Beijing Life

China and The World

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Gilbert on CGTN

Here is the online link of the “China and the World” documentary. CGTN broadcasted it at 11:08 am on 27 December 2019, and replayed it at 03:08 am on 28 December, and it also launched it on the CGTN new media platform. My part starts from 18:25 to 20:58. Renaat Morel is also featured. As you can see the “answers” I provided and were retained are not that close to the questions. As a matter of fact many of my comments were not considered, too much self-censorship… I even taught they would not show me… maybe I said too much with honesty…
The link works on Safari, not on Firefox in my case.

https://s-url.cgtn.com/m/fDFHIA

The questions

See the introduction by CCTV, CGTN is the international channel of CCTV.
To celebrate the 70 anniversary of PRC, CCTV is making a special documentary about the personnel exchange. We would like to invite you to join us to talk about China’s development and the exchanges between China and the rest of the world from the perspective of foreigners.
Questions:

  1. What is your initial impression of the Chinese people? Where does it come from and what new discoveries have been made after dealing with the Chinese people?
  2. What are the characteristics and cultural differences of Chinese people studying and working abroad?
  3. Among the Chinese studying abroad, a considerable proportion of them remain working and living abroad. Is this a drain of resources or a channel for China to export influence?
  4. What changes have China’s national image experienced since the 1970s? In your opinion, what aspects of China’s influence on the world are the most significant?
  5. In your opinion, what does reform and opening up mean to China?
  6. Compared with the 1990s, more Chinese graduates have returned to China for development. What’s your take on that?
  7. Nowadays, many foreigners come to China to work and start businesses. How far is China from becoming an international human resources market?

Visiting my office

On 22 August 2019 the CGTN team visited my office where part of the interview was shot. Later we walked to Morel’s Restaurant where we had lunch.

See the pics at my office and screenshots of the online interview. Some nice shots of myself. They used another angle to shoot, unlike all other TV crews.

Global Talents Exchange Association

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Friendship Hotel

On 22 December 2019 I was invited by the Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association for their yearly event at the Friendship Palace (Friendship Hotel). Good to meet several old friends, including Michael Crook I had not seen since … 2009.
Also pictured: Song Peng and Ding Zhifeng (Executive President and Secretary General of BGTEA).

The program of “Talents Forum & Global Talent Summit 2020”:

Award-giving Ceremony – Global Talent Meritorious Honor Award for Isabel Crook followed by her birthday celebration (104 years young!).
BGTEA Ambassadors Awards: Michael Crook, David G. Evans, Erik Robert Nilsson.
Distinguished Foreign Experts Awards: David Feng, Vassilia Pirierros, Terry Crossman and others.
Unveiling “Beijing Home from Home for Foreign Friends by Michael Crook.
International students’ performance and Foreign experts’ performance (Mark Levine and others).

The event

We first had a buffet dinner where I met several familiar faces…
The event was immediately featured on CCTV4, and the clip was shown on screen.
Fu Han was one of the hosts and performed with Mark Levine.
Ding Zhifeng gave a (long) report on the BGTEA activities.

Beijing Global Talents Exchange Association

BGTEA (Global Talent Association) is short for Beijing Global Talent Exchange Association is registered in Zhongguancun, and approved by the civil affairs department as a national organization. Under the strategy on developing a quality workforce, BGTEA aims to facilitate exchanges and cooperation of talents, technologies and high-tech projects, develop an innovation-driven country and offer intellectual support for progress.

BGTEA was initiated by 7 institutions, including Beijing Normal University, Beijing Keda high-tech Ltd., etc. Since the foundation on March 30th, 2015, We have made many achievements, gathered experts on global talents exchange and high-tech projects, reserved a bunch of overseas elites on science and technology.
Website: http://www.talent.org.cn/public/index.php/index/en/index

I am member of the (Foreign) Advisory Committee of Experts.

Expats witness China’s changes

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

China Daily event

On 12 December 2018 China Daily organized an event in The Bookworm “Expats witness China’s changes”, as China celebrates the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up. China Daily website invited over 30 foreigners to share their stories and insights.
The China Daily online article: https://enapp.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201812/14/AP5c132630a310475542874c93.html

See here the PDF of the article: 181212 CDBookworm

The program and guests:
For the full program see here: 181212 ProgramBookworm

Main speakers:

  • Zhang Chunyan, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily Website
  • Laurence Brahm
  • David Bartosch
  • Gilbert Van Kerckhove
  • Alex Chan
  • Hujjatullah Zia
  • Jocelyn Eikenburg
  • Bruce Connolly

Gilbert talking

The official topic and introduction:
2008 it’s an important year for China as Beijing held the Olympics successfully. To many who have watched or attended the Beijing Olympics did have great memory on it, some even remark it was transformative for the city and country. For our next speaker Mr. Gilbert Van Kerckhove, he was deeply involved in the preparation of the Beijing Olympics. He acted as a bridge between the Chinese administration and foreign governments, embassies and chambers of commerce during China’s preparation for the Olympics. Due to his achievements, he was honored with the China Friendship Award, and he was offered a Chinese “green card” in 2008. Now, we have Mr. Gilbert Van Kerckhove to share his 38 years experience during his stay in China.

The report from China Daily:
Gilbert Van Kerckhove is one of the earliest foreign business people to venture into China after its reform and opening-up. The 70-year-old Belgian business strategist has not only witnessed, but also played an important part in the country’s tremendous transformation over the decades.
In 2008, as Beijing prepared for the Olympic Games, Van Kerckhove acted as a coordinator between the Chinese administration and foreign governments, embassies and chambers of commerce.
Looking back on his memorable experiences of the 2008 Olympics, Van Kerckhove summarized the whole complicated effort in one sentence: “It was not only me — it was teamwork. It also illustrates that we foreigners can contribute to this country.”
Living in China for 38 years, Gilbert Van Kerckhove witnessed China’s great transformation. “In this respect, China has being pretty much planning ahead and being very forward-looking,” he said.
Due to his great achievements, he was honored with the China Friendship Award in 2005, and he was offered a Chinese “green card” in 2008.

Meeting friends

Was good to meet some friends who were there as speakers or VIP guests:
Laurence Brahm, David Bartosch, Bruce Connolly and Emanuele  Francia.

See here the pics, mostly from China Daily, others from friends and myself.

Belgian PM Charles Michel in the Embassy

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Garden Party for our PM Charles Michel in the Embassy

On the occasion of the official visit of H.E. Mr. Charles Michel, Prime Minister of Belgium, to celebrate 45 years of diplomatic relations between China and Belgium, H.E. Mr. Michel Malherbe, Ambassador of Belgium, invited the community to a Garden Party at his Residence on Sunday 30 October 2016 in the afternoon.
Before the Garden Party I was interviewed by Stefan Blommaert (Belgian VRT) along Liangma River, close to the embassy.
There was a large crowd to welcome the PM, some 500+ braving the chilly weather. Food by TRB.

Also attended: the ambassadors of the EU Delegation, Luxembourg, Russia and others. Also, the President of the EU Chamber, Joerg Wuttke.
Our PM cordially mingled with the guests to chat.
I also met several of the staff of Anbang Brussels who were happy to finally meet the father of a certain Valerie…
See pictured also Renaat and Susan Morel, Stella Chang (soprano), Sus van Elzen (Belgian writer and journalist) and other friends.

Gilbert and Chinese qipao

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Yes, as some of my friends say, I get involved in “many things”.
One is the official setup of the World Qipao Association. It is connected to my role in the International Gongfu Committee. (don’t try to understand!)
On 13 October 2015 in Changbaishan International Hotel (Beijing) an event was held showing the traditional culture of qipao.
To illustrate a little the event see here my short speech before handing over the registration certificate to the qipao ladies:

” Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, good morning!
Today we convey our congratulations to the World Qipao Association to become a subsidiary of the International Gongfu Committee. We hope Chinese qipao culture can be promoted in the world. Already many foreigners are familiar with qipao but more can be done because the dress is really charming and elegant, a famous fashion statement for Chinese ladies.
Gongfu shows men’s beauty and strength, qipao shows ladies’ soft beauty.
We today celebrate the start of the NGO program for “China No Cancer”. We wish both undertakings a big success!”

The event was really charming. I think never so many ladies have been taking pictures with me!