MANDARIN RISING INNOVATIVE EDUCATOR Learning to say xiexie Building better schools in , P28-29 against the odds, P32 Thailand: Baht30.00 Thailand: ASIA WEEKLY AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 5, 2013

VOLCHINA 4 NO 34 DAILYwww.chinadailyasia.com Published by China Daily Asia Pacifi c Limited Getting to grips CHINESE CARMAKERS WILL HAVE TO RETHINK STRATEGY, IMPROVE PRODUCTS, PRODUCTIVITY AND SERVICE IN ORDER TO COMPETE OVERSEAS

By ALFRED ROMANN in Hong Kong and 100 percent for cars that can go even further. overseas. It is great propaganda for them to go For China Daily Asia Weekly But there is a catch. These vehicles must be overseas. It is good advertising for them,” says assembled domestically and as much as 84 per- Zeng. The problem is that “most of them are treat- ore than 1 million new cars cent of components must be made locally. Virtual- ing overseas markets as a trading business … They were sold in Indonesia last ly no Chinese automakers are in a position to take mainly rely on price as a weapon.” year. That fact alone makes advantage of those tax breaks. For the time being, On the surface, it makes sense for Chinese auto- the Southeast Asia giant a very Japanese automakers will continue to dominate mobile manufacturers to look to new markets. desirable market for automak- the market. Competition in China is intensifying and overca- ers. Not only in Indonesia but in most foreign mar- pacity among domestic makers is still a signifi cant Indonesia accounts for about 40 percent of the kets, Chinese automakers are having a hard time issue, according to a new report by international Mpopulation of the Association of Southeast Asian competing with more advanced multinational consultancy AlixPartners. Most Chinese manufac- Nations (ASEAN) and its economy has been grow- manufacturers from Japan, South Korea, Europe turers operate at 65 percent capacity, compared ing fast, at more than 4 percent per year for more and North America. with the 80 percent considered to be the mini- than a decade. It is a natural export market for Chinese companies want to go abroad, but their mum for stable profi ts. Chinese auto manufacturers looking to up their off erings are still of lower quality and the after- At the same time, Chinese automakers have market share. sales service typically weak because they generally struggled to gain market share, particularly in the And it gets better. do not have the networks in place to provide qual- key sedan segment. The only standout is Great Earlier this year, the Indonesian government ity services, says John Zeng, managing director at Wall, which has a leading position in the China launched new tax incentives for low-cost green LMC Automotive Consulting in Shanghai. SUV market, according to the report. In the luxury cars, which give automakers another reason to get Aside from a couple of standouts like Great Wall car segment, BMW and Audi lead the way, fol- into the action. The government has cut the luxury Motors, Chery and possibly Geely, most Chinese lowed by Mercedes-Benz.

ncl JCT), Malaysia: RM2.00, Nepal: NPR30.00, Philippines: Peso50.00, Republic of Korea Won2,000, Singapore: S$3.00 (Incl GST), Singapore: Won2,000, of Korea Republic Peso50.00, NPR30.00, Philippines: RM2.00, Nepal: (I ncl JCT), Malaysia: Yen400 Rp8,500 (Incl PPN), Japan: Rs20.00, Indonesia: HK$6.00, India: A$4.00 (Incl GST), Dubai AED5.00, Hong Kong: Australia Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong Praya Wan Tin 7 Centre, Wai Hing Joint PrintingLimited, 2-3/F, Company tax by 25 percent for cars that can get fuel effi cien- automakers simply cannot compete in this area. cy of 20 km per liter, 50 percent for 28 km per liter “(Chinese automakers) are quite eager to go SEE “AUTO” P5

Cover Story Australia’s auto sector driving to an end, Thailand becoming Detroit of the East, page 6 page 7 PAGE 28 CHINA DAILY ASIA WEEKLY AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 Focus: Mandarin in Pakistan Language of a trusted friend YOUNG SNAP UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY MANDARIN FOR BUSINESS, CAREER AND PLEASURE

By SUDESHNA SARKAR in Kolkata For China Daily Asia Weekly

hen Sabir Mirza went to the LP Thong den- tal clinic in Karachi, Pakistan’s commercial capital,W his Chinese dental surgeon was in for a pleasant surprise. Mirza, an aspiring medical stu- dent who hopes to study at Shang- hai Medical University, is learning Mandarin to prepare for a long stay in China. And he was able to con- verse in fl uent Mandarin with his dentist. “There is a growing interest in the Mandarin language in Pakistan, especially among young people,” says Muhammad Arif, editor of Nihao- Salam, an e-magazine that promotes Pakistan-China ties. The 32-year-old had his first immersion in the language during a six-month course at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) in in 2011. There were 27 other students in the class. While a few were “follow- ers” — merely carrying out parental PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY ASIA WEEKLY wishes — most were keenly interest- Premier Li Keqiang (2nd last row, fi fth from right) meets students and offi cials from Roots Millennium Schools at the Pakistan-China Friendship Centre in Islamabad ed in education and business oppor- during his visit to Pakistan in May. Next to him (fourth from right) is Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, the then caretaker prime minister of Pakistan. tunities in China, Arif says. At the NUML, the Mandarin class- eastward. It has also boosted the es are run in cooperation with the popularity of Mandarin as jobs grow Confucius Institute in Islamabad, for interpreters, managers and con- the fi rst Confucius Institute in the sultants. Islamic world. Three years after the fi rst Confu- Since the opening ceremony in cius Institute was launched in Paki- 2007, it has bagged the “Confucius stan, Mandarin received another Institute of the Year” award three fi llip when Faisal Mushtaq, a young times — in 2007, 2008 and 2010. Pakistani educator, was persuaded Besides Mandarin, the institute also to visit China. teaches Taoist philosophy, tai chi and Mushahid Hussain, a Pakistani kungfu. senator, Sinophile and founder of Arif explains why Pakistanis are the Pakistan-China Institute, was learning Mandarin: “They regard seeking to connect more Pakistanis China as an all-weather, trusted and Chinese. friend and the two countries enjoy “You like going to Europe,” Hus- 62 years of long friendship. sain told the globetrotting Mushtaq. “With the Chinese economy “(Now) come to China and see Asia’s growing, Pakistanis are aware of the future unfolding before you.” advantages of learning the Chinese So in 2010 Mushtaq went, saw language — for education, doing and was conquered. While attend- business or simply understanding a ing the 19th international trade fair neighboring nation better.” in Urumqi in Northwest China, he For Pakistan’s well-heeled, the announced he would introduce Chi- Roots Millennium Schools students pay a tribute to Sino-Pakistani friendship on annual parents’ day in 2011. United States, Australia, Canada nese classes at the Roots Millennium and Europe traditionally remain the Schools (RMS). both countries to interact and pro- tors. So he went to the Confucius time teachers, and the students do places where they send their chil- The RMS group was started by mote trade, education, culture and Institute, who provided him with six not have to pay extra for the Man- dren for higher education. But the Mushtaq’s mother in the 1980s; it diplomacy.” more teachers. darin classes. growth of the middle class, the fall- currently has 25 campuses in 12 He conducted on-the-spot inter- It still wasn’t enough. Then he Mushtaq has a favorite slogan ing Pakistani rupee, and tougher visa Pakistani cities with over 15,000 stu- views during his whirlwind China contacted China Radio Interna- that he coined himself: Club 21:21. and education requirements abroad dents. trip to select two instructors who tional’s Confucius Classroom, who It refers to the fact that, together, have led to a dip in the number of “I announced the launch of the followed him to Pakistan to start the agreed to sponsor an additional four Pakistan and China make up 21 per- students going west. Chinese classes to promote cultural, fi rst Mandarin classes under private experienced Mandarin teachers. cent of the world’s population in the The increase in trade and eco- social and language understanding initiative. “RMS has the honor to be the fi rst 21st century. nomic cooperation with China, opportunities among China and With nearly 4,000 students — school in Pakistan to off er Chinese “Language taught through the which means more Chinese com- Pakistan,” says the 34-year-old, who from fi rst to seventh graders — hop- classes,” says a proud Mushtaq. school curriculum can play a key panies working in Pakistan, has is now CEO at RMS. “(It would cre- ing to study Mandarin, Mushtaq The RMS Chinese language encouraged some students to look ate) opportunities for people from realized he needed more instruc- department presently has 15 full- >> PAGE 29 AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 CHINA DAILY ASIA WEEKLY PAGE 29

FROM PAGE 28 role in unifying the youth of the two Building personal and political nations,” he says. The language initiative received a significant recognition when Mushtaq and students of RMS were invited to meet Premier Li Keqiang bridges between Pakistan and China during the latter’s official visit to Pakistan in May. By SUDESHNA SARKAR After learning about the inter- est in Pakistani schools in teaching When Mushahid Hussain was 13, Mandarin, Li reportedly said his gov- his father Amjad Hussain, a colonel ernment would send 1,000 Chinese in the Pakistani military, was posted teachers and initiate more scholar- to Dhaka city, the current capital of ships for Pakistani students. Bangladesh which was at that time Mushtaq is also proud that the still a part of Pakistan. Accompany- is now emu- ing his father from Lahore, the teen lating his work. found himself lonely in the new city “The government is off ering Chi- at fi rst. nese language classes at 200 (state- This was in the 1960s and the run) schools in . So now more means of entertainment were few. than 50,000 students nationwide are Television broadcasts had just start- benefi ting,” he says. ed in Pakistan and were not acces- sible everywhere. So his father gave Academic plans him a radio on his birthday to keep This year, the government of loneliness at bay. the southeastern Sindh province The shiny new Philips shortwave announced plans to make Manda- radio led to a passionate love aff air rin mandatory from grades six to 12 — with China. at both public and private schools. “The radio became a close com- Muhammad Siddique Memon, panion,” says Hussain. “I started From second left: Faisal Mushtaq, CEO, Roots Millennium Schools; Ai Ping, vice-minister, International Department of Sindh’s education and literacy sec- listening to Radio Peking daily the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee; Mushahid Hussain, founder of the Pakistan-China Institute; and retary, said in a press release that and followed the intense political Shahid Masood, Pakistani TV anchor at the launch of Roots Millennium Schools’ Mandarin classes in 2011. more Confucius Institutes would debates during the ‘cultural revolu- be opened at universities in Kara- tion’ (1966-1976). in China, was a major two-decade- news and bridging the gap on access red tape which needs to be slashed chi and Hyderabad to train Chinese “I began subscribing to Chinese long bilateral project connecting to information,” Hussain says. in order to get things done, prom- language teachers. periodicals like Peking Review, both countries which was complet- Started in 2009, the portal is edit- ises not kept in time, and, occasion- Karachi University plans to set up China Pictorial and China Recon- ed in 1979. Built across the Hima- ed by Muhammad Arif, a 32-year- ally, allegations of graft,” Hussain a Mandarin center in cooperation structs.” layan ranges at a height of over old now doing a PhD in journalism explains. with the Confucius Institute. The tar- Today, the teen has become a 4,600 meters, the highest paved from Hebei University in the city of About 15,000 Chinese techni- get learners will range from primary stately senator and the radio has international road in the world Baoding, close to Beijing. cians, engineers and experts live to high school students. been long since replaced by the witnessed the deaths of over 2,000 The contents come from an army in Pakistan, working in over 120 The university has an agreement iPad. But Hussain’s passion for Chi- construction workers in landslides of freelancers and volunteers in Chi- projects. These include the Gomal with China’s Sichuan University na remains as strong. and falls during its construction. na, Pakistan and other countries. Zam Dam built in Waziristan — for bilateral academic cooperation. It led him to establish the They included around 200 Chinese “We have 40,000 to 50,000 sub- a rugged mountainous region in Students who complete the lan- Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) in workers. scribers,” says Arif. “They are from the northwest of Pakistan — by guage course can attend a one-year Islamabad in 2009, a private, non- The port of Gwadar in Balo- 59 countries. In a week, we have the Chinese State-owned company advanced course at Sichuan Univer- governmental platform for promot- chistan, a key energy trade corridor, nearly 800 surfers visiting our site.” Sinohydro Corporation; and gold sity for free. ing people-to-people cooperation was built largely with Chinese assis- The publications are followed up and copper mining in Saindak in The growth of Mandarin has given between the two countries, as “a tance. Early this year, the contract to by diff erent cultural activities. Balochistan. rise to small-scale individual entre- labor of love”. run Gwadar was handed over to the This year, PCI sent two Pakistani Hussain met his fi rst Chinese offi - preneurship as well. “I have always felt an affinity China Overseas Ports Holding Com- scholars to Shanghai University cial in 1966 when the then Chinese SM Asim Qadri is a manager with towards China, almost a romance, pany from the previous manager, for “bilateral brainstorming” with president Liu Xiaoqi visited East a private company in Karachi. But as our best friend, close ally and the Port of Singapore Authority. Chinese peers on culture and other Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Hus- being an MBA with a penchant for strategic partner, whose role is cru- areas. sain had been one of the rows of languages, he explores further busi- cial for our prosperity, security, and Cultural awareness It also facilitated a visit by Mus- students from the Adamjee Public ness opportunities on the weekend. stability,” Hussain says. Saiyid says Pakistan’s vibrant tansar Hussain Tarar, the 74-year- School who had waited with bou- How far can you stretch Pakistani To cultivate greater people-to- art, music and culture are mostly old celebrated Pakistani author, quets to greet Liu on arrival. Rs4,000 ($40)? Not too far, one people links, PCI publishes a cul- ignored by the international media. actor and mountaineer, to Xinjiang This May, as PCI chairman, he would think. But Qadri guarantees tural magazine, Youlin, meaning Youlin, she adds, is trying to rectify in Northwest China to write the fi rst met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang five Sundays of gainful activity at good neighbors, in collaboration that. travelogue from the region in , twice when Li visited Pakistan. The his short Mandarin course at the with the Xinjiang Association for The publication also boasts an Pakistan’s national language. first time, it was with a group of Karachi Institute of Economics and Cultural Relations with Foreign unusual series of interviews with Then there have been events like parliamentary leaders at the Senate Technology. Countries. Chinese expats in Pakistan, off ering the Pakistan-China Media Forum, of Pakistan, and later, with a think- In 15 hours, he promises to teach “Since the website is both in “a glimpse into their lives and their and a cultural show hosted with tank delegation. some basic spoken Mandarin, whet Chinese and English, it (can be a) contribution to Pakistani society the Chinese embassy in Islamabad. The media reported Li as lauding interest in the language and culture, powerful form of communication and the economy”. There have also been launches of the PCI’s role as icebreaker, saying and advise where to go for advanced between the two peoples,” says The Youlin portal covers bilateral books on China and even a docu- such initiatives promoted people- studies. Dushka H Saiyid, editor of the economic and business activities mentary, Rising China. to-people contact. He also recalled “Learning spoken Chinese for monthly publication. as well. There are articles on Chi- Besides cultural and political “very fond memories” of his own today will be fruitful for tomorrow,” “Given the long history of coop- nese companies, like Zong, China initiatives, PCI encourages Chinese fi rst visit to Pakistan 27 years ago as Qadri predicts. eration between (Pakistan and Chi- Mobile’s subsidiary in Pakistan. investment in Pakistan for greater part of a youth delegation. One of the best consequences of na), we have sought to highlight and PCI also runs an e-magazine, economic cooperation. It works as Now PCI is gearing up for anoth- Mandarin learning has been the inform the reader about such mega Nihao-Salam, to provide informa- a consultancy for Chinese compa- er book launch, this one by Hussain arrest of brain drain from Pakistan to projects as Gwadar and the Kara- tion on commerce, science and nies that are setting up business in himself. some extent. While people going to koram Highway, and the contribu- technology, education and youth Pakistan, helping them cope with “My fi rst exclusive book on China, the West for higher education often tion they have made to Pakistan’s activities. the different regulations, culture basically a history of our bilateral stay on, those studying in China are economy.” “We thought it would be a good and other aspects. bond, will be published this year more likely to return home, armed The Karakoram Highway, also idea to bring the two countries “The basic issues pertain to secu- concurrently in Islamabad and Bei- with skills they can put to good use. known as the Friendship Highway together through dissemination of rity, law and order, bureaucratic jing,” he says. PAGE 32 CHINA DAILY ASIA WEEKLY AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 BackPage http://www.facebook.com/chinadailyasia Teaching talent MANDARIN CLASSES ARE PART OF AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH BY A PAKISTANI EDUCATOR TO PUT HIS SCHOOLS IN THE TOP LEAGUE

By SUDESHNA SARKAR in Kolkata 2020, if he is to go it alone. almost 25 million children For China Daily Asia Weekly The son of a colonel in the Pakistani army were not going to school. who graduated in economics, and Seven million did not have n initiative he started two fi nance from British universities, Mushtaq at even primary education. years ago has given Pakistani fi rst worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers Education has been ham- educator Faisal Mushtaq a as a fi nancial and management consultant in pered by lack of teachers, larger-than-life reputation . lack of a system to monitor that precedes him wherever Though a lucrative career, he says it resource allocations, and not he goes. left him discontented: “I felt a disconnect taking into consideration the Last year, when meeting government between what I wanted to be and what I was demographic shift. offiA cials at a program in Singapore, the fi rst doing. I wanted to make a contribution to my The world’s sixth largest popula- thing they asked was: “Are you from that society and environment but as a Pakistani in tion, with more than 180 million famous school in Pakistan that the Chinese Britain I could not do that.” people, Pakistan has reached the premier visited? Our television channels So he returned to Pakistan in 2004 and stage of “youth bulge”. More broadcast documentaries on that visit.” joined RMS. The fi rst school in the group had than 45 percent of the They were referring to Wen Jiabao’s visit to been started by his mother, Riff at Mushtaq, population is aged Pakistan in 2010. in 1988 as a Montessori institute — an educa- between 15 and 29, The same thing happened when the then tion system that focuses on independence — putting a strain on Japanese ambassador to Pakistan, Hiroshi with 50 children. Since then it had grown to education and job Oe, invited Mushtaq to dinner. The envoy 15 small community schools. resources. said he too had seen a documentary on Mushtaq decided to turn them into “21st To meet the Mil- Mushtaq’s schools. century schools”. He followed the manage- lennium Develop- “The ambassador told me he had watched ment principles he had learned: Start with ment Goals, Pakistan it on Japanese television when he was in people, process and technology. There was would have to achieve Tokyo,” says Mushtaq, half laughing, half massive recruitment of new teachers with universal primary edu- blushing. advanced skills, changes in policy, and an cation by 2015. However, “Then the ambassador added: ‘I wish you’d overhaul in infrastructure, both physical and there are doubts about start Japanese languages classes too in your technological. whether the goal will be school.’ Today, the RMS group has received the reached. MA XUEJING / CHINA DAILY “It has been both a sweet and humbling internationally recognized ISO 9001 certi- While there has been a mush- experience to realize that whatever we did fi cation and is constantly networking with rooming of private schools, standards locally is now being discussed globally.” educational, cultural and professional institu- fl uctuate wildly. education in the far-fl ung tribal areas as a The “local initiative” that Mushtaq took tions abroad so that its students get wider “You have a wide range — schools with a social responsibility. was to introduce Mandarin classes in the exposure. monthly tuition fee of $5 and those asking for The non-profi t organization he founded in schools started by his family, the Roots Mil- “I am promoting my students as global stu- $1,500,” Mushtaq says. “In Pakistan, schools 2008, Change in Education, works with local lennium Schools (RMS). dents and my schools as global enterprises,” are allowed to run as profi table companies.” governments and donor agencies like USAID “Pakistan’s schools always tell students Mushtaq says. “We prepare our students to The RMS group charges $150 as the and the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund to about the wonderful friendship existing be professionally skilled individuals. monthly tuition fee, which Mushtaq says “rehabilitate” rundown schools. between Pakistan and its neighbor China,” “This year, nine of my students made it to is “aff ordable and sustainable in the urban So far it has rejuvenated 185 schools in says Mushtaq, explaining what lay behind the the Shanghai campus of New York University. areas”. Since 2004, when he took over as Dera Ismail Khan, a city in the underdevel- decision. In June, 12 students, all girls, went to Ben- CEO, there has been an almost 800 percent oped Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, by “When I was in school myself, we were galuru in India to attend a summer camp as increase in revenue. rebuilding infrastructure, training teachers taught the friendship is ‘higher than the part of PASCH,” he says, referring to a global “It goes back into the school funds for and mobilizing communities to help run Himalayas, deeper than the oceans and network of nearly 1,500 schools where stu- expansion, infrastructure and other projects,” them. sweeter than honey’. dents learn German. he says. “The Mandarin classes, for example, In addition, now there are plans to go glob- “I went to China in 2010 for the fi rst time Mushtaq explains that the education sys- are absolutely free.” al. Mushtaq is looking at emerging markets and during an offi cial dinner found the peo- tem in Pakistan faces stiff challenges. Realizing the need for teachers with mod- in the Middle East — Qatar, Bahrain and Abu ple at my table discussing how to bridge the “Only 2.5 percent of the GDP is allocated ern skills, RMS also runs the Roots National Dhabi — to establish global campuses with language and cultural gap between Pakistanis for school education,” he says. “The state Institute of Teacher Training and Education, the help of suitable partners. and Chinese. It made me decide to start Chi- education system has gone down due to eco- a “professional teacher development training “There is a huge demand for aff ordable nese language courses in my schools.” nomic, social and cultural factors. The budget institute”. The teachers go on to fi nd jobs in and quality education in these places,” he Mandarin is compulsory from grades one is not reaching public schools, creating a public and private schools, national educa- says. “Besides locals, there is also a growing to seven for over 15,000 students at the 25 huge gap.” tion offi ces and with non-governmental orga- expatriate population of Pakistanis, Indians, RMS campuses spread over 12 cities. The State of Pakistan’s Children, an annual nizations. Bangladeshi and Sri Lankans who are look- Mushtaq’s target is to have 200 schools report from the Society for the Protection While consolidating his school empire in ing for aff ordable international schools they by 2015 if he can obtain private equity, or by of the Rights of the Child, said that in 2011 the urban areas, Mushtaq is also looking at can send their children to.”

FAISAL MUSHTAQ QUICK TAKES: Who is your role model? A proud moment in your How do you relax? CEO, Roots Millennium Schools, Pakistan How diffi cult is it providing education My mother, Riff at Mushtaq, is my career? By talking, reading, to girls in Pakistan? biggest source of inspiration. She’s a In May, when Premier Li Keqiang interacting, creating At our school, there is no discrimination dedicated teacher. When my father visited Pakistan, students of new ideas. I am always LAURELS: between boys and girls. Roughly 45 was posted to Saudi Arabia, she taught the Roots Millennium Schools in action. I am not the 2013: Receives the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, the percent of our students are girls. In at an international school there. When were invited to meet him. “I am guy who goes to a beach Pakistani government’s most prestigious award some tribal belts there are cultural, she returned to Pakistan and found I impressed with the quality of and spends two weeks was unhappy in my kindergarten she Mandarin spoken by the students there with a book! BIO given to civilians, in recognition of his services in religious and social issues that prevent education and popularizing Mandarin girls from going to school. However, the started a Montessori where children of the school,” Li said. “(With such could learn in happiness. She taught dedication) our friendship is going 2011: Named “Best Young Entrepreneur of the media in Pakistan is very vibrant today. Date of birth: Thanks to it, everyone understands that me that dreams do come true if we to touch new levels of bonding.” Year” by the Chamber of Commerce have the courage to pursue them. And he said all of this in Mandarin. July 27, 1978 and Industry girls have to go to school.