Ng said his direct contacts with Chinese from all walks of life helped him understand the oriental country better and better, prompting him to write books to present a "real China" to the Dutch-speaking communities in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In 2006, his first book titled "Made in China", in cooperation with Marc Vandepitte, was published. The book carries some 40 interviews with Chinese including former Chinese ambassador to Belgium Zhang Qiyue and one of China's so-called sixth-generation directors Jia Zhangke, and five interviews with Europeans.

Ng said he and co-author Vandepitte are against the outdated image of China of the Cultural Revolution. The book, whose 3,000 copies had been sold out, presents readers with a new China making significant progress in all aspects.

His second book "China Express" was published last August. It records his trips along the ancient Silk Road, and includes interviews with local Chinese including trade union officials and Uygurs in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

"In Xinjiang, I had discussions with Uygurs. They enjoy religious freedom and are satisfied with their life. The vast majority of them are against separatist moves," said Ng.

"For such a huge country like China, stability is always the top priority," he said.

In his view, China has made a significant contribution to world peace and development by providing its 1.3 billion people with adequate food and clothing over the past 30 years.

"It is a miracle that China can lift several hundred million people out of poverty in a relatively short period," said Ng, who criticized some Western politicians and media for neglecting such important facts.

Apart from its economic achievements, China has also made great strides in political reforms, he said.

"The politics in China is getting more and more transparent, the society is more democratized, and the government's anti-corruption and good-governance efforts have been warmly welcomed," he added.

Ng stressed that "China's economic success is due to the right political strategy made by the Chinese government and the Communist Party."

He said it is amazing China's financial market has largely kept stable and its economic development maintained a strong momentum during the escalating global financial storm hitting Europe and America.

However, Ng said China's rapid development has also led to many thorny issues, such as the widening gap between the rich and the poor, between farmers and city dwellers, and the worsening environmental pollution.

Ng said that to his delight, the Chinese government has acted to resolve the issues by making polices of building a harmonious society, constructing a new socialist countryside, and so on.

"I support these policies," he said.

In conclusion, Ng said, "During my contacts with the Chinese people, I have been quite impressed with their sense of responsibility for the nation. I think such a nation has a bright future."

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2008)