EU-China Co-operation Programs 
cctv.com 03-15-2005 18:31
The earliest exchange between China and Europe can be traced back to ancient time along the Silk Road. Over 2000 years later, their connection goes beyond just silk and tea by reaching a co-operation in many fields-------trade, education, environment, to name but a few. Today, we are here to find out more about these co-operation programs in China and listen to some stories from some of the beneficiaries.
It is midnight London time. When most people in Europe fall in to a sound sleep, Chinese people have already greeted another new day.
Our three main characters of today, as the 1.2 billion Chinese people, are busy preparing themselves for the morning. Getting involved in different EU-China cooperation programs, they are having classes at three cities/places. Let鈥檚 get to know them.
Huo Jinxia, a primary girl student in Huining county, Gansu province, is taking the in 鈥搆ind scholarship from EU-China Gansu basic education project.
Celia Huang, the working staff of a Sino-European company, is having classes from EU-China program for the development of vocational training for Industry in Xiamen, Fujian province.
Li Hailin, the president of Shanghai Dondu Real Estate Group, is right now an EMBA student at China Europe International Business School in Shanghai.
Sized three times of the whole European continent, China is a diversified land both in its geographic feature and economic conditions. Just like our main characters, living in three different cities brings them totally different breakfasts, and more than that, their lifestyles. No matter having bread, or snack or just plain potato, they are all within the reach of EU-China partnership, and they are all heading for their classes of the cooperation programs.
Located at Gansu province, Huining country is known throughout China, but in the name of its extreme poverty. 12 year-old Jinxia was born here and study in her six grade. But she is lucky to receive the scholarship from EU-China Gansu basic education project. With the scholarship that directly covers the cost of school materials, now she can sit in the classroom just as other kids and their reading voice echoes throughout this barren land (throughout hills of this yellow land).
While more than 1000 miles away from Gansu, our character, Li Hailin, is taking his Executive MBA training class in China Europe International Business School----another EU-China cooperation program in Shanghai. Unlike the poor kid in Gansu, the tuition of study is not a problem at all. For him, the president of a company with total amount of assets reaching 2 billion, the opportunity of learning practical management skills in one of the top management schools in China is quite valuable.
At the same time in Xiamen, a costal city, Celia is also sitting in her class, the training for her is Human Resource from EU-China vocational training programs. Right now, she is busy discussing with her classmates, because later in the role-play she will act as a not-so-diligent worker to negotiate with her supervisor. As the Production and H.R. Assistant, today鈥檚 training is to the need of her daily work: how to communicate with workers. Of course, to exchange ideas with teacher and peers after the role-play is more rewarding.
Many of the kids here are not familiar with euros, and so they will be surprised to know that this one-five note euro can possibly buy all of them a note book each. And the help from the EU-China cooperation program doesn鈥檛 stop there.
Starting from Oct. 2001, this project was implemented in 41 state-designated poorest counties in Gansu and the total investment reaches 17,000,000 euros. The overall objective is to assist the implementation of nine-year basic compulsory education in poverty stricken areas and the fund is expected to benefit some 25,000 students, like Jinxia.
In addition, both sides also committed to upgrade education quality by setting up 86 learning centers for school teachers and principals. Here, they can obtain long-distance learning via satellite and in the near future, the internet.
This Business School can currently hold many students like Mr.Li. And after 20 year of teaching in China, 3200 have successfully graduated. It is also here that you will find the cream of Chinese business elites.
As a not-of-profit joint venture, CEIBS is credited for the economic development and improved management skills in China. Though rather young, it appeals to many management personnel with its MBA and EMBA programs. And what is the students鈥 profile? (And who are those students? )
For the EU-China vocational training, Xiamen is only one of seven cities this program has been to. After about three years鈥 afford, more than 2000 employees out of more than 200 enterprises have enhanced their industrial skills, in the fields of production, project management, sales. And the program is planning to map more Chinese cities.
It is already 12 o鈥檆lock and the students have already finished half of their day. Let talk to them to see how they feel.
Back in Gansu, now Jinxia is on her way back home. This 20-minutes-walk path today takes her longer time because of the snow last night.
Back home, only her grandpa and grandma are waiting for her. Because when she was only 4 years old, her parents both left her and her little brother. Now, she shoulders more family duties than other children at the same age.
Every time grandpa talks about this harsh period, he cannot help bursting to tears. Now he needn鈥檛 face this dilemma anymore, because with the help, both of his grandchildren can go to school.
Though shy in front of us strangers, Jinxia, in the face of family chores, is quite skillful
When the clock is about to point two in the afternoon, our three characters continue their learning. For Celia, the training doesn鈥檛 just confined to class. This afternoon, she is going to visit another company. From visiting the training center and production line, she will get more first-hand experience. Seeing, touching, questioning and communicating with other people can bring her more than just sitting in the classroom.
When Celia is visiting the factory, Mr Li is having a meeting in his company. Positioning as a president of the company and taking the EMBA program at the same time means a tighter time schedule. How does he manage the time?
Back in Huining country, the kids are having outdoor activities. Here farmers are extremely dependent on weather because of its backward irrigation system, so its poverty writes this country鈥檚 name on the helping list. But how did Jinxia also get on the list?
Now, both Jinxia and her little brother are benefiting from this program, and they are studying in the same school.
In Xiamen, Celia comes back to her office after the whole day鈥檚 training. Being chosen by her company to take this program, she is working harder to bring more back to her company.
The vocational training from EU-China program will last for 8 weeks in the format of one day learning, the next day going back to work. We wish Celia success in her training and her work afterwards.
In shanghai, Mr Li is inspecting one of his real estate projects. Taking the EMBA program for more than a year, what he has got from the program?
In Gansu, Jinxia starts doing housework again after class. Being the oldest child in the family, the burden, of course, weighs far earlier on this 12 year old girl. But for her, the joy of going back to the school studying as other kids outweighs the heavy burden on her shoulder.
The kid may not fully understand who is donating the money, but she knows that her grandparents now can send her to school.
No one knows exactly what will happen to this little girl in the future. But she is struggling to write her fate with her own hands.
Now, our three characters have already finished their study and gone back home. Their lives vary a great deal: living in different cities, belonging to different age groups and working within different fields. But one thing they do have in common that they are all beneficiaries of EU-China co-operation programs. Throughout China, many people are taking these programs and some have already benefited from them.
Although most tax-paying citizens aren鈥檛 fully aware that they are contributing to this EU-China cooperation, this on-going partnership has already amounted to over 260million euros. The questions of course comes to how and why did this cooperation begin?
As two major players in the international stage, China and the European Union are mutually important to each other. Their cooperation started more than 20 years ago. Now with more frequent visit and summit meeting of both sides, their co-operation reaches to many aspects like, human resource development, economic and social reform, environment and agriculture. The number of the on-going multi-faceted and dynamic co-operation programs totals some 40 projects.
And how do people feel from both sides?
Besides the goal shared by two sides, there also needs to have one cooperative team to work for it. And this is another precondition for this partnership.
All of the EU-China co-operation programs are conducted by the joint efforts from both sides. Working together foster mutual understanding and promote person-to-person contacts. As the old saying goes: two heads are better than one.
Whenever you go into the EU-China cooperation project office, you will encounter the scene of people from different nations working shoulder by shoulder. Here each program has two project directors from China and EU and together they are leading one team. Can this working format effective?
With many disputes turned into agreements, more EU-China cooperation programs prom up throughout China. Thanks to the those who get involved in these programs, they will remembered by the people from both China and the European Union and their efforts will bring more smiling faces to the world.
When people in Europe are busying tucking into their lunch, in China, the neon lights are glowing as people are preparing themselves for the evening. Although seemingly far away, their connection is far closer than one imagine. With mutual help and benefits, their joint future can only be a bright one. Thank you for watching Rediscovering China. I am your host Victoria Hamilton. I hope to see you next time.
Editor:Hu Hang Source:CCTV.com
