Chen Jinghua, Chinese Ambasador to Jamaica. Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
People's Republic of China's Ambassador to Jamaica, Chen Jinghua, says the diplomatic corps chose him rather than the other way around.
For the 42-year-old, growing up in Nanjing, China, he was poised to enter a career where learning English was mandatory, so he attended one of China's 12 foreign language schools.
He says living in Jamaica for the past year has not been difficult for him and his wife, Xio Linhua, as the food and culture are not that different. A father of two sons, ages 25 and 11 who reside in his adopted hometown Beijing, Ambassador Chen is proud his country will host the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Is this your first diplomatic assignment?
Actually, this is my fourth assignment. My first assignment, as a diplomat was about 20 years ago in Trinidad and Tobago and the last one was in Suriname. The other was in Washington DC.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Nanjing, it was a nice city. You have mountains, rivers. Quite modernised compared to other cities in China then. Now some other cities are developing faster, but Nanjing is catching up. My parents are still living in 'Nanny' and my younger sister, in the same house.
Your country has the honour of hosting the Olympics this year, what was your reaction when you heard Beijing would be hosting the event?
It's a historical event for China. It was first mentioned 100 years ago by the King of China and it took a 100 years before the dream has been realised. I am proud that Beijing will host the most exciting sporting event in the whole world.
Are you a sports fan?
Yeah, I am talking about the things that are (most) familiar with, basketball, soccer, table tennis of course, China's national game, and some other sports like badminton. China is good at quite a number of things that takes up a lot of brain, not strength.
Tour of DUTY with SACHA WALTERS
Do you play any sports?
Yes, I'm good at table tennis. I played yesterday (Sunday).
Who do you play with?
I try to find somebody who can play with me.
You're very good then?
In a certain sense, in terms of amateur, not a professional.
Are you going to the Olympics?
I wish I could. No, I don't think so.
Trace your educational background.
I went to the foreign languages school in Nanjing, that's junior high, unfortunately, the cultural revolution took place before I could pursue further. I then spent a number of years in the army, the navy actually, and after that I returned to a factory as a worker, weaving cloth. I got a chance to work for the Foreign Events Institute in Beijing, that's why I picked up the English again and in college. And after getting a job in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I went to the Columbia University in New York.
Your embassy held a number of events to celebrate Chinese New Year in Jamaica. When you you were growing up what were the celebrations like?
It's similar actually, but we call it Spring Festival according to the Chinese Lunar year and it lasts for a week in China, and in the countryside it lasts about two weeks. It's a big traditional public holiday for Chinese people. The first day is Spring Festival, the last day is called Lantern festival. For the city dwellers it's about officially three days but (if) you count the weekends, it's a week. It's not only celebrated in China but in Chinese communities all over the world.
In January there was a devastating snowstorm in your country. What has been the reaction of the Jamaican population to that situation in China?
Very unusual (the storm), so the Chinese people were not prepared for such a disaster. It caused a lot of problems, loss of life, loss of property, damage to the power supply, transportation was stopped. It was on the eve of the Spring Festival so many people were rushing from villages and towns to join their families and they were caught in the storm and a number of them never made it. The effects are still felt today in terms of agricultural damages. I think people are affected at various levels and we have had to mobilise all the resources available, and not without the help and support of our friends around the world. Your Prime Minister, the Honourable Bruce Golding, sent a message to his counterpart Premier Wen Jiabao about concerns and offering sympathy. And, of course, the Chinese community here, and friends, have also offered a helping hand by donating funds, for which we are very appreciative, because a friend in need is a friend indeed, we take that attitude.
China has a booming economy. Do you have any recommendations for us in terms of how we can move forward?
That's a very difficult question. I cannot propose to know more than you do about what you should do about your economy. Anyway, I think in today's world what happens in one country will have an impact, one way or the other, on the outside world, whether you like it or not.
So, whenever you think of your own development you have to look around at the world to get a full picture. You have to concentrate on the areas where you think you can do a better job than others and that way you put into full play your advantage.
Notes from Nanjing
Nanjing the capital of Jiangsu Province.
Nanjing is the former capital of the Republic of China.
In 1937, Japanese troops invaded Nanjing and murdered over 200,000 persons in the infamous Nanjing Massacre.
Over six million people live in Nanjing.
Nanjing hosts the annual International Plum Blossom festival.
