Growth and Challenges in China

My interest in China first peaked after my very first visit to the country in 2005 for a Young Leaders Program with the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, a non-profit organization promoting cooperation and understanding between the United States and China. They recently celebrated their 40th anniversary and are involved in a variety of education and teacher exchange programs and were responsible for sponsoring the historic visit of China’s Ping Pong team to the United States and what became known as Ping Pong Diplomacy.

www.ncuscr.org

When I saw China for the first time that year, my initial reaction was “Wow!” – there was so much development and activity evident everywhere.

As I walked the streets of Beijing today I can say I feel the same way:
• In Beijing alone there are 10,000 construction projects currently underway;
• China will build 40 additional airports by 2010;
• In 1989, China had just 168 miles of expressways, by 2010 it plans to have 40,000
• China now exports in a single day more than it sold abroad during the entire year of 1978.
• In 1997, China had just 10 million cell phone subscribers, but today there are 500 million – many more than every man, woman and child in the U.S.

In the photo above, I met with several environmental leaders today who explained in greater detail how this development is of course having not only an environmental impact on China, but on a global basis:
• 16 of the world’s 20 most polluted rivers are in China;
• 320 million Chinese people do not have access to safe drinking water;
• 90 percent of shallow aquifers are contaminated

A big issue is that while the Chinese leadership is focused on water quality issues, the problem comes from enforcement because a local official’s success is measured by the level of local economic growth. Thus, they are quite willing to go against the laws and rules for their own interests at the expense of the environment.

At a business dinner meeting tonight I met an American gentlemen (married to a Minnesotan) who works with several Minnesota companies in connecting their engineers and their “know-how” with Chinese companies. He said it’s the smaller and medium size businesses with 100 to 500 employees where there is great opportunity because these companies provide a needed “value-added” component to manufacturing processes that can’t yet be done in China. This is where American jobs continue to grow.

And, he emphasized that there is also a strong value in having Minnesota students learn Mandarin and Chinese culture. I’ll continue to be an advocate!

Delays and Detours

I finally made it to Beijing after flight changes and delays. I was supposed to fly to Beijing directly from Newark, NJ originally. However, my flight from Minneapolis to Newark was canceled so alternative plans were made to head to San Francisco and then catch an international flight. That worked fine, but after arriving in San Francisco I learned my next flight to Beijing was delayed an additional five hours. So after some long travel time I arrived very late Sunday evening in Beijing.

It feels like current Minnesota summer here – very humid and warm!

Background and Just Starting Out

Well, I’ve never written a blog before, but I thought this would be a good opportunity to do so and share some of my experiences during my upcoming travels to China and India.

I’m traveling to China and India as part of a fellowship program with the Aspen Institute -- the Aspen Institute Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership. (link here) I am honored and privileged to have been selected for this two year Fellowship, which began in December 2005, as it is truly a tremendous experience.

There are nineteen of us traveling and all are elected to different levels of government around the country. They include some pretty neat people, many of whom will continue to rise in leadership positions both at the federal and state level.

Go to this link to see a list of my Rodel class:
www.aspeninstitute.org/site/c.huLWJeMRKpH/b.1041157/k.585C/Rodel_Fellows_Inaugural_Class.htm

There is a lot of talk about China and India being two of the fastest growing economies in the world. I hope to share some of my personal observations because there’s nothing more credible to drive home the need to reflect or focus on a particular issue than personal experience.

For several years, I have taken an active interest in promoting Minnesota’s connections with these two important world economies. First, it was promoting Mandarin language opportunities in Minnesota schools and more recently I initiated the creation of an India Center at the University of Minnesota.

We start in Beijing, China for three and a half days and then go on to India. Before leaving Minnesota I met with several University of Minnesota professors and leaders as well as business people who are enthusiastic about the proposed India Center, current Minnesota connections and future opportunities. So, while in India I will have additional personal meetings, learning about their health care system, economy and culture.

So, over the next two weeks I’ll make some journal entries when I am able to get internet access.