Over 40 Years On: Fujian Presents Vistas Of Trailblazing, Superlative Accomplishments

Historians are generally agreed that China as a nation dates back to at least 5,000 years – in spite the intermittent disruptions the country witnessed at various points in its history. These were caused mainly by the collapse of dynasties/kingdoms and traditional alliances, and foreign military meddling. But today’s China – the world’s second largest economy after the United States of America and a growing global military power – is unarguably the result of a major policy shift. Before the late Chinese leader, Deng Xiaoping introduced his famous reform and opening up policy in 1978, the country was not very much different from many African nations in terms of the level of development. But more than 40 years on, China is worlds apart from most of Africa. 

Fujian, Guangdong as test cases 
The story of China’s development frog leap cannot be complete without the mention of Fujian Province, which is located in the southeastern tip of the country – as well as Guangdong Province – also in the south. They were both chosen as the first areas to test the viability of the policy of reform and opening up to the rest of the world. More than 40 years after, Fujian and Guangdong stand tall on the pedestal of visionary transformational development – just like most of China.

Despite tough terrain
Yet, from the ordinary human standpoint, Fujian’s difficult topography is reason enough to be a pullback to development. Speaking at a reception for 15 foreign correspondents in Fuzhou, the Fujian provincial capital on July 24, 2017, Chen Chuxin, the Vice President of the Fujian People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said Fujian Province was particular as 80 per cent of the land is mountainous. It has for long been China’s leading province with forest cover, and over 80 million Chinese living abroad are from Fujian. More so, Fujian has the same cultural and ethnic identity like nearby Taiwan province.

Press tour  
It was probably for this reason that the city of Xiamen in Fujian Province was chosen by Chinese authorities to host the Ninth Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS economic bloc leaders’ summit from September 3-5, 2017. As part of preparations for the important gathering, the Fujian Foreign Affairs Office and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised a press tour of the province for 15 foreign correspondents from July 24-28, 2017. Ten of the journalists from Africa were participants in the 2017 media exchange programme with the China-Africa Press Centre, CAPC, Beijing. The remaining five were Beijing-based correspondents for Russian, German and Polish media. I was privileged to be part of the team.

Selling Fujian to the world
The aim of the trip was to present the rich coastal province to the world; especially BRICS summit participants, prospective investors and tourists. “BRICS also concerns Africa because South Africa is a member. Africa expects BRICS Bank to save as alternative to the IMF by granting loans at lower interest rates. Africa’s major challenges now are infrastructure and alleviating poverty. I will like to see these issues discussed at the September 2017 BRICS summit,” said Aly Diouf, reporter with “Le Soleil,” the Senegalese State-owned daily, on departure from the Chinese capital, Beijing on July 24, 2017, for the pre-summit tour of Fujian province.

Worthy investment destination 
As the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, Fujian boasts 6,128 km of coastline, land area of 124,000 square km, 136,000 square km of sea, and a population of 38.39 million. It maintains trade relations with 223 countries and regions in the world and is twinned to 84 provinces and cities from 35 nations. The capital, Fuzhou, is also the province’s political, economic and cultural centre with a historic culture dating back over 2,200 years. 

Modern transport systems 
With modern rail, sea, air and road transport systems, Fujian is not only a one-off visitors’ delight, but an investment destination worth deeper consideration by more Chinese and foreign business people. Evidence of the fact that Fujian offers great returns on investments is seen in the strides of many local firms. They are not only able to stand their own in China, but also on the very competitive global scene. 

Anta sportswear firm, Jinjiang
Anta sports products limited, Jinjiang, Quandzhou, was founded in 1991 and got listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange in 2007. “In 2016, Anta paid 2.3 billion RMB in taxes to the central government. It generated 13.35 billion RMB in 2016 from the sale of shoes inside China,” officials told foreign correspondents in Jinjiang on July 25, 2017 during a tour of the plant. 
Anta in 2014 signed a strategic partnership with the National Basketball Association, NBA of the U.S. to use NBA’s logo on its products – which are also worn by NBA stars. Anta acquired an international sportswear manufacturer, Fila, in October 2009. Since 2008, Anta has donated over 300 million RMB to Chinese charities and established more than 100 libraries in the country.

Eastern Technology Group, Zhangzhou
Eastern Technology Group in Zhangzhou is a hi-tech enterprise with specialty in the production of measuring and testing instruments. It was founded in 1993 and is today one of the leaders in its domain in China. The private firm with 900 staff exports its products to over 70 countries. 
“Eighty per cent of our workers are women because they are more careful in handling instrument chips,” Wu Zhiwu, Eastern Technology’s vice president, told the press in Zhangzhou in July 2017.  The company’s range of over 800 measuring and testing instruments includes digital clamp metres, digital multimetres, hand-held oscilloscopes, automatic testing equipment and Do-It-By Yourself equipment. Eastern Technology’s turnover in 2016 was 20 million U.S. dollars.

Kehua Tech, Zhangzhou
Founded in 1988, Kehua technology company or Kehua Tech, Zhangzhou, majors in power conversion technology and the manufacture of Uninterrupted Power Supply, UPS equipment. The private firm controls over 19 per cent of the Chinese market and was listed on the Shenzhen stock exchange in 2010. “Our exports in 2016 were worth 270 million U.S. dollars. We are the biggest power equipment manufacturing base in mainland China,” explained Kehua’s vice president, Qing Feng Huang. Kehua exports 500VA-1,000KVA UPS to 104 countries. 
With 4,000 employees and headquarters in Xiamen, still in Fujian province, Kehua also produces solar power inverters able to supply 100 households. “Our UPS equipment was used at the January 2017 African Cup of Nations football tournament in Gabon,” explained David Lin, overseas sales manager. It is therefore no surprise that Kehua technology company has been the leading UPS manufacturer in China for 19 consecutive years. 

Xiamen shipbuilding industry
Shipbuilding in China was started by the British way back in 1858. Xiamen shipbuilding industry, XSI, is the successor company to these early efforts. The State-owned firm with six major shareholders is based in the coastal city of Xiamen. XSI employs about 2,000 workers. “We produce container and cargo ships, offshore engineering vessels and oil platform supply ships,” Robin Zhang, a manager, told journalists in the Xiamen dockyard on July 28, 2017. 
“We now have an annual production capacity of four 8,500-tonne PCTC ships instead of only two, following the recent expansion of our facilities,” Liang Hong, executive deputy general manager said. XSI has now set its sights on producing middle level cruise liners as it awaits orders from potential customers, mostly based in South and Southeast Asia, Liang Hong noted.

Fujian lures with cultural, tourist attractions
Some of the major reasons why participants at last year’s BRICS economic bloc summit in Xiamen decided to stay back a little longer or promised to return afterwards include Fujian’s rich culture and tourist attractions. The province is situated on China’s southeast coast, facing Taiwan to the east across Taiwan Straits. Influenced by the subtropical oceanic monsoon climate, Fujian enjoys warm and pleasant weather with plentiful rainfall. The beautiful scenery and rich culture boast several unique and historic destinations worth visiting.

Three lanes, seven alleys, Fuzhou
Located in the centre of the Fujian capital, Fuzhou, Three lanes, seven alleys is one of the city’s landmarks. It is listed among the top 10 famous historical and cultural streets in China. Its chessboard layout and exquisite architectural details, profound historic heritage and intimate association with Taiwan, has won the area several awards. 
“Zhang Tian Fu was a wealthy man who lived here and died in 2017 at the age of 108. He drank Chinese tea throughout his life and even got married at 100 years to a woman aged 54! Chinese people believe that taking tea regularly prolongs lifespan,” Yan Qin, a female guide told visiting foreign correspondents in Three lanes, seven alleys.

Kaiyuan temple, Jiuri mountain
The Kaiyuan Buddhist monastery in Quanzhou took 10 years to construct 800 years ago. The strength of its architecture was demonstrated 400 years ago when one of the pagodas (a watchtower-like structure) survived a very powerful earthquake. On two pillars inside the temple is the couplet: “This place enjoyed the reputation of a Buddhist county in ancient times. There were saints here and there in the streets.” The inscription was written in the 13th century by the famous philosopher, Zhuxi.
Jiuri mountain on the other hand is 7 km from downtown Quanzhou. Kaiyuan temple and Jiuri mountain marked the takeoff point of the Maritime Silk Road. During the Song and Yuan dynasties (960-1279), Quanzhou witnessed dynamic maritime trade and communication with Asia and Africa. “Some 800 years ago, officials and fisher people used to come to the temple on Jiuri mountain to seek good luck for their activities,” a guide told the press at the site.   
“The government and people of Quanzhou valued friendship with foreign guests. Each year before the ships set sail, local officials would hold grand ceremonies on Jiuri mountain to pray for favorable wind and good luck during their voyages, leaving behind lots of stone inscriptions,” reads the brochure issued by city authorities.

Gulangyu island
Located 2 km off the coast of Xiamen city, Gulangyu island is home to about 20,000 people. Access to the little island covering about 2 square km is by ferry from Xiamen; then electric buggies on the paved narrow ring path round the islet. After the British-led Opium war against China in 1842, 13 nations, including Britain, France and Japan established consulates, churches and hospitals on Gulangyu, turning it into a joint concession. 
The islet only returned to Chinese control after Japan’s defeat in World War II. Only electric-powered vehicles are permitted on the island, so the environment is free from the noise and pollution of combustion engines. Breathing clean air, appreciating the ever-green trees and lovely flowers, and classical and romantic European-style architecture, is what visitors to Gulangyu stand to enjoy.

Gulangyu piano museum
It is the only such museum in China. All the pianos are more than 100 years old. The museum opened to the public on December 22, 2001. The island is renowned for the culture of playing pianos as residents are reputed to own more than 600 personal pianos! The museum comprises two houses with two floors each, containing over 100 world-famous antique pianos collected from the Americas, Australia, Britain, Austria and France. 
All the pianos were collected by Hu Youyi, a wealthy Chinese who lived in Australia. He was born on Gulangyu Island and before his death in 2013, donated the musical instruments to the State. The collection includes the popular Steinway and Sons pianos made in the U.S. at the beginning of the 19th century. The oldest and biggest vertic...