, not aware that India did not have high speed trains yet and said if the Government of India desired, the Chinese establishment would certainly provide advice and technical support for launch of bullet trains in India.
They also did not know that the Modi government has already tied up a pact with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the much ambitious Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train service.
Earlier in the day, the visiting journalists went to a community rehabilitation centre, a dragon fruit farm and a processing unit. The southern city of Nanning is fast emerging as the busy hub of economic centre Guangxi autonomous region.
The Chinese officials also briefed the journalists on Wednesday on mega and unique Poverty Alleviation programme in Nanning.
The city of Nanning is also called the ‘Green City of China’.
On Thursday, Indian journalists were taken to rural areas for practical work demonstration at Jinfu Dragon Fruit base in Dingdang town under Longan County. They were also taken to Zhendong’s centralised resettlement area where hundreds of people ‘after relocation’ have been or provided accommodation for a minimum payment.
The Indian journalists along with three visiting scribes from Nepal also visited Ba Gui Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centre in Guangxi region. The Ba Gui garden was set up as a support centre for a local agricultural studies college in Guangxi.
Poverty alleviation, strategic location open new windows for development in Guangxi
Nanning, Aug 29 A right synthesis of multi-pronged approach including Partnership Assistance Model, selective shift from agro to non-agro sector jobs and fund raising involving community and private players have helped bring in revolutionary changes in socio-economic scene in one-time under developed Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Chinese officials said here in China on Wednesday.
"In our country, poverty is not only decided by incomes; even as someone has reasonable income but no house, he may be considered poor. If someone has health issues, similarly his family may be identified as below poverty and thus state would be responsible to help him," Huang Canbin, chief economist with Guangxi Poverty Allleviation and Development office said on Tuesday.
Mr Canbin told a group of visiting Indian journalists that since 2015 - a drastic change has been heralded in Guangxi region in southern China as out of 4.24 mn poors, as high as 3.2 mn of them have been brought up the ladder.
Guangxi has 14 municipal cities with Nanning as the capital city of the autonomous region houses 12 ethnic groups, including Zhuang ethnic minority group making about 32 per cent of the total population.
Other ethnic groups include Yao, Miao, Han, Jing, Dong and Mulao.
The Indian journalists - on a week-long trip of key industrial and administrative hubs of China since August 24 - were on Wednesday given a detailed presentation of development works carried out in unprecedented scale.
"In recent years, Guangxi has witnessed gratifying economic development-since 2002; the annual GDP growth has been over 10 per cent for 10 years in a row," said Tang Chongguang, Director of News and Culture Division of Guangxi foreign affairs office.
Another official said, "While the fundamental status of agriculture is constantly enhanced; industrialisation process has been accelerated too."
The Chief Economist Mr Canbin said: "The fact that land belongs to the state in China has helped undertake the poverty alleviation programme at a massive scale.
"In 2018, GDP in Guangxi was about 300 billion dollars up by 6.8 per cent," he said, adding that in coarse of making economic success, Guangxi has also maintained social harmony and stability.
Meanwhile, a senior official Qu Tao said in realm of poverty alleviation, "India has done a better job compared to many others."
Nanning with about 7 million population has emerged as an important industrial and business hub for China also largely blessed with tax incentives.
Since 2004, officials say China-ASEAN Expo has been held in Nanning annually with the city also serving as a key link for China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.
Answering questions, Mr Canbin and other officials say relocation of poor people - about 7 lakh - has also fetched in dividends to government efforts.
Officials say over six lakh people were taken out of non-productive agro related jobs and put in sectors like poultry farming, fishing and piggery --- which were more viable from marketing and in general economic point of view.
"Another model that has helped policy makers is Partnership Assistance Model under which the nearby developed region Guangdong shared its experience and also provided job avenues to those from this region who wanted to move," Mr Canbin said, adding, "This is a highly successful model in China enforced since 1996.
Importantly, also Guangxi serves as the 'most convenient passage' to the sea and is in fact only region in China that has both land and sea accesses to ASEAN nations.
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