Reporter's Diary: Deputies' take on China's economic reforms

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‍It’s an impressive sight to watch legions of Chinese military – followed by all legislative deputies of the 13th National People's Congress – walk in to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

We stopped the CEO of Envision Energy, Zhang Lei on his way in.

He’s a first-time deputy, and exactly what Premier Li Keqiang talked about earlier in the week in the government report, in terms of bringing Chinese students who study abroad back to China to avoid a brain drain.

Deputies of the 13th NPC walked to the Great Hall of the People on Friday. /CGTN Photo

“I think history is being made along the way,” Zhang said. “Every day is a historic day.”

Zhang was toiling away working in London’s financial markets a decade ago, when he decided it was time to do something else.

“I realized something was wrong, I would like to pursue a more meaningful life,” Zhang told CGTN.

That something became Envision Energy.

“Our mission is solving the toughest chasing, for sustainable development for the human race. So we came back,” Zhang said.

His wind power company has been growing for a decade now, and it is helping China become the world leader in renewable energy.

A few minutes earlier, we had been talking with Ding Lieming, who also studied abroad and came home.

Using his talent and resources Ding founded Betta Pharmaceutical.

China estimated it will grow at a rate of 6.5 percent this year, down a fraction from 2017, but Ding said there is no question China is growing rapidly.

He said if there is one way to lure China’s best and brightest back from overseas, the easiest way is to provide opportunities.

CGTN's Sean Callebs talks to deputy Zhang Lei outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 11, 2018. /CGTN Photo

“China developed quickly,” Ding said. “So there is more and more opportunity in China. So, like us we can catch an opportunity so we can do things very well in China.”

“I think the greatest opportunity for China is to be fully integrated with the global opportunity,” Zhang said. “Not only from the investor's point of view, but also from the innovative point of view and green development."

It mirrors a phrase heard so often in China – "win-win".

China is a nation of two worlds in many ways.

While arguably leading the world in the latest cutting edge technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and renewable energy, China is also still very much a developing nation, and is still working to pull tens of millions of people out of abject poverty.

But Zhang said it would be a mistake to underestimate China’s growth and commitment to the future.

“I think most of the smart people will never underestimate China,” Zhang said, “as well as China’s contributions.”

Part of keeping with reforms, is to continue to fight pollution, especially the air pollution that haunts Beijing.

Envision Energy exports its wind power projects in Argentin‍a. /Envision Photo

US President Donald Trump has made it clear he wants to pull the United States out of the historic Paris Climate Accord.

Zhang argued it will be a mistake, as it makes good business sense to work towards the elimination of harmful greenhouse gases which are blamed for climate change.

“What we can do better is to have more market success,” Zhang said. “Kind of further deregulation, and to provide more opportunities for people.”

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