For US state-level politicians, China the yardstick
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According to news reports, in August 2010, the US Southern Governors Association, made up of regional governors from 18 states, met with Chinese Ambassador to US Zhou Wenzhong and several major Chinese companies, with the aim of strengthening business ties going forward.
In 2010 US senators and congressmen pushed China on a number of issues - such as currency revaluation and US job losses - but the state-level players in US politics have taken a much more pragmatic and engaging attitude toward China.
What underlies Rendell's comments is the fact that China has begun to compete seriously with the US in terms of long-term development in several sectors. Statistics released recently by the US Department of Education show Shanghai topping the list of test results for 15-year-olds who took part in the Program for International Student Assessment, while the US failed to make the top 10 in the mathematics, science and reading categories.
While the US limps along trying to develop its railway system with $13 billion allocated in federal funds, China is creating the most sophisticated high-speed railway network in the world - and they have a $300 billion budget to work with.
Education and infrastructure are two areas with promise in China, especially when measured against the US. But more importantly, in 2010, state-level American politicians pointed to China's accomplishments when calling for change.
Instead of chastising China, they called for engagement.
If only senators and congressmen, and the American public, could be as pragmatic.
The author is a Shanghai-based American freelancer and journalist. globaltimesopinion@ yahoo.com
