OPINION> Commentary
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Astounding progress
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-18 07:46 Awe-inspiring GDP growth. Ballooning foreign exchange reserves. More expressways. Steady rise in per capita disposable income There is a good chance you will find yourself overwhelmed by an avalanche of figures today, when people celebrate the 30th anniversary of reform and opening up. The past three decades have produced abundant statistical miracles. But for most of us, numbers are resplendent as hallmarks of progress. We feel it, from the disappearance of ration coupons, the unheard of fruits on store shelves, oversupply of home appliances, constantly refreshing urban landmarks, fashion-conscious people on the streets, and, of course, frequent additions to dinner table choices. We hate to learn about unsophisticated compatriots becoming an annoying presence at overseas tourist attractions. But can you imagine crowds of ordinary Chinese trotting the globe 30 years back? The rest of the world has seen, with mixed feelings China's re-emergence in the world's economic and geo-political circles. The widely known book, A Year Without Made in China, presents a vivid portrait of the tightly interwoven economies of China and the United States. Her "China-free living has been a hassle", the author, Sara Bongiorni, concludes. That is why we talk about mutual dependence, not just with the US. The world needs Chinese exports to lower the cost of living; China needs overseas buyers to support its labor-intensive industries. When the country reassumed its legal standing in the United Nations in 1971, it should have been a matter of course for it to reclaim a seat in the then General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. It should have been as simple as writing a letter, according to Long Yongtu, who later led China's negotiations for entry into the World Trade Organization. But the country had no interest in joining what was then considered a rich countries' club, or market economy, which was an ideological taboo. Now, China is not only a member of the WTO. It has a seat in hundreds of global and regional organizations, and is subject to the scrutiny of various international treaties, ranging from nuclear non-proliferation and arms control to civil rights guarantees and climate change. No longer is China the indifferent onlooker of 30 years ago. From the 1997 Asian financial crisis to the current one looming over the world, this country has been consistent in honoring its promise as a responsible member of the international community. The biggest winners in the 30 years of changes are no doubt the people. Every Chinese has his or her story, about freedom, wealth, or perhaps fame. But the most precious gift 30 years of reform and opening up have brought to each and every Chinese is hope. While the rest of the world marvels at the rags-to-riches story of China as a country, we have witnessed more of that among the people. Mao Zedong's generation liberated China from foreign suppression, and founded a new China. Deng Xiaoping and his fellow leaders liberated it from rigid ideological fetters, and made possible a more vigorous new China, where the individual could dream big and aim high. Over the years, we have seen the steady retreat of State power from personal lives and business activities. Now, marriage registration no longer requires an official letter from the applicants' employer confirming their marital status. Gone is the rule that citizens need approval of their employers to apply for a passport. The death of a jobseeker in police custody in 2003 and subsequent public indignation resulted in the abolition of a decades-old national decree on the treatment of homeless citizens. The once prohibited terms - presumption of innocence, human rights, right to know, and hearings - are now taken for granted. Top national leaders pay personal attention to public opinions on the Internet. And never have Chinese officials been so willing to discuss with their international counterparts matters that were once political taboo. The global financial crisis, and its contagious impact, may prompt many preoccupied with sustaining the country's three decades of economic growth. Which is no doubt an imperative task. But it is important to keep in mind that the past 30 years were not only about the economy. It was, to borrow an official jargon, the emancipation of the mind that made all the achievements possible. We will have to press ahead on that road if we want to achieve more. While we appreciate the good-looking numbers today, let us not lose the determination to blaze new trails. (China Daily 12/18/2008 page9) |