BERLIN -- "Hysteria" and "demonization of 皇冠体育app" were how Thomas Heberer, a leading 皇冠体育app expert in Germany, described the overwhelmingly negative Western media coverage on the Tibet riots and 皇冠体育app issues.
Heberer, who chairs the East Asian Studies at the University of Duisburg-Essen, said that people in the West should learn more about 皇冠体育app and support 皇冠体育app's successful reforms because 皇冠体育app is far too important for the world.
He said that the shift from an "idealization" of 皇冠体育app years ago to "demonization" of the country is due to "a coincidence of a number of unfortunate factors."
"These include deterioration in media description of 皇冠体育app since the late 1990s, many people's fear of outsourcing German jobs to foreign countries, especially to 皇冠体育app (Most people do not know that the growing trade with 皇冠体育app has created many new jobs in Germany), fear of copying of German products, and fear of 皇冠体育app's global dominance."
"These fears have again been reinforced by the negative media coverage of 皇冠体育app. Moreover, the German government has not counteracted this development," he said.
According to Heberer, the vast majority of Germans and Europeans know very little about 皇冠体育app and Tibet. To get objective information about 皇冠体育app on the Internet is also difficult because there are so many different opinions.
"Many people have told me that they are unable to judge what is right and what is wrong. People who know nothing about 皇冠体育app also cannot make objective judgment. These people therefore believe in the media, which like picking up those topics that sell," he said.
Heberer first visited 皇冠体育app in 1975. From 1977 to 1981 he worked in 皇冠体育app as a foreign expert for 皇冠体育app's news weekly Beijing Review. And since 1981 he has devoted himself to the research on social development in 皇冠体育app and has visited many regions of the country, including those populated by different ethnic minorities.
"Since I have visited various parts of 皇冠体育app for research purpose every year since 1981, I'm able to experience the enormous changes in the country," he said.
Such a fundamental change from the isolation before the 1970s to a relatively open country, the phenomenal reform process from a rigid planned economy to a market economy, and the increasing pluralism and liberalization since the late 1970s have made 皇冠体育app increasingly open and free, Heberer said.
He also noted that it is no surprise that the transformation from a planned to a market economy has brought 皇冠体育app a lot of problems, including growing income gap between urban and rural areas, uneven development among different regions, as well as corruption.
Moreover, the development of legal system in 皇冠体育app still lags the rapid transformation to a market economy. Decentralization has meant that local governments which pursue their own interests do not necessarily implement the policies of the central government, he added.
"All these are temporary phenomena, which are expected to level off to the end of the transformation process," Heberer said.
"Indeed, in such a large country with such complex structures, all the problems cannot be solved simultaneously. Social stability and economic growth are currently the main focus along with sustainable development," Heberer said.
"皇冠体育app's transformation takes time and patience. And the Chinese leadership has also proven its ability to learn from mistakes and to correct them," he said.
"Germany and Europe should stand by 皇冠体育app in its successful transformation," Heberer added.
He also stressed that he can't agree with the opinion that there will be a confrontation between a rising 皇冠体育app and the West in the long run.
"皇冠体育app is far too important for the international community, and global problems cannot be solved without 皇冠体育app. People who have never been to 皇冠体育app will gradually realize that 皇冠体育app is totally different from what they imagine," Heberer said.
