The rise of China meets with mixed voices from around the world:
voice of welcome, doubts and even worries that China might be a
potential "threat".
French journalist and economist Erik Izraelewicz gives his
answer based on his observation of China. His book "Quand la Chine
change le monde" (When China changes the world) was the
best seller for several weeks in France last year.
As sub-editor of Les Echos and member of Commission Economique
de la Nation, Izraelewicz began to garner materials and data about
China when he visited China for the first time in 1990. Since then,
he has been to China for dozens of times.
In the preface of his book, Izraelewicz says that never before
in economic history has there been such a large country (with 1.3
billion people) which experiences such a continuous high growth (at
an annual rate of 8 percent) for such a long period (25 years). The
success should be a relief, yet, it is also worrisome.
The data and materials in the book come from official statistics
from the Chinese government, the World Bank and the WTO.
Izraelewicz has many friends in the academic circle, including
American, French and Chinese scholars. He interviewed a lot of
people including Chinese economists Hu Angang, Fan Gang and Lin
Yifu (Justin Lin).
He also talked with people extensively, business people,
politicians and journalists. His conversations with business people
help him understand the business environment and development in
China. He visited factories to see life and working conditions of
blue collars. If the person he talked to can speak English or
French, he would ask them about their views on China's politics and
the built-up of democracy.
He was particularly impressed by the speed that China is pushing
forward its construction. He could hardly recognize a place each
time when he returned if he had not been there for some time. In
his most recent visit to Beijing, he found more projects underway
and heavier traffic jam. Those who stay in China for a long time
may not realize how significant the changes are.
In comparison, changes in Europe are much slower, with almost no
change in some places for dozens or even hundreds of years. Life
there is so comfortable and does not change so fast as in
China.
He points out in the book that China's economic development is
influencing French people in economy, daily life, jobs and even
weather. He warns that China should pay attention to pollution,
energy consumption and wastes, which will not only pose a threat to
China, but also affect the global climate.
The message that Mr. Izraelewicz is trying to send in his book
is that China is neither "a terrible rival" nor "a super power in
the future". He does see an alert or a threat in China to some
extent. But a threat, or pressure, is not necessarily something
bad.
The Western society, he explained, is old and developed, like an
old person who lives a comfortable life, but has lost vitality and
wants to maintain status quo. Look at the east, especially Asia,
where emerging countries are rising with a booming and vigorous
economy and the more diligent people. The threat and competition
they bring serve as a morning call to the West which has to take
measures to face the challenge, or it will lose the chance to
survive one day.
Izraelewicz urged westerners to have a correct understanding of
the rise of China which is an objective fact and an irreversible
trend. They must accept China as an emerging industrialized
nation.
In the meantime, he noted, the West should undergo
transformation toward sectors where they are more competitive. This
cannot be completed overnight and it will be a somewhat miserable
process.
He hopes that a permanent dialogue mechanism and platforms for
negotiations and discussions be established between China and its
developed counterparts like the US and Europe so that people can
often exchange views, put up forward suggestions and seek solutions
acceptable to all parties.
(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2006)
