Published: Sunday, June 18, 2006
China sees Everett as an international player
When He Yang Jie, a third-year college student in Beijing, asked about my summer plans I hesitated.
"I'll be working for an American newspaper," I said. "It's near Seattle, my hometown. In a small city - Everett."
I braced myself for the inevitable: an apologetic, awkward silence. But He smiled and a glimmer of recognition flashed across his face.
"Oh, yes. Boeing?"
Incredible.
Chinese people seem to know Seattle: Bill Gates, Starbucks, the SuperSonics and a sleepy romantic comedy. But Everett? I had to laugh.
Beijing, where I spent spring semester studying Chinese language and culture, boasts a population of more than 16 million. Everett has yet to reach 100,000. Beijing has dominated Chinese politics since 1421. Everett has dominated North Sound politics since 1900. Beijing will host the 2008 Olympic Games; Everett hosts the Western Hockey League.
Even so, I might have anticipated my friend's response. Everett is growing, maturing. The city harbors U.S. Navy ships and Boeing employees will assemble much of China's new fleet of commercial jetliners.
Chinese President Hu Jintao's April visit left no doubt: When it comes to Pacific Rim trade and stability, Everett and Snohomish County matter. Moreover, China's economic development, political agenda and military machinations carry weight here.
In 2000, Chinese naval vessels made goodwill stops at two U.S. ports - Pearl Harbor and Everett. Although Sino-American relations have improved, China remains a military threat. And contested Chinese sovereignty in the Taiwan Strait remains a global concern. If Everett gets a second aircraft carrier, China's modernizing military will be part of the reason.
Local Boeing employees cheered when, during his visit to the Everett assembly plant, Hu praised their "innovative spirit" and hugged installations supervisor Paul Dernier of Mukilteo. Despite a recent announcement by Chinese officials that Airbus will open a final-assembly line facility in Tianjin, the folks at Boeing are counting on Chinese business.
At the same time, China's rapid development should be getting the attention of smaller Snohomish County firms. Many will enter the Chinese market soon. They'll offer products and services intended to help Chinese bureaucrats deal with environmental damage and to help Chinese businesses build international brands.
"China is having an enormous impact on the region," said Joe Borich of the Washington State China Relations Council. "Over the next several years we'll see a swelling tide of Chinese investment overseas and I think we're well-positioned here."
Across the Pacific, Beijing is abuzz with entrepreneurial enthusiasm. Shanghai and Shenzhen, too. Forget communism. It's called "socialism with Chinese characteristics."
This spring, I watched mom-and-pop shops disappear overnight to make way for skyscraper construction and week-old Internet bars expand to meet demand. Rural migrants are flooding Chinese cities in search of work. An estimated 200 million farmers have abandoned the countryside and officials expect 300 million more to follow within the next 20 years.
They're after a better life. Today, China boasts more than 500,000 millionaires (measured in U.S. dollars). Black Audis clog Beijing boulevards and black-suited businessmen book European vacations.
Sure, pollution sometimes blocks out the sun. Wheezing workers cough up gray gunk. I did, too. But 'Jerry,' the 14-year old Chinese boy I tutored in English every Sunday afternoon, doesn't seem to mind. He and his wealthy, city-dwelling comrades live for NBA basketball, Harry Potter and KFC. "China's century" has begun and the long drooled-over "Chinese consumer" has arrived.
In fact, some international experts are calling China's transformation an economic miracle. It's not that simple. Hu's mentor and predecessor, Jiang Zemin, targeted the country's seaboard cities for development. They boomed. But by the time Hu took over in 2002, China's border regions, farming communities and forests were suffering from real neglect.
Hu and his party associates are hardly saints, especially when it comes to free expression, religious freedom and intimidation. But they're taking Western development, environmental protection and low-level corruption seriously.
That's where we come in. According to Kent Mao of Edmonds, who promotes and facilitates China-Pacific Northwest trade, Everett and Snohomish County have a lot to offer right now.
"Our resources include not only aviation, but biotech experience, green energy know-how and (information technology) expertise," Mao said. "For example, China has set aside 1.56 billion U.S. dollars to construct waste treatment centers. They need help. Our small- and medium-sized companies could meet that demand."
Mao believes that by "going global," area firms will attract both Chinese and American investors. But they must act quickly - with support from local government and the county's Chinese-American community.
"There is a lot of potential here," Mao said. "But if Everett wants to become an international city, people must work together and show initiative."
Everett an international city? Back in Beijing, I had to laugh. Since then I've learned how parties on both sides of the Pacific plan to cultivate China-Snohomish County connections.
I'm not laughing anymore.
Dan Beekman is The Herald's editorial page intern and a student at Whitman College in Walla Walla, majoring in anthropology.
"I'll be working for an American newspaper," I said. "It's near Seattle, my hometown. In a small city - Everett."
I braced myself for the inevitable: an apologetic, awkward silence. But He smiled and a glimmer of recognition flashed across his face.
"Oh, yes. Boeing?"
Incredible.
Chinese people seem to know Seattle: Bill Gates, Starbucks, the SuperSonics and a sleepy romantic comedy. But Everett? I had to laugh.
Beijing, where I spent spring semester studying Chinese language and culture, boasts a population of more than 16 million. Everett has yet to reach 100,000. Beijing has dominated Chinese politics since 1421. Everett has dominated North Sound politics since 1900. Beijing will host the 2008 Olympic Games; Everett hosts the Western Hockey League.
Even so, I might have anticipated my friend's response. Everett is growing, maturing. The city harbors U.S. Navy ships and Boeing employees will assemble much of China's new fleet of commercial jetliners.
Chinese President Hu Jintao's April visit left no doubt: When it comes to Pacific Rim trade and stability, Everett and Snohomish County matter. Moreover, China's economic development, political agenda and military machinations carry weight here.
In 2000, Chinese naval vessels made goodwill stops at two U.S. ports - Pearl Harbor and Everett. Although Sino-American relations have improved, China remains a military threat. And contested Chinese sovereignty in the Taiwan Strait remains a global concern. If Everett gets a second aircraft carrier, China's modernizing military will be part of the reason.
Local Boeing employees cheered when, during his visit to the Everett assembly plant, Hu praised their "innovative spirit" and hugged installations supervisor Paul Dernier of Mukilteo. Despite a recent announcement by Chinese officials that Airbus will open a final-assembly line facility in Tianjin, the folks at Boeing are counting on Chinese business.
At the same time, China's rapid development should be getting the attention of smaller Snohomish County firms. Many will enter the Chinese market soon. They'll offer products and services intended to help Chinese bureaucrats deal with environmental damage and to help Chinese businesses build international brands.
"China is having an enormous impact on the region," said Joe Borich of the Washington State China Relations Council. "Over the next several years we'll see a swelling tide of Chinese investment overseas and I think we're well-positioned here."
Across the Pacific, Beijing is abuzz with entrepreneurial enthusiasm. Shanghai and Shenzhen, too. Forget communism. It's called "socialism with Chinese characteristics."
This spring, I watched mom-and-pop shops disappear overnight to make way for skyscraper construction and week-old Internet bars expand to meet demand. Rural migrants are flooding Chinese cities in search of work. An estimated 200 million farmers have abandoned the countryside and officials expect 300 million more to follow within the next 20 years.
They're after a better life. Today, China boasts more than 500,000 millionaires (measured in U.S. dollars). Black Audis clog Beijing boulevards and black-suited businessmen book European vacations.
Sure, pollution sometimes blocks out the sun. Wheezing workers cough up gray gunk. I did, too. But 'Jerry,' the 14-year old Chinese boy I tutored in English every Sunday afternoon, doesn't seem to mind. He and his wealthy, city-dwelling comrades live for NBA basketball, Harry Potter and KFC. "China's century" has begun and the long drooled-over "Chinese consumer" has arrived.
In fact, some international experts are calling China's transformation an economic miracle. It's not that simple. Hu's mentor and predecessor, Jiang Zemin, targeted the country's seaboard cities for development. They boomed. But by the time Hu took over in 2002, China's border regions, farming communities and forests were suffering from real neglect.
Hu and his party associates are hardly saints, especially when it comes to free expression, religious freedom and intimidation. But they're taking Western development, environmental protection and low-level corruption seriously.
That's where we come in. According to Kent Mao of Edmonds, who promotes and facilitates China-Pacific Northwest trade, Everett and Snohomish County have a lot to offer right now.
"Our resources include not only aviation, but biotech experience, green energy know-how and (information technology) expertise," Mao said. "For example, China has set aside 1.56 billion U.S. dollars to construct waste treatment centers. They need help. Our small- and medium-sized companies could meet that demand."
Mao believes that by "going global," area firms will attract both Chinese and American investors. But they must act quickly - with support from local government and the county's Chinese-American community.
"There is a lot of potential here," Mao said. "But if Everett wants to become an international city, people must work together and show initiative."
Everett an international city? Back in Beijing, I had to laugh. Since then I've learned how parties on both sides of the Pacific plan to cultivate China-Snohomish County connections.
I'm not laughing anymore.
Dan Beekman is The Herald's editorial page intern and a student at Whitman College in Walla Walla, majoring in anthropology.
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