In fact, the best way to gain a better understanding of any country is to visit it, experience the culture, and listen to the views of the local people. Mere reliance on the media and think tanks is far from enough to accomplish this objective. Naturally, China and the United States are two totally different countries in terms of history, culture, governments and ideology, and perhaps ways of thinking. If we collectively fail to view matters from the other side's perspective, gaining a consensus will be a daydream.
Of course, to know the real China for the Americans is not as simple as just seeing with their own eyes. But it has been proven to be one of the best approaches to strengthen the trust and understanding between the two countries and peoples.
In April, US media reports on the Tibet riots and the Olympic torch relay led to strong indignation among the general public in China. They felt the reports were biased and contrary to journalistic ethics. On the other hand, some US media and politicians could not understand why the reaction from the Chinese communities could be so strong and viewed it as "radical national protectionism". Such a confrontation was indeed worrying for both countries.
However, the Sichuan earthquake has eased the misunderstanding to some extent. Faced with the disaster, Chinese people and the government moved the world by their courage, unity and unselfishness. At the same time, the Chinese public's resistance and distrust has changed by the US media's all-round coverage of the disaster.
All these changes, however, lie in the fact that many Americans now see the real China with their own eyes and report about it the way they see it.
Some social elites in the US are still criticizing the Beijing Olympics on the pretext of human rights and press freedom. In my view, China needs to adjust itself and welcome all kinds of well-intentioned criticism in a more open, confident, peaceful and true attitude. China's young generation should also learn to tolerate different opinions and respond to them more actively.
As one who was born during the "Cultural Revolution" (1966-76) and grew up during the reform and opening up, I am a witness to the resounding progress China has made and the problems it still faces. For a country of 1.3 billion people and 56 ethnic groups whose history spans 5,000 years, we cannot expect to solve all the problems overnight. China still needs time, needs understanding, needs friends and support from the rest of the world.
To the US elites who are still critical of China, the Olympics is a gold opportunity to cast away their preconceived opinions and lend a listening ear to the voices of the general public in China.
Chairman Mao once said: "If you want to know the taste of pear, you have to eat it yourself?"
The author is a visiting fellow at the Brooklings Institution
(China Daily, 2008)
