Society

Spending a lot of time with Chinese children and their families, I encounter many cultural differences every day. The most striking difference I've found is between what is acceptable for young Chinese children to do and what is normal for children in the West.

My own preconception was that Chinese children are mostly the only child in the family, and therefore would be "wrapped in cotton wool" as the saying goes. To my surprise, I've found this to be quite the opposite.

A great example of this is when I was watching a class of three-year-old children playing in the school playground. Running around, screeching with glee, they were chasing each other and jumping up and down excitedly. The only thing was – each child had been given a clear plastic bag by the teachers and were being cheered on to put the bag over their heads!

To me, having grown up in a culture where I was not even allowed to look at a plastic bag until I was 12 years old, this was both horrifying and intriguing.

The head of an important U.S. think tank told Xinhua Thursday the United States and China should become important partners and peaceful competitors while trying to solve all differences through talk.

George D. Schwab, co-founder and chairman of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP), expressed the view as U.S. President Barack Obama prepares for his first visit to China at the weekend.

Talking about the overall U.S.-China relationship, Schwab said:" I define it as being good. We see eye-to-eye on many issues."

"The two countries have many parallel interests," said Schwab, who admitted that differences still existed between the two.

Competition is "natural" if the two countries do not "see each other as enemies," Schwab said. "The United States and China should become peaceful competitors."

Schwab believed competition was normal unless the differences were politicized. The United States had differences with EU countries, Japan and other allies, he said.

Schwab seemed to echo the views of Obama, who told Reuters on Monday that the United States saw China as a vital partner and competitor.

The study of Chinese has become increasingly popular in France, says a French sinologist.

More and more middle schools and universities in France have begun to offer Chinese classes, Joel Bellassen said during a recent talk with Kong Quan, the Chinese ambassador to France.

Among the 30 school districts across France, 27 now offer Chinese classes, including some in the remote areas, said Bellassen, the Chinese learning inspector in the Education Ministry.

About 25,600 middle school students were registered to study Chinese in September, a large increase from the less than 5,000 students 10 years ago, Bellassen said.

A Chinese gold mining company is being investigated for causing serious damage to one of the oldest sections of the Great Wall of China.

Hohhot Kekao Mining Co. is suspected of destroying about 330 feet (100 meters) of the wall while prospecting in Inner Mongolia to the northwest of Beijing, the head of the regional cultural relics bureau, Wang Dafang, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The bureau originally discovered the damage in September and ordered the company to stop, but inspectors returned later and found work had resumed, Wang said.

Investigators are now collecting evidence and plan to bring charges, Wang said. If found guilty, company officials could face up to 10 years in prison depending on the degree of damage, he said.

The damaged section of the wall dates from the Qin Dynasty (221-207 B.C.) and is far lower and less grand than the better-known and heavily visited portions on the outskirts of Beijing.