‘Strategic intertwining’ in Shanghai 

By Marvi Memon

She is a PML MNA and can be reached at her website www.marvimemon.com

 

The cross party parliamentary delegation arrived in Shanghai at night which was in fact perfect since the first impression of a city is often the lasting one. The high rises glimmering away amidst speedy highways contrasting with cozy tree lined streets was unique. Shanghai was neither the Paris nor the New York of the East, it was Shanghai – a Chinese modern day wonder with a history of imperial concessions, port activity and melting pot charm.

 

Our visit started with a visit to two corporate concerns in the Honzquin economic zone which had started in the 1980s and was now known for high end service sector versus the traditional textile type industrial sector. I was familiar with China’s experience in setting up special economic zones. And I was eager to see the fruits in action. The first one was a firm specialized in developing batteries for vehicles to be run on electricity rather than fuel – a joint venture with a Swedish company but with Chinese patents. The detailed presentation demonstrated all the elements of President Hu Jintao’s Scientific Development Outlook. Here was a company concentrating on saving energy, and cutting carbon emissions of vehicles – environmentally friendly business development. The type of vehicles being produced ranged from buses, to street cleaning vehicles; all high end engineering products. We discussed market entry into Pakistan. And we drove through the zone in one of their luxury buses – very smooth, noise and smell free rides. For China this was the present. For Pakistan we needed to ride the band wagon and make it our present rather than future soon enough. It was all a matter of bringing private sector of both countries and intertwining their interests.

 

Our next stop was a 3D multimedia firm which was equally spacy. Young Chinese creative geniuses working in a high tech environment. We were all Eastern people with high end creativity germs. I wished for joint collaborations between our media concerns for the sake of producing cultural material which would promote a common culture. I was dreaming of joint 3D cartoon animations for children depicting Pak China civilizations. What a rich history we had jointly. All we needed to do it was intertwine it and reap the benefits.  

 

Little did I realize that the next visit was going to be an environmental feast. Their famous Suzho Creek and Wusang River which had been polluted post imperial industrialization, was finally being cleaned up and they had a reception for us of drum beating women at their exhibition hall. What we saw in the exhibition was that along with the clean up of the different types of environmental pollutions, they had created an environment park with full water front facilities around it. Children in prams rather than the stink and dead fish of 20 years back- China’s reform process in action. Here was an example of turning a disaster into an opportunity. I thought of Lyari river and the big possibilities. I was not dreaming. I was taking detailed notes to share with Mustafa the mayor of Karachi on my way back. Of course we needed funds for environmental clean ups. But we certainly needed to have a will first. The funds could be created as long as we felt the need for harmonious environment friendly development. 

 

Straight from there we were taken to a cultural community centre, the first whiff I got of the communist side of modern day China. This was one of three types of centres. An old colonial mansion turned into a centre. I thought of the ball room dances on the 1891 floorings by few elite, now a centre teaching women how to knit, kids surfing the net, old men playing Chinese chess. A centre promoting harmonius living for the people not just a few elite.

 

The first day in Shanghai ended with a most inspiring banquet by the Communist Party leader of the Standing committee of Shanghai.  We talked of the scientific outlook, about vision 2020, about mapping challenges of each country and helping each other bridge the disparity gaps. The advice on statesmanship was again loud and clear. Policies given by leadership were the make or break of a society, economic development was only possible with stability of society. Obsolete ideas needed to be eliminated and innovation embraced for future growth. Wisdom was required to resolve resource mobilization issues. We talked of harmony of people and individual, of man and nature, of spiritual and physical, of current and future generations. It was conversation which gave me an understanding of their paradigms. I came back to the hotel and put the TV on. The only English Channel was a cultural channel. I was learning about their philosophy and thought process constantly; maybe because that’s what I was hunting for. I learnt of Lord Zhu and his li and yue philosophy.

 

The next day started with a visit to the Shanghai Academy of International Studies for an exchange of views with academia. I read a paper on ’strategic intertwining’ and moving beyond the older semantics. The intertwining had to happen at fashion institute level, at energy company level, at cartoon animation level, at technical know how exchanges etc. It had to happen based on a strategic plan which went beyond infrastructure FDI to grassroot participation; it needed to be based on the demographic and resource profiling of our countries in 2020 and gap analysis. We had to embrace China’s scientific development outlook for regional stability. Younger Chinese who only thought of Pakistan in terms of extremist melting pot had to see it as business opportunity melting pot. I was convinced and very energized! The Institute’s President along with his South Asian faculty received these thoughts very well. I was put on the hot seat for responses on whether Pakistan knew who its real friends were, of our India and Afghan bilaterals. I gave honest answers which were balanced! Very tough job. Much easier criticizing government on talkshows versus the balancing I had to do since I was representing state in cross party delegation!

 

Next was a memorable visit to the site of where the first meeting of the Communist Party had taken place in July 23 1921. The home where the secret meeting had taken place had now been turned into an exhibition hall. A simple elegant expose of the CPC’s rise to power. Of the 15 comrades who had been present at this meeting in 1921, 5 had betrayed their party later. Forward blockers doomed in the history books. Chairman Mao was note taker at this occasion. Here was a disciplined party I thought to myself. How the working class grew and merged with youth to create that change. It was all a process I felt with the Chinese, of showing their success and failures. Behind each failure was a lesson.  

 

After a shopping trip in a traditional exquisite neighbourhood contrasted with high rises, we ended the day on a cruise of their river. We sat in the same luxury room on the boat as Chairman Deng Xiaoping had sat. Such historic references put reforms in perspective. Shanghai skyline by night was a real treat. I thought of our own ‘cruise’ to progress – somber and sobering thoughts. I felt we shared the same eastern land and sky and yet we in Pakistan were still fighting over names of provinces rather than province development. Too much work ahead for those of us who felt the pain of the wasted years and the responsibility of the future!

 

Last day in Shanghai was an equal eye opener. A trip to Shanghai World Financial Observatory which is the tallest in the world with its Star Trek type bullet lift to the 100th floor at 435m. We reached the top and raced up and down the transparent floors. Whilst I raced I could see older Chinese around me looking down on downtown Shanghai. What great change they had witnessed. Dizzying changes that younger Chinese had not felt. I also thought of President Musharraf’s second prong of enlightened moderation which necessitated scientific development for Muslim Ummah which we needed to implement through our IT committee if nothing else! The Chinese took pride in making records such as longest bridges, tallest buildings. I was inspired by their hardwork and focus. Having descended the 100 floors we were taken to the Urban Planning Centre. Big Wow! The future expansions for the Shanghai airports, port, bridges and high rise complexes were very inspiring indeed. The model of the future harmonious development leading to Expo 2010 was one more of the same forward moving bullet train the Chinese were on.  I intended helping with Pakistan’s preparation for this event through legislative oversight once back home.

 

It had been an inspiring tour of Shanghai. Memories of the harmonious development would stay with me for a long time. On the long flight from Eastern Shanghai to Western autonomous Urumqi I read the Document of the 17th National Congress of the CPC and the CPC Constitution.

 

More on that plus more from Urumqi in my next diary blog soon.