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To: goldworldnet who wrote (78733)	10/22/2001 11:43:05 AM
From: Richnorth	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 116914

Jiang's use of English 'shows Chinese hunger to learn' By Jason Leow STRAITS TIMES CHINA BUREAU SHANGHAI - Chinese President Jiang Zemin's resolve to use English to chair the meetings at this week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) shows the hunger of the Chinese to learn the language. And the learning fever is bound to spread to the entire Chinese society because top Chinese leaders have shown the way, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said yesterday. Speaking to the Singapore media at the end of the Apec meetings, he said he was impressed that Mr Jiang, even at 75 years old, was 'prepared to learn' to handle meetings in English - with commendable diction - with summit leaders. And he observed that the Chinese President became more at ease with the language as the week went by - setting a sterling example to a country where children are now picking up English from as early as Primary One. Indeed, media briefings given by Chinese officials through the week have been conducted in English, a departure from the norm of sticking to Mandarin. Volunteers hosting leaders from the 21 Pacific Rim economies were also picked for their language skills - be it Russian, Japanese or English. Noting their abilities, Mr Goh added that the modern technology used at this week's meetings, such as video screens installed on every summit leader's seat, was proof that the Chinese could keep up with the rest of the world. He revealed that Shanghai put on such a good show that the United States President was moved to say he found the city 'unbelievable'. However, China's learning fever was a stark contrast to Singapore, where its citizens still expected their Government to solve their problems, he said. Their attitude worried Singapore leaders, the Prime Minister noted, as countries like China and India could soon catch up with their ability to learn fast. Even Hongkong, as a leading financial hub, was anxious about the rise of these developing economies - so Singaporeans could not afford to be complacent, he said. While Hongkong was not yet fully integrated with the mainland, its six million residents could rely on China as a hinterland, and this was its competitive advantage, he added.