A Visit To China

Note: This is a travel blog, so in this blog, the word I will represent the one who is visiting China. 

One of my friends told me that 20 years ago, he had visited Beijing. At that time, the road to Lahore airport was far better than Beijing’s roads. As the one travelling from Pakistan to Beijing, I was curious about the facts or bluffs usually covered by the international and national media about the progress in Beijing.

While travelling, there was a flashback about Chinese history in my mind. I sat back on the Pakistan International Airline Airplane’s Seat. However, that would only allow me to remain in such a peaceful position for a short time, as Pakistan Airlines is fond of doing adventures during their flight. Anyhow, being the only possible option available, I ignored all these things and continued to give my mind a flashback that was necessary for me before landing at Beijing Airport.

The Rise Of China-Flashback

The Opium trade was causing severe problems in China, as most of the population was addicted to its use in the early years of independence.

For a nation that was so involved in drugs, how was it possible for them to become a competitor of America?

That was the prevailing question in my mind while flying from Pakistan to Beijing.

Mao Zedong was the founder of the People’s Republic Of China. He became a founding member of the Communist Party Of China while working as a librarian at the Peaking University Of China. He announced the creation of the People’s Republic Of China in 1949 after the civil war in China and defeated the Nationalist Government.

China was an independent state, but several imperial states controlled it. Mao Zedong launched many campaigns regarding poverty, education, and cultural revolutions. Such campaigns resulted in many deaths, but they turned China from an agricultural state to an industrial state by starting a Great Leap Forward, which was a five years plan. After the death of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping came into power and turned China from poor economic power to the world’s most significant economic power by adopting a policy accompanied by reforms and opening the doors of China for the Western world to invest and start their industry there.

The Plane’s Landing

The plane landed, and all of the thoughts disappeared.

What I expected from my Chinese friends was a warm welcome from the Chinese side, but against the expectations, there was nothing special. Usually, I was received along with my team by a few Chinese officials, who took us to a bus. The bus was about to take us from the airport to the hotel. Luckily, I got the window seat. While travelling toward the hotel, I saw a difference in my views before visiting practically China; the roads were more precise, and the environment, buildings, and grounds were in a much better position than what was visible to us through any media platform. In short, the actual image of Beijing was a different experience for me compared to the imaginative idea I had before.

Mostly, it is said that the actual things are less up to our expectations than the image we have in our minds or someone has told us through their experience, but this picture of Beijing was the opposite. Beijing was far ahead of my actual thoughts.
We reached the hotel safely and soundly. Our arrival was informed, so the rooms were already booked. Meanwhile, one of our Chinese friends told us that we were going to have a meeting with one of the Chinese officials named something like Young Roe (maybe mispronounced). We could hardly move towards the conference room where that man briefed us about different things about China.

After The Meeting

After the session ended, we returned to our rooms and wanted to do many things, but sleep was one of our options. During the meeting, the one briefing us said China is a developed nation, which sounded odd.
One of my seniors from Pakistan was along with us on this visit. He told us that hotels, restaurants, and many other departments are under government control and have nothing to do with privatization in China. I asked why these waiters, room keepers, and other staff of the hotel are working so honestly and heartily if all these are government servants; unlikely in Pakistan that government servants think they will be paid for sure at the end of the month, so what makes a difference if we work or not? My senior smiled and didn’t answer my question. I was amazed after seeing such workers working so heartily and honestly. Then I read the history of The Great Wall of China and learned that the claims that this nation’s youngsters are making are valid in the sense that they are a nation that considers their country as their home and believes in hard work and consistent hard work. This hard work is visible from the Great Wall Of China, which is about 21000Km long, and it took around 2000 years to become in a position that is now a tourist attraction. Then, I came to know why the youngsters of China consider them a developed nation because they have such a nation behind them that can work for 2000 years to build a wall.

A Session With China Huaneng Group

On another day, our session was decided with one of the representatives of China, Huaneng Groups Ltd, a company that is working in various countries to generate electricity from coal, which is considered most of the oldest methods to generate electricity. In Pakistan, they have a plant near Sahiwal, District Punjab, named The Sahiwal Coal Power Plant.
I asked the company officials if this was the oldest method to generate power. This method is relatively minor for power generation in Pakistan because the world has introduced many other efficient ways to generate power. So, what is the reason behind this old approach from China?
The speaker answered that we are generating all our power by this method, and we don’t have any plan to change this method. He further said the most profitable plant China has started in different countries is the one they have begun in Sahiwal, Pakistan.
I was shocked, and I asked how it was possible. Our country is involved in a discussion that there are more successful ways of generating power.
The speaker answered in a way that when we start to work and hire experts for that work, we give them a free hand. Whatever the changes they want, whatever the modifications they demand, we never restrict them to specific policies. They are free to work according to their knowledge and experience. In Pakistan, the engineers or the workers are bound to work with certain limitations because the government official or the elite class of Pakistan have their self-interest, which leads to some corruption in every project they start. This leads to the complete failure of every plant or project after a few flimsy excuses.

Few Observations About New China

After seeing a variety of public in Beijing and meeting the officials from the Chinese side, I made some observations about China.

• China has lost its culture somewhere between the roads toward a developed China as I didn’t see a single person wearing their traditional dress.
• They become influenced by Western culture, which prevails throughout China. China’s urge to compete with America on economic grounds has led them towards a way that is far ahead of their custom and traditions.
• The young generation of China has made up their minds that they are a developed nation. They consider themselves up to the level we Pakistanis can’t even consider. I don’t know where they have developed such confidence in their youngsters, but it is their less talkative behaviour. I observed that the Chinese are most obliged to do practical work rather than talking, planning, or just working verbally about their plans. They have the nerve to give their thoughts a functional shape. That is excellent art; it helped their youngsters claim themselves a developed nation.
• China has no private TV channels; all the channels are under government control, on which only English is used to deliver their news. I asked them why they had chosen English for their news coverage. They responded by describing that China is more prevalent in underdeveloped countries like Pakistan ( I felt terrible when a Chinese said Pakistan is an underdeveloped country, but anyhow, it is a reality) rather than developed nations. So, that’s why they want to influence such underdeveloped nations in the way America has them.

Final Sitting With Chinese Foreign Trade Minister

She looked very fluent in English, but she used to speak her language, and a person was there to translate her words into English. While leaving the meeting, she asked me why you people have reservations about Pakistan and China’s friendship, although we don’t have such qualms.
I said, mam when we will get nothing in return after connecting you to the Western world other than bans, restrictions, terrorism, and various horrible events of history like the Separation of East Pakistan, what do you expect us to think about China?
She said, my brother, if you need the details about the ongoing project with China, then go and ask your government. We don’t have the right to guide you and implement policies on you if your government is interested in it after hearing such remarks from her side.
I was gone in a state of silence after hearing such remarks from her side. This deep sea of silent thoughts took me back to Pakistan with many questions.

We may rethink our friendship with China.