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Hello there, welcome or indeed welcome back if this isn't your first read.
If you don't mind, I'd like to start by asking the tiniest of favours. April represents 6 months of blogging for me and for those of you who have, for whatever reason, followed my words I would be grateful to have you pass judgment on what you have read. All my blogs have held a healthy rate of views ranging from 200 or so to almost 500. Of course I don't know how many of you stumble across my written path intentionally but even if this is your first time; a message board post or private email would be most welcome…
Anyhow, life has been ongoing without too much to divulge of late; Subsequently, I thought I would take the opportunity to raise a few thoughts that I began to contemplate not so long after my trip to Shanghai. Maybe not the most awe inspiring or personal of reads but instead my simple, self explanatory mindset on current affairs, down on paper / computer screen........and so I begin.
On arrival in Shanghai you soon realize it is truly a 'colossal' city, Beijing stands tall amongst the other major cities of the world that I have visited but its southern counterpart or maybe, seen by some, more cosmopolitan competitor - seems to dwarf it in comparison; playing host to what seems to be a limitless growth of buildings - intruding on aircrafts flight path. Up until the 1980's Shanghai had but one 'skyscraper' - by 2020 they plan to have increased that amount somewhat; to a mind boggling 2400 (and counting). This is in conjunction with a general city makeover / design; which has prematurely been brought to life through an extensive city scale model - boasted as the largest in the world.
In seeing the plans that they have outlined for Shanghai you can't help but be impressed. The city's development has caught the attention of the business world and with this weekend seeing the commencement of the World Exposition 2010 http://en.expo2010.cn/; both Shanghai and China will hope to evident the strides of what is a 'developing city' and a 'developing nation'.
From what I have encountered so far, the Chinese are insistent that I, we and the watching world acknowledge that they are still a developing nation. This, due to the fact, that although up and coming at a rate of knots, the people of China are yet to enjoy a free and easy lifestyle as say, you and I may often groan about. The United Nations states that there are still 150 million people (over 10% of China's population) that live on less than the daily $1.25 purchasing power parity measurement (PPP). Effectively saying that after paying out for the very basic, survival necessities such as food, shelter and clothing there is not much leisurely cash lying around.
Maybe you are not surprised by this; however, I suppose I was a little taken aback by the situation in China as the only sound waves that make themselves heard to Western ears are those of how gigantic a force China is becoming or indeed has become in our globalised society, it's almost as if China is portrayed as the finished article - developmentally speaking.
Visiting China yourself, you will see first hand that even in the modern powerhouses of Shanghai and Beijing, the contrasts in lifestyle and opportunity for its inhabitants is, to use one word, vast. Again, maybe comes as no great shock to you all, as with every nation that has developed throughout history, there has always been an apparent difference in class for its people - affordability of bread, fish and wine to one and all takes time. Not only the case here - but around the world - Brazil, India, Indonesia and Thailand, to name but a few of the other major world economies facing a not too dissimilar situation. We can only hope that the eventual outcome does mean life's pleasures for one and all and in the not too distant future at that.
Taking the above into consideration you can be safe in the knowledge that although economic growth, trade deficits, trade surpluses, exportation and consumer spending index's may all paint a positive exterior, there is still much interior design required; and however China is percieved by the rest of the world 'The People's Republic' is still fully aware that it has some way to go before it can be acclaimed 'a developed' nation…..
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