Trip shows how safe country is

The low-profile trip by US Ambassador Gary Locke and his family to the popular tourist destination Guilin in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, has earned him massive praise in China. But the public should not contrast it with those few Chinese government officials who give the rest a bad name, says an article in Guangming Daily. Excerpts:

The Locke family joined a tour group without any bodyguards escorting them. Many Chinese netizens were quick to praise their low-profile manner and contrasted it with the lavish trips made by some Chinese government officials. In fact, what we can see from the Locke's trip is a simple lifestyle, which has nothing to do with the institutional differences between China and the United States.

China also has such role models, and many local officials have been widely praised for traveling to and from work by bike or on foot. It is unfair that the Lockes should receive acclaim while they take the blame.

Chinese media once reported that the Chinese ambassador to Iraq had to be escorted by armed police all the way from Beijing to Baghdad. Embassies in Iraq take all kinds of security measures and are heavily guarded because of the violence in the country. Ambassadors to many countries cannot be too careful when traveling. Taking a family trip to a scenic spot would be out of the question in some countries. The trip by Gary Locke and his family just demonstrates China's social stability, and the public should view this in a positive way.

(China Daily 07/03/2012 page9)