I have heard the governor speak seven or eight times so far. We have also listened to innumerable Chinese trade officials, dignitaries, and business leaders. A common theme that 
emerged very early in our trip and has persisted since in these speeches is the concept of cooperation versus competition.
In recent history, U.S.-China has been very much a competitive relationship, beginning when China had enough of a potential economy to become a threat. However, now all the talk is about forming cooperative trade agreements that will benefit both economies. The government of the United States recognizes that we would not fare well in direct competition with China. Governor Pawlenty says in his speeches, “The United States won’t be the cheapest screw turner.” This statement reflects the fact that the United States doesn’t have what it takes–nor does it want to enter a competition to provide the cheapest labor. Similarly, China does not have the resources to innovate faster or better than the United States. Bearing in mind both countries’ shortfalls and strengths, the most effective solution seems to be collaboration.
Cooperation is also greatly emphasized by the First Lady. This morning, there was a “Women of Influence” breakfast. Mrs. Pawlenty re-emphasized the fact that the women of the world have more similarities than differences. Mrs. Pawlenty also said that women should say “yes” to more opportunities, because this is the only chance we will get to live life.
I asked the following question during the Q and A session following the speech: “As a high school student, it’s often difficult to balance family, schoolwork, extra-curriculars, and 
everything else in our lives. As a woman of influence, how do you balance your full time job, family and other obligations, and what compromises have you had to make?”
The other panelist, a Hong Kong politician, answered jokingly, saying “marry a good husband.” Mrs. Pawlenty had a more in-depth answer. “It’s unrealistic to aim for a balanced day,” she said “but you can always aim for a balanced week.” She told about how some days, she would have to let things “fall by the wayside”, such as getting her kids to eat vegetables, and keeping the house spotless. She said that she also carved out time for her kids and a date night with Tim every week. She encouraged high school students to carve out time for the things that are important to them.
We got into Hong Kong at 3 am today, because the Chinese Air Force was conducting practices in the airspace between Shanghai and Hong Kong. For this reason, I’m going to sign off for tonight. We will be posting a final extended article, which we will be writing on the airplane. I would love it if anyone who has been following these articles could offer feedback or comments, or ask questions for the final journal. I can be reached at suryx001@umn.edu. Thanks for reading!
Archived Journal Entries
November 16, 2005
China Impressions
I will be taking a break from my government focus for a minute and tell a little about what I have experienced in China so far.
I realize that we have gotten a very slanted perspective of China and its progress. We have been staying in five star hotels, the best in the entire country, and a whole lot fancier than any place I’ve stayed in the United States. When you pair this with the fact that we have been hearing incessant talks from both Chinese and American leaders about the incredible progress of China and its enormous market potential, it is easy to get the wrong idea. China has 1.3 billion people, and not all of them are staying at the Ritz Carleton. Not all of them could afford a cup of coffee from the Ritz Carleton. In fact, 15 percent of them don’t have jobs, and 15 percent of 1.3 billion is a mind-boggling number. The fact of the matter is that China is still a very poor country, with 800 million people still living in rural areas, largely living off of an income made from antiquated agricultural practices. There are many parts of China that technology simply cannot reach. It is not at all uncommon for a farmer to strap his plow to his wife, pushing it from behind as she pulls.
My point is that I don’t want to paint an inaccurate picture of China. I went to a technology park today that was more technologically advanced than anything I have 
seen before. However, it’s important to remember that the park, this hotel, even this city (Shanghai is like a crazy energetic New York City hopped up on speed) is not the entire China. China is still a very poor country, with an economy about the size of California’s.
I had the opportunity yesterday to take a little walk on the streets of Shanghai. Literally two blocks away from our hotel, beyond the neon lights and shimmering gold signs, there were people living in alleyways in tents made of cloth held up with bamboo rods. The smell of burning rubber and human excrement were pungent.
In two days, we will go back home, and I will remember a fancy China. One just like America, but with the added bonus of beautiful Chinese symbols everywhere and a really awesome wall. I’m definitely not going to lie to you and tell you that I don’t like having five people help me 
wherever I go. It’s not too shabby having 20 tea options and caviar at every meal. And I suppose, I could grudgingly say that the Ritz Carleton isn’t the biggest hole-in-the-wall I have ever seen in my life.
Someday though, I’d like to be able to see past the McDonalds and Gucci, through the frosted glass French doors, beyond the thin veneer of progress and get a reality check. I want to see what makes China beautiful aside from waiters in kimonos (for some reason, everyone in fancy places around here wears a kimono; aren’t those Japanese?) and skinny models with skin so pale they look like Americans.
Xie-Xie for reading!
November 15, 2005
A Day in the Life of the First Family
A staff of 35 people, a personal assistant who offers you briefings on every single event, and Five Star luxury treatment wherever you go. Being governor of Minnesota doesn’t seem too shabby a job.
Watching the governor and first lady these past few days has been an intriguing experience because I have been able to watch their interactions without the media filter. (I just realized how creepy “watch their interactions” sounds. I’m not a stalker, I promise.) What I mean is, I have had the opportunity to see them as regular people, doing all sorts of 
things, both in media mode (there is lots of media following the mission), sitting on a plane for 14 hours, and in a private van with just their assistants and staff. What I have been astounded by this entire time is the poise and congeniality with which the two of them present themselves at all times (even while taking a nap on the plane with headphones on.)
I attended the ninth annual CEO forum this morning. The governor was one of the keynote speakers at this enormous event – just one of Governor 
Pawlenty’s six to eight speaking engagements each day. He fielded many questions from a variety of business leaders, managing to tie them all to the Minnesota economy in a natural way and maintaining a composed and intelligent demeanor.
I realize that this sounds a little like a government-imposed plug, but believe me, I wouldn’t say these things if I didn’t mean it. I was skeptical at first. I thought they must get crabby or frustrated when a lot of people weren’t around. I asked their personal assistants, Paul and Anne about it, and was told that neither of them had seen Tim or Mary Pawlenty angry.
“It takes a certain type of energy to deal with people all the time,” said Paul, the governor’s personal assistant. “Some people just have it.”
The level of energy we are talking about here is incredible. On October 2, the couple ran a marathon in the morning, hopped on the state plane, and flew to Fergus Falls, Alexandria, 
and one or two other cities before calling it a day.
“Days often start at 5 or 6 a.m., and go until midnight. It’s not uncommon that we’ll leave at four in the morning and fly to northern Minnesota,” Paul said. Mary Pawlenty, in addition to her duties as the first lady, is a full time district court judge. The couple also has two children.
I learned over the last few days that the governor’s job is a lot more difficult and consuming than it seems at first glance.
(As a side note, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, President George W. Bush, and his father former President George H.W. Bush will all be at the Beijing Hyatt (the hotel we stayed at) this week. Arnold was there today and last night, and George Bush Sr. will be speaking tomorrow at the CEO forum, which Governor Pawlenty spoke at this morning.)
November 14, 2005
Yet Another Eye-Opener: Women’s Rights
I have never before been passionate about the issue of women’s rights. This is not to say that I don’t believe that men and women shouldn’t be treated equally. I have simply taken it for granted that women can do anything men can do, perhaps in some circumstances with a little extra work. I found advocating for women’s rights to be redundant. Today, my perspective on
women’s rights worldwide changed drastically. I began to understand the literal disparity between the genders that exists in some parts of the world. I attained a parallel understanding of how far the United States has progressed in order for me to take for granted my rights and abilities for advancement as a woman.
The horrifying reality is that many young girls are sold into prostitution. In some cases, this is because the family is desperate to have a boy, and the family income will not allow them to keep more than one child. In other cases, families suffer such intense poverty that they cannot afford to keep their girls. Often, girls are forced by a family to drop out of school and go to work, while the boys continue with their education. Girls are generally economically disadvantageous to families in China because they have a much harder time entering the job force. This is just one of the many issues to overcome in the struggle for women’s rights in China.
I had the extraordinary privilege today to accompany the First Lady of Minnesota to a gathering with the leaders of the All-China Women’s Federation. This organization is a massive effort dedicated to “the advancement of Chinese women of all ethnic groups in all walks of life.” The meeting was small and intimate, involving three key members of the organization, the First Lady, her bodyguard and assistant, myself, and my chaperone, Linda. The conversation revolved around empowering women to be competent in the workplace by encouraging them to learn basic knowledge and skills which would increase their incomes. The organization features a “Four Selves” doctrine: self esteem, self confidence, self reliance, and self improvement.
What was most impressive about the organization was the massive
scope of its work. It has helped more than 7 million women in China in various
ways. The headquarters was a massive complex. Women from across China have
access to over 600 hotlines operated through the organization.
I left this morning with a greater understanding of the terrible injustices that plague both Chinese society and our own. I was also touched deeply by the passion these three women poured into their work, a passion that was blatantly obvious even through the distinct language barrier.
Sources:
Steve Ralles, fellow student ambassador
First Lady’s event briefing
November 13, 2005
The word “enemy” has morphed in meaning
drastically over the centuries. Now, as American students, when
we think of the word, vague images of terrorism, 9/11, and suicide
bombings generally come to mind. We often hear that there is an
“enemy” out there, but we cannot fairly determine exactly
what that enemy looks like, where or who he will strike, and what
means he will use.
In fact, days before this trip, all of the delegates
received an email informing us that there was a possible threat
of terror in the five-star hotels in the major cities of China (See
Today’s Vote). Unfortunately, the state of the world is that
the enemy 
is
omnipresent.
This, however, was not the case in Ancient China. The Chinese
knew exactly who their enemy was: the Mongolians. With this certainty,
they were able to devise a plan of action to keep their enemy away.
The plan was to literally build a wall around China, and to keep
the wall guarded at all times from the enemy. This wall, the longest
man-made structure in the world (followed by the wall surrounding
the St. Cloud Prison), is known as the Great Wall of China.
When understanding the construction of the Great Wall, it
is important to understand the type of government under which it
was built. Ancient China featured a type of government called feudalism.
China remained a feudal government for approximately 2000 years.
In this system, one man would establish a dynasty, and from there,
power was passed from generation to generation. During this period,
there were about 15 dynasties. The feudal rule ended after the capitalist
revolution.
The Great Wall had three peaks in construction. The first
was during the Chin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.). The most prolific period
in construction of the Wall was during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220
A.D.). During this period, over 10,000 km 
of
wall was constructed! The final surge in development of the Wall
was during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Mongolians were invading
continuously, and expanding construction of the wall was seen as
a way to stop them.
The Great Wall is built vaguely in the shape of a circle, with a castle in the middle. A military General stayed in the castle, and instructed soldiers from there. Smoke and fire were used as signals. For example, one burst of fire and one burst of smoke meant that there were 500 enemies present.
We visited the Great Wall today, and it was fascinating to
learn about the role government played in the construction of this
unique monument.
Sources:
My Tour Guide, Michael
Travel Associate, Jennifer Dens
November 10, 2005
Videoconferencing: Connecting Students Statewide
The TIES building in Roseville is the state headquarters
for Student Council. I have been going there for meetings and classes several
times a year since the beginning of high school. Today, I got to see a part
of it that I have never seen before: the basement auditorium.
I entered the auditorium and was guided to a
seat next to Governor Pawlenty. In front of us was a TV screen
showing several boxes. One of the boxes was a live video of the
governor, and the other six or so boxes showed live video of classrooms
across the state. It was very interesting to see 
the different
classrooms. The students were of varying ages. There was a third
grade class from Burnsville, and a high school class from Forest
Lake, just to name two.
After the governor gave an overview of the
mission objectives and plans, the floor was opened for questions.
Each of the schools took a turn asking a question. Aside from
answering the questions, Governor Pawlenty made jokes, and made
conversation with the students. He asked a third grader if she
liked Hillary Duff. She didn't but instead preferred "classic"
music. I've gotta say I'm with her on that one.
One main theme I'd like to touch on from the conference is
the difference in government systems of the United States and
China. China has a communist system, meaning that the state controls
the economy, and a single authoritarian party holds power, and
leads with the belief that society makes progress when goods are
shared within a society.
On the other hand, in the United States we
have a democratic system, which is a government "for the
people by the people," where the majority rules.
Governor
Pawlenty spoke about this difference when answering several questions, because
of the way the setup of the two systems will affect trade between the two nations.
He emphasized the importance of understanding the communist system in forming
business associations.
After the videoconference, I got the opportunity to speak
with Governor Pawlenty briefly. He was very friendly, and asked if I was excited
about the trip. I told him how excited I am, and he laughed and said he felt
the same way.
November 7, 2005
China Mission: A University Perspective
Politics have always held a certain appeal to me. More than wanting to become a political leader, I have always been interested in learning what makes a great political leader. What characteristics, traits, and skills do leaders at different levels and of different organizations have in common?
I attend classes at the University of Minnesota, and it occurred to me that the job of the president of such a large institution must have some similarities to being the leader of any other large government or state organization. This piqued my interest, and I decided to try and talk with President Robert Bruininks, to try and find out more about his job, and what made him tick.
The President’s office is located in an inconspicuous building
at the corner of Northrop Mall. We (Nick and I) entered through huge glass
doors into a plush room with upholstered chairs and glossy books on the 
side
table. After a few minutes of waiting, we were greeted by President Bruininks
(tall, smiling, and wearing an intimidating wrist brace).
We chatted across a large polished wooden desk, and I could see easily which qualities the President possessed that made him a leader. He spoke with ease, enthusiasm, and knowledge about a vast array of subjects.
His main goals on the mission are to further develop the relationship between the University and China, and to examine Chinese academic models (primarily in the math and science areas), and to use their example to improve our own system of education.
President Bruininks’s advice to the student ambassadors, and to anyone interested in learning more about China and its role in the world today, is to read the last 52 issues of The Economist. He believes in reading as much as possible, and made references to authors (such as Thomas Friedman) numerous times.
He also mentioned that there was a huge difference in operating
a large-scale government institution through the means we have here in the
United States, and operating through a centralized government, such as in China. “We
[in the United States] tend to get things done faster, he said, “but there
[in China], decisions stick for longer.”
President Bruininks concluded the interview by saying “This is certainly going to be an experience for you. Your view of the world and your place in it will certainly change.”
I’ve gotta say, I’m pretty excited to see if he is right.
October 24,
2005
Dr. Hong Yang: Expert on Human Chemistry
As I passed through the long winding tunnels leading
to the Humphrey Center on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota,
I saw groups of people of many different cultures. I saw a Korean
student group, and some Indian students speaking Hindi in the
hallway. I found the China Center Office, where Dr. Yang's office
is located, and entered through the glass door. Inside, there
were offices along the walls, cubicles in the middle, a reception
desk, and Chinese art everywhere.
Dr. Hong was a very friendly and energetic man.
He gave me a firm handshake and led me to his office. When asked
about his background, he animatedly described his chemistry background
(he came to the University of Minnesota 20 years ago to do graduate
chemistry work). He told about how he was asked to become the
head of the China Center five-and-a-half years ago. I asked him
how he feels about leaving his academic chemistry environment,
and he said contentedly that he has simply switched his focus.
"I am now working on human chemistry," he said.
He certainly has put in a lot of hard work. Since
Dr. Yang's arrival as the director of the China Center, the center
has been restructured and built upon immensely. The program is
committed to building deep and lasting relations between Minnesota
and China. The center features monthly cultural events, student
travel and scholarship programs, an annual China Day for students
studying Mandarin, and leadership training for more than 200 Chinese
professionals in a variety of fields.
Dr. Yang described his thoughts on the upcoming
trade mission as follows: "The rise of China [as a global
power] is a fact, whether we like it or not. Therefore, it is
good for the US and China to work together and form peaceful collaborations
in all areas. This way, we can create a peaceful world environment
for generations to come. We are letting the people of China know
that we care about our relationship."
I asked Dr. Yang to give me some advice as to
what I should focus on as a student delegate on the mission. He
encouraged me to pass on this message to the students of Minnesota:
"Think about why China is important globally. Almost every
aspect of the media focuses on China these days. Business depends
on China, so understanding China is very important as a student."
Dr. Yang has been working with K-12 educators
to expand China culture curriculum in the schools. "Chinese
students learn English starting in the third grade," he explained.
"They are positioning themselves to lead business on a global
scale. Now, if you become a business executive in 15 or 20 years,
you will be at a great disadvantage if you are not able to understand
Chinese. You will not be able to negotiate successfully."
It's certainly something to think about, and as
I spoke more with Dr. Yang, I became increasingly more excited
to witness firsthand the business and cultural aspects of this
country that is rising so quickly. I am also very excited to learn
more about how government plays into the equation.
As I got up to leave, Dr. Yang shook my hand
again, and with a grin, said, "See you in Beijing!:"
