‘I love Zhuhai; it’s my home’

MORE than 60 foreigners from the United States, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and other countries and territories who live and work in Zhuhai, along with Deng Weilong, secretary of the CPC Municipal Committee, Mayor Zhong Shijian and other senior city officials, took part in the Chinese New Year Reception for Foreign Friends at the Zhuhai Holiday Resort Hotel on Friday evening.
Mayor Zhong and Walter Strakosch, president and CEO of MTU Maintenance Zhuhai, delivered speeches, and Deng proposed a toast to the health, successful career and happy family of all the guests.
On behalf of the CPC Municipal Committee and city government, Mayor Zhong expressed heartfelt appreciation to foreign friends for caring about, supporting and participating in Zhuhai’s reform, opening-up and modernization drive. He said: “We’ll continue to create a better business environment of fair play, a better environment for living and to promote the sound and rapid development of Zhuhai’s economy. We also warmly welcome more foreign friends to invest, tour and settle down here. It’s our sincere wish that all the foreign friends could continue to, as you always do, care about, support and promote the city.”
Strakosch addressed the reception as the only representative of foreigners living and working in Zhuhai. When he came to Zhuhai in 2000, there were not so many foreigners here and his living room could accommodate them all, he said. However, in 2008, a big conference room is needed for a meeting, as there are more than 3,000 foreigners in Zhuhai. “This exactly describes the development of Zhuhai in the last years,” he said.
“On March 10 last year, I attended the Tree Planting Activity organized by ZHAEFI. I planted a tree on Qi’ao Island. I pay a visit to my tree whenever I am biking. As my roots in Zhuhai, the little tree is growing very strongly. I love Zhuhai very much -- a green city with a government taking special care of the environment,” he said.
Having lived in the city for eight years, Walter is the national and provincial Friendship Award Laureate of 2003. As an honorary citizen of Zhuhai, he considers Zhuhai his second home.
Of the reception, Walter said: “I think it’s a very good idea. It’s a communication platform. I’ll appreciate if it’s held regularly year by year.” The rapid growth in the number of foreigners, he attested, is unbelievable, adding: “It shows exactly the Zhuhai government’s support has brought big power into it. It’s really great!”
Jene Bellows, a senior advisor to GLV, writer and social activist, spoke highly of the reception. “I think it’s a beautiful reception. The government is very open to advice, information and sharing with the non-Chinese who are working here. It’s been appreciation. I think it’s very nice to have a special occasion to thank everybody. It makes us feel welcome,” she said.
Since she settled down in Zhuhai with her husband, Bob, an international entertainer, jazz pianist and singer, 10 years ago, Jene has traveled between the US and Zhuhai. “I go to visit my family in America and come back to Zhuhai. Zhuhai is my home,” Jene said.
JJ Verdun, a Frenchman having lived in Zhuhai for six years and operating expat9.com, a portal of Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao for foreigners, was happy about the reception held by the city government. Like Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is concerned about social life, the Zhuhai government has reached another level. It not only cares about getting finances, but also takes care of the harmony, urbanization, community and things like that, he noted.
Karl Inninger, managing director of International Making & Milling Strategy, came to Zhuhai eight months ago to survey the location of his company. A German who has lived in Africa, America and Asia for 16 years, he came to live in Shanghai and then Shenzhen three years ago after he had toured most of the country in eight months. He likes the two cities. However, he fell in love with Zhuhai, which is like a beautiful woman, when he arrived in Zhuhai by ferry eight months ago, he noted. “I choose Zhuhai to be my home for the next 10 to 15 years, longer than any other places I lived in before. That’s how much I love it. I mean it,” he said.
Learning that the reception would be held without him, Karl called the Foreign Affairs Office and asked why he was not on the guest list. Eventually, he was invited. “Because of course I want to be very involved in Zhuhai. I think you should always be part of the city. I love the city,” he said. He is planning to invest 1 or 2 million euros in his baking company in Zhuhai. “Why would I put the money here? How could I do this if I don’t love the city? I can be anywhere I want,” he added.
George Behlke, vice president of operations for Bosch Security Systems in Zhuhai, welcomed the activity. He said: “I think it shows the government is interested in what the foreigners like us are doing. There might be discussions around the room, so they also get an idea what people need, what people are looking for. I’m sure they can get some idea and hints they can follow up. The most important maybe for the relation is closer to have a meeting,” he said.
George was delighted to have been invited to take part in the government activity. “The organization of an evening like this is a sign of appreciation. They don’t have to do this. They can support us in a business way. But they want to show us recognition,” he pointed out.
JJ noticed that the speeches by the Chinese officials were shorter that the one made by Walter. “Usually as western people, one thing we don’t like for some Chinese officials is they make really, really long speeches. But today, the Chinese guys’ speeches are all shorter that Walter’s speech. I think maybe the Chinese guys made it shorter on purpose, but as foreigners, they may want to make it long, as they’re in China. So, they all compromise. I think it’s very, very interesting,” JJ smiled.