Chinanews.com, Beijing, December 12 (Reporter Mo Hong'e) As the end of 28 approaches, Mark Liwen, the winner of the Chinese government's "Friendship Award" and an American professor at Minzu University of China, said in an exclusive interview with Chinanews that this year, he has traveled to many places and seen that China has made significant progress in many fields; On the international stage, China has promoted peace talks, demonstrating its responsibility as a major country. Looking ahead to 2023, he believes that China's booming trend will continue.
Mark, a Ph.D. in sociology, said he was happiest this year, saying that since China optimized its anti-epidemic measures, he has traveled to Zunyi in Guizhou, Xibaipo in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, Kashgar in Xinjiang, and Ningxia, which he has never been to before. "Each place has given me a new understanding of the local area and a deeper understanding of China."
China's achievements in poverty alleviation left a deep impression on the American professor. He has witnessed more and more farmers living a good life, and rural revitalization continues to advance.
In addition to this, he also saw that China has made significant progress in various fields, with vigorous development in the fields of science and technology, economy, education, and culture. He lamented that the country is "thriving, and there are new changes every day".
In today's world, international relations are complicated and the international situation is treacherous. Mark believes that "in the international arena, China is beginning to play a greater role". China has successfully mediated in the Middle East, facilitated the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and contributed to world peace.
In Mark's view, China is an independent, united, and growing country. "Today, the country is more united." "Solidarity" has also deeply affected this American, who has lived in China for 18 years. There is an atmosphere of unity around him, which makes him feel "happy".
This country with a long history of 5,000 years not only amazed Mark, but also made more foreign friends feel credible and respectable. He said, "The foreigners I met in China, no matter where they came from, deeply admired China's development and sincerely appreciated the opportunity to come to China to study and Xi and work. ”
In addition to teaching English at school, Mark often weaves what he sees and hears into songs, playing and singing beautiful melodies on the guitar. Many years ago, when he was in Jiangsu, he wrote a song called "Huai'an, Hope for the Future". "At that time [in 2006], I felt that China was going to have tremendous development and prosperity," he said. ”
In 2023, he composed a song "The Most Wanted Place in the World" to express his deep love and attachment to China. In this song, he sings: "The Chinese are warm and friendly, and I can't help but pluck the strings to praise." It's old and modern, and there's so much more to unravel. I wake up in the morning every day, and my mood is like a flower. I don't want to, go anywhere else in the world. ”
"I can't think of a more exciting country than China." He sighed. "Foreigners in China should let the world better see that this country is so beautiful and so respectable." (ENDS)