This week sees the arrival of delegates from 48 African nations to partake in the China-Africa summit (中非论坛峰会) being held in Beijing. Meanwhile, other visitors to Beijing will be pleased to find the traffic flowing smoothly through the city and bright colourful lights lit everywhere to welcome the delegations.
Don’t get me wrong – as a resident of Beijing now I am enjoying the benefits of clean skies, quicker commutes, and a generally nicer looking city. What is sad is that this is all a show : this isn’t the true face of Beijing, but another sign that this administration cares more about face than substance. The traffic has been improved by closing roads (including the airport highway) and banning various vehicles from operating (those from outside provinces, trucks, some government & company vehicles) – arguably a major inconvenience for many, yet it is no surprise that yet again the government and visiting dignitaries take precedence over the “people”.
But of course Beijing has a traffic (and pollution) problem, and it’s being dealt with – in the mean time, if you’re in town, don’t be fooled into thinking that the current situation is the norm. Come back in one week’s time and let me know then!