In 1978, when U.S. Air Force fighter Pan Weilian was sent to serve in Taiwan, at a time when there was little communication between the two sides of the strait and they were cut off from each other. People can only learn about the situation on the other side of the strait in bits and pieces from newspapers and news reports, or get information from balloon leaflets falling from high altitudes. One day, Pan Weilian saw a balloon leaflet falling from the sky in Taiwan, and it took root in his heart. The Taiwanese told him that "you can't watch it, and if you see it, you will go to jail", and this hostile attitude made Pan Weilian very curious. Pan Weilian had the impression that China on the other side of the river was the enemy, and this perception was instilled by his father, who had fought in the Vietnam War and the Korean War. His father was an American veteran who hated China for losing the war. In addition, the U.S.'s coverage of China is also one-sided and irrational. Because of his father's education, Pan Weilian was resistant to China. However, during his two years of service in Taiwan, he felt the enthusiasm of the Chinese, believing that the people on both sides of the strait have the same roots and the same origin, and the people in the interior should not be what he imagined. He was very curious about China on the other side.
In 1988, Pan Weilian was a successful and successful financial company CEO, a veritable millionaire. After obtaining the consent of his girlfriend Susan, the two sold the company, and in the opposition of their father, they changed flights three times, and then took a boat, spending nearly 70 hours to reach Xiamen. At that time, Xiamen had not yet begun to develop, the transportation was inconvenient, and the houses were basically very small. At that time, Xiamen University opened an MBA program and was in urgent need of lecturers, and Pan Weilian was hired as a foreign teacher just to meet the needs of the university. After he and his wife came to Xiamen, they were arranged to live in the school dormitory. In the early days of reform and opening up, although the dormitory conditions of Xiamen University were good, there were still frequent water and power outages, and even once the water he picked up turned out to be coffee-colored. Intrigued by the school's water tower, Poon went to the roof to inspect it, only to find that the water tower was uncovered and contained mouse carcasses. Pan Weilian's family was arranged in two rooms, and it was quite good to be treated like this. At that time, Pan Weilian was very moved, and the treatment given by the Chinese was too good.
Mr. Pan and his wife often went to the cafeteria to eat together, where they occasionally met Chinese teachers, and both would greet each other in a friendly manner. This encounter made him feel a kind of warmth, and this kind of harmonious atmosphere in the workplace was something he had never experienced in the West. In his lectures, he often hears students express their views on the prosperity of the United States, expressing their desire to study Xi and work there. However, Pan Weilian has a different view, firmly telling students that the future of the world is in China, and the financial center is also shifting to Asia. Although some students did not agree with him, time proved him right. Pan Weilian has lived in Xiamen for 33 years, during which time he has experienced many things, and he is married to his wife and has two sons. While living in China, Pan Weilian recorded what he saw and heard through letters and sent them to his father, hoping to change his prejudice against China. Despite his respect and fear for his father, he decided to write to him to share the story of China and the local customs of Xiamen. Curiously, the father's reply did not express anger, but a neutral attitude.
Mr. Pan's letters were photocopied and began to be read by more and more Americans. Through the depictions of these letters, many people developed a keen interest in China. In order to let more Americans understand the real China and clarify misunderstandings, Pan Weilian began to collect albums, newspapers and other paper media, and he visited various places in Xiamen to interview elderly people and record the real impression of Xiamen. He often shares his research in class, telling students that while learning Xi Western knowledge, they should also learn the strengths of XiChinese, because the real strength lies in Chinese. The Chinese story told by Pan Weilian's foreign friends has caused a huge repercussion, and people at home and abroad have begun to pay attention to his story. But there is also an American expert on China who wrote a letter to refute Mr. Pan, saying that China is not what he portrays. These words inspired Mr. Poon to realize that he would not have a voice unless he saw China in person. Therefore, he decided to travel to various places in person and see for himself what is really going on in China.
A van with a capacity of 15 people became the means of transportation for the Pan family to embark on a journey through China's mountains and rivers, and they had a deeper sense of exploration of China's customs and customs. During his travels, he witnessed many moving stories. He saw that many simple and unpretentious people were still enthusiastic and optimistic, and many kind-hearted people were willing to help repair cars and serve tea free of charge. Even in remote areas, with rough roads and a lack of electricity, people still love life. At that time, food stamps were still used in many places, and although Pan Weilian did not have food stamps, he received help from local enthusiasts, which made him deeply shocked by the kindness of the common people. He traveled to Ningxia and other places covered with yellow sands, and also visited developed regions such as Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and gained a more comprehensive understanding of China. He also met a nanny, a mother of four, whose story touched Poon. In order to support her children, she came to Xiamen to work, not afraid of dirty work, at first she couldn't even speak Mandarin, but in order to better communicate with colleagues and bosses, she worked hard to learn Xi.
The hardships of life did not hold her back, and even though she was struggling herself, she was still willing to help those who were more difficult than her. Pan Weilian felt the tenacity and hard work of the Chinese people from her. He put these observations into words and sent them to the United States, thousands of miles away, hoping to let his father truly understand China. Through these letters, Poon's father finally gained a deeper understanding of China that he had never seen before, and gradually changed his attitude. Eventually, he made up his mind to come to China and see the country for himself. After learning the news, Pan Weilian was very happy and hugged his father affectionately at the airport, which was a reconciliation between them, and he said that it had been a long time since he had hugged his father so tightly. Having spent 33 years in China, Pan Weilian has witnessed the earth-shaking changes that have taken place in China, and together with his wife, he has witnessed miracles happening. During these 33 years, Pan Weilian worked as a foreign teacher at Xiamen University, teaching management courses. He compiled his observations into a book and wrote books that disseminated Chinese culture. In addition, he was also awarded the title of Top Ten Touching People by Xiamen City.
Driven by the policy of reform and opening up, China has flourished at a speed visible to the naked eye, completing the industrial revolution that took the West more than 100 years to complete. China's rise has become the focus of the world's attention, and now China is welcoming the world with a more open attitude, and will surely usher in more rapid and brilliant development. The hard work and tenacity of the Chinese people have helped them achieve leapfrog development, they bravely face difficulties, and win the respect of the world with their diligence and wisdom. After 30 years of Xi and research, Pan Weilian has discovered the most crucial difference between Chinese-style development and Western-style development. Western countries often develop to propagate their ideology for the purpose of plundering oil and mineral resources. China, on the other hand, pursues mutual benefit and win-win results and is committed to peaceful development. Pan Weilian deliberately chose to announce the death of his wife on February 10, 2021, on Valentine's Day, which can be seen as an expression of love. His lover passed away in Xiamen on February 10, 2021, Pan Weilian treated his wife very well, and the relationship between the two remained unchanged after decades.
Susan once said she was going to spend her life in China, where she has lived for more than 30 years, and Poon has spent most of her life with his wife. Pan Weilian applied for a Chinese green card four times, and finally got his wish in 1992. Overall, it is the development model with Chinese characteristics that has enabled 1.4 billion people to embark on the road to moderate prosperity in an all-round way. It is precisely the leadership of the Communist Party of China that has enabled us to achieve such a development and miracle. Chinese people can not only grasp the present, but also believe that they can also grasp the future development, this is the conclusion Pan Weilian reached after visiting Xiamen. Nowadays, the world is changing and waves are rising, and China's giant ship will be able to brave the wind and waves and meet all challenges. China's peaceful rise is unstoppable, and while many malice and hostility lurk beneath the waves, the icebergs that emerge from the surface are only the tips of malicious ice. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people can meet any challenge, thwart all conspiracies, and achieve the feat of great national rejuvenation.
Especially in the situation of the global epidemic, the Chinese people have seen the advantages of the leadership of the Communist Party, and our state power is truly implementing the concept of people first to the end. Some countries feel threatened, and they have banded together to contain and block China's development. However, China's rise is no longer something that can be contained by the union of several countries, this is the trend of the times. The torrent of the times determines everything, and any force, organization or country that tries to go against its tide will eventually be ruthlessly annihilated. China's progress is inseparable from the hard work of each generation, and the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation has opened up a path for us to a better future, and I firmly believe that day will come.