Seven days in wonderland 

Witnessing China’s economic boom first hand

Being the biggest producers of drones and quad copters across South & East Asia, Daijian Innovations shot to fame in year 2014 when drones went from creepy military gear to consumer-friendly video tool, and it’s almost entirely due to DJI, one of the world’s fastest-growing drone manufacturers.

Since my childhood, I have been hearing of the seven wonders of the world. It remained a dream for me to have a trip to these wonders. This dream materialised last week with a phone call from the Chinese embassy with an offer from Chinese Ambassador to Islamabad (Mr Sun Weidong) to join a group of journalists from South Asian states to visit the wonderland China and have a close look at its booming economy.

China’s economic boom has been a source of inspiration for every commentator across the globe, so I jumped at the opportunity. The visit was aimed at briefing the journalists from South Asian countries on the secret of phenomenal industrial growth in China with a trip to three cities of Beijing, Chengdu and Shenzhen – the pillars of China’s economic strength.

Despite the fact that I was not willing to go abroad due to some domestic issues, I could not refuse to the offer as I have always had a special place in my heart for Ambassador Sun and his ever efficient spouse Madame Diana Bao, who are always on a mission to find ways and means to further cement the Sino-Pakistan relations.

Ambassador Sun is one of the three untiring souls who have always been in the forefront to promote, project and implement China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The other two souls are no doubt Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, the Chairman of Pakistan-China Institute.

Whether it was controversy engineered by some vicious forces over the route of the CPEC or the efforts to create harmony and consensus among provincial governments over the CPEC, Ambassador Sun has been always on the move.

The seven-day trip included visits to the National Development & Reforms Commission (NDRC) through its International Cooperation Center (ICC). China’s ministry of foreign affairs collaborated for the visit to Beijing, China’s industry center Chengdu and Shenzhen, the information technology hub of China. The idea was brought forward by Deputy Head of Mission Mr Zhao Lijian, the ever active soul in the embassy to make CPEC a success. He is the man working days in and days out to get the CPEC projects implemented, projected and defended.

As soon as I landed in Beijing on September 4, despite a hectic and long flight, I was thrilled to know about my fellow journalists from India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. However, I could meet these dynamic journalists the next morning at a briefing hosted by NDRC at ICC.

The delegation included senior journalist and the China correspondent of The Hindu, Atul Aneja; top anchorperson from Sri Lanka, Indeewari Sundika from ART TV; Ghimere Subhash, the editor of Nepal’s leading daily, The Republica; Karimullah Amini, the correspondent of Tolo News from Afghanistan; Kabir Mahbub, the correspondent and camera person Ranzu Zahirul Alam of ATN Bangla from Bangladesh; Aishath Shiura from Maldives state media group; and Ganbat Anudari from Mangolia-Web.

The takeaway of the trip was our visit to Shenzhen, the Information Technology hub of China.

Shenzhen has contribution to the mobile phone industry of the world as around 90 percent of the mobile phones being produced across the world have direct or indirect link to Shenzhen. Moreover, the Chinese companies are involved in the provision of IT infrastructure for the civilian institutions and armed forces in the IT field.

According to the Government report for 2015, Shenzhen had transformed into one of the fastest-growing economies in the world as the manufacturing boom ebbed in favor of other industries. Shenzhen’s modern cityscape is the result of its vibrant economy made possible by rapid foreign investment since the institution of the policy of “reform and opening” establishment of the SEZ in late 1979.

The delegation also visited Arcuchi Technologies Company Limited, the internet solution provider company. With its business spanned over 20 overseas destinations, the company provides solutions to various mechanical problems. The company earned USD 10 million revenue in year 2015.

It is not only the home to Huawei technologies, it also houses the company which produces over 85 percent of the quad-copters (drones) being used by the world. These quad-copters include from flying toys to high quality drones used by film producers, military and civilian regimes for filming or photo-shoots.

Shenzhen ranks 19th in the 2016 edition of the Global Financial Centres Index published by the Z/Yen Group and Qatar Financial Centre Authority. Being a coastal city, it also has one of the busiest container ports in the world.

Huawei headquarters was the first our media delegates visited at Shenzhen. Being an IT giant in the world, Huawei has transformed itself into one of the most sought-after companies across the globe. Other than phone handsets, the company is one of the biggest IT solution and hardware companies following a business-driven E2E networking, an LTE advanced technology provider, and civil and military communications equipments, etc.

Huawei has undertaken Islamabad Safe City Project in Pakistan while it recently also completed the optic-fibre networking between China and Pakistan. The company provides big data hardware, software handling solutions besides production of the Core Engine of Digital Operations. It also is involved with the cloud data center establishment, etc.

The delegation also visited Arcuchi Technologies Company Limited, the internet solution provider company. With its business spanned over 20 overseas destinations, the company provides solutions to various mechanical problems. The company earned USD 10 million revenue in year 2015.

The most interesting visit was to Daijian Innovations (DJI), the company which produces drones and quad-copters in China. Being the biggest producers of drones and quad copters across South & East Asia, Daijian Innovations shot to fame in year 2014 when drones went from creepy military gear to consumer-friendly video tool, and it’s almost entirely due to DJI, one of the world’s fastest-growing drone manufacturers.

The Shenzhen–based company makes the ubiquitous Phantom line, a relatively inexpensive ($1,300 for its best) remote-control camera quad copter. In the past three years, sales grew by a factor of 125.

The small and light drones—which dominate YouTube and made cameos on South Park and The Big Bang Theory — can fly up to 35 mph and soar more than 900 feet in the air.

They have GPS and stabilising sensors, can hold their position in the air, and return to where they launched if they lose contact with the remote. All that, says DJI director of aerial imaging Eric Cheng, has made drones appealing for “everything from archaeology to roof inspections, sports training to firefighting.”

Oliver Wang, the director PR of the company, told this scribe that Phantom-IV was the biggest accomplishment for the company in March 2016 which was the most developed drone produced ever.

This is a drone which can recognise its subjects and follow them without a remote control. Phantom-IV can fly up to 28 minutes without recharging carrying a 120-megapixels camera capable to take pictures on its own.

The delegation also visited the Skyworth company which deals in electronic gadgets, from innovative LEDs to the television sets, aircondioners, refrigerators, washing machines and etc. The company has developed around 4000 own patents and earned USD 5.5 billion last year. Finally, on September 10, the visit to dreamland culminated, leaving dazzling memories for the visitors.

With the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) making waves in the region and huge foreign investments coming in, the days are not far when Pakistan would also transform into a wonderland for many. Let’s hope it happens faster than expected.

Throughout the trip, Mr Lui Zhi, the chief of information section of Asian Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made sure to provide all facilities to the group. Proving to be a generous host, Mr Lui and his comrades including Mr Lu Daming, Ms Zhao Wei, Ms Hillary, Ms Linda, and many others.

At the briefing, Prof. Caihua Zhu, who is dean of School of International Economics, China’s Foreign Affairs University, briefed the participants on the Belt & Road Initiative launched by President Xi Jinping to further the world connectivity to meet the challenges posed by global conflicts and the global economic recession.

Dr Guo Jianmin, the director, department of Planning & Communication, ICC-NDRC also made a presentation on China’s efforts to establish production lines and free trade agreements with the countries of the region in the wake of the emerging regional, economic and global challenges.

The delegation was also visited the China Railway Group Limited, also known as CREC which is one of the biggest infrastructure contractor in the world. The group covers survey & designing, civil engineering, property development, manufacturing, consulting, investments, mines development, international trade, etc.

In year 2014, the total income of the CREC was 98 billion USD while the newly signed contracts amount to 145 billion USD. Hence, CREC is ranked 71st among the Fortune Global 500 top enterprises. The group currently is involved in 490 projects in 92 countries across the globe involving Railways, Highways, Power Plants, etc.

Up-gradation of track from Peshawar to Karachi is also being taken up by the company while the company is also involved in the Orange Line Train project, which has recently attracted controversy in Pakistan due to a court verdict due to the route of the train.

The delegation also visited headquarters of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) where a detailed briefing was held about the areas being covered by the company. Mr Zha Changmiao, the Vice General Manager of Corporate Culture Department of the CCCC gave an overview of the scope of the work of the company. Mr Peng Dapeng, the CCC’s international Vice President, briefed on the company’s overseas projects.

The delegation also visited China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC). Mr Yongjie Xu, director-general of the overseas department briefed the delegation. An overview of the construction business being undertaken by the company was presented to the media delegates.

China Metallurgical Group Corporation provides metallurgical construction and steel operation services in the People’s Republic of China and internationally. It engages in providing metallurgical engineering, high-end housing construction, mine construction and development, middle and high end real estate development, municipal traffic infrastructure, technical equipment and steel structures, environmental engineering and new energy projects, and other projects. The company was founded in 1982 and is based in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China.

MCC has carried out 95 percent projects in steel and iron in across China while it also has world’s biggest cement plant. The company also owns Saindak Project in Pakistan’s Balochistan district to extract copper and gold from mines. The company is involved in Saindak Project for the past 30 years and, according to Yongjie Xu, it has shared 50:50 percent profits with Pakistan besides investing heavily for the welfare of the locals.

He said that Saindak would be in final stage soon as 80 percent minerals have been extracted over the years. He said the company hired 90 percent local employees. He also expressed interest in exploration in Reko Diq project. He said mining in Chiniyot, Punjab, had also reflected hints of massive reserves of copper and iron and initial reports are being assessed.

He said work in on whether the copper and iron could be developed beneficially. He said that a national survey is being planned which would be launched very soon with a very low cost.

China Three Gorges headquarters was next destination for the group which was worthwhile and informative. Three Gorges Dam in China’s Hubei Province is the World’s biggest man-made dam over Yangtze River which has capacity to produce over 22500 megawatts of clean energy.

Mr Wang Shaofeng, the executive vice president of Three Gorges, who has been over the years has been turned into my personal friend, briefed the meeting. The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric dam is located in Yiling District, Yichang, Hubei province, China. In 2014 the dam generated 98.8 TWh of electricity, setting a new world record by 0.17 TWh. Three Gorges Company is also involved in several power projects in Pakistan, including Karot Hydropower Dam project.

Later, the delegation travelled to visit Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China, as well as a major city in Western China. The fertile Chengdu Plain, on which Chengdu is located, is also known as the “Country of Heaven”, a phrase also often translated as “The Land of Abundance”.

Famous for production of rare species of Panda, Chengdu is the fifth-most populous agglomeration in China. It is one of the most important economic, financial, commercial, cultural, transportation, and communication centers in Western China.

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is one of the 30 busiest airports in the world, and Chengdu Railway Station is one of the six biggest railway stations in China. Chengdu also hosts many international companies and more than 12 consulates. More than 260 Fortune 500 companies have established branches in Chengdu due to huge demand of Western China.

The under-construction Tianfu Exhibition Center is going to be another wonder China plans to introduce to the world. Once completed, the giant building is going to be one of the country’s largest exhibition centers with a covered area of nine square kilometers. Equipped with a modern security and monitoring system, automatic alarm system for firefighting as well as spraying system, the center also owns a outdoor exhibition area covering an area of 13,000 square meters, one of the largest standard exhibition halls.

Tow modern seven-star hotels are under-construction at the site while the exhibition hall is almost complete in two years’ time. Property under the headquarters includes shopping malls, hotels, 15 exhibition halls, restaurants, cinemas, opera houses, teahouses, convention halls, aerobic center, museum of modern arts, recreation hall, ecological garden, in-house swimming pools, night clubs and so on.

Keeping in view the growing energy needs in the South Asian countries, a special visit was planned to a leading Solar Company, Tongwei. The delegation visited not only visited the company’s headquarters but also went to see the production of solar cells at a company’s outfit at Tianfu district of Chengdu.

Ms Zhou Yujiao, President of Tongwei hosted the delegation while Mr Ron Hu, vice president, conducted the briefing.

Modern buildings with state of the art facilities are hallmark of Chengdu while its lively people and spicy food attracts South Asian visitors. The recent exploration has reflected rich cultural heritage as Chengdu is the place from where the Silk Route has started some hundred years back. This is also a reason that Chengdu is an important link in the Belt & Road Initiative.

The last destination of the media group was Shenzhen, the hub of information technology (IT), electronics and toys. A major city in Guangdong Province, Shenzhen is located immediately north of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.