By Huma Sheikh

Working with people in Beijing who are living a life characterized by their humble behavior, rich culture and language has encouraged me to pour my mind out.

Huma Sheikh visits the Great Wall in China, Nov.24, 2008.

Chinese people, as I have mentioned in my earlier articles on Xinhuanet, are extremely hospitable. In fact, I should say I am overwhelmed by their ready-to-help approach; they are available any time you need them.

My visit to Beijing in November as a student and now as an employee is as "an different experience" for me as the two professions themselves. On the earlier occasion, my time (24 days) was split into different places to be visited in China, including Beijing. I traveled to four different places all across China, spending only a few days at each place, with Beijing an exception where I relatively spent larger amount of time. And as a result, receiving "superior treatment" from people in different places was obvious. A guest can expect a good welcome in the first place anywhere in the world. Things become, nevertheless, completely different when a person starts living and working with the same people at a newer place for a longer period of time.

A good relationship, I believe, doesn't often take longer to get bitter if people from different cultures lived together for a prolonged time-period. One of its reasons may be monotony; COM 'on; we need some change and really want to break out of the routine stuff!

But in Beijing, people have really proved me wrong. In fact, every time I come across my colleagues and friends, I get closer to them.

There are many things I like about China and its people and some have inspired me immensely. A few among them are unswerving determination and patience of the people.

The Chinese government has announced a 4 trillion yuan stimulus package to offset economic meltdown by boosting its domestic demand. The country is also keen to create jobs for the unemployed, especially for rural youth, that will help people to earn as well as to spend, thus generating revenue for the country to make up for their losses. The rescue package, which is 585.5 billion U.S. dollars, will be spent over the next two years to finance programs in 10 major areas, such as low-income housing, rural infrastructure, water, electricity, transportation, environment, technological innovation and rebuilding from several disasters, such as the May 12 earthquake, among others.

There has been a huge reduction in the illiteracy rate in China, the world's most populated country because of its strenuous efforts made in the past three decades. According to the United Nations Development Program Report 2007/2008, China's literacy rate stood at 90.9 percent.

Nonetheless, Chinese youth are building the capacity for use beyond their own country. They travel to faraway places to learn new things in order to expand their knowledge. They trust others and behave with integrity. Above all, they encourage others to act with them.

Amid economic, education and employment boom, Chinese youth have acquired the greatest amount of change in their interest. The development of their country has precipitated desire of the Chinese people to increase their bread of knowledge about different cultures and countries. I have seen almost 90 percent of the youth taking English classes either individually or in small groups given by some universities on weekends. Most of the teachers are from U.S. and the UK besides other countries. As Scott (my professor in U.S.) once said in the classroom, China in about a decade will have the highest number of English speaking people in the world. I indeed have no second thoughts about it. It is surely going to happen.

Apart from English, Chinese people are also learning other foreign languages such as German, Spanish, and French. In Beijing, there are approximately three specialized foreign language universities and ten in China. Other universities also offer foreign language classes apart from their coursework.

One of my Chinese colleagues is working so hard to make it to the electronic media. Xinhua News Agency has launched its audio and video channel and my friend's "amber like enthusiasm" is taking her to all places where she could hone her broadcasting skills in order to pass the audition. She yearns to acquire more skills to be able to do better in future and compete globally.

In a globalized world, individuals collaborate and compete globally. The competition, the dynamic force in globalization, calls for individuals to possess varied skills that would enable and empower them to go global. And in China, the youth is exactly answering the call!

Other stories by Huma Sheikh

Why I as non-Chinese speaking foreigner let myself ride subway

It's always like feeling panicky the first few times in a foreign country when your working place is not within the walking range. In China amid huge crowds of people, traveling, especially for a non-Chinese-speaking foreigner, seems intimidating, but not for me! I have enjoyed traveling in Beijing. Full story

A Kashmiri in Beijing

In less over three months, Beijing never looked the same; perhaps it was the excitement about being in China for the first time. The "unusual feeling" kept me from exploring Beijing and extensive travel across China and living in five-star hotels also played its part. The sudden November cool in Beijing was another reason not to venture out, especially after coming from warmer Honolulu, Hawaii. Full Story

(Xinhuanet April 1, 2009)