French expatriate recalls Beijing's rush to riches

Eighteen years ago, Jean-Paul Vittot had no idea the quiet streets of Beijing would one day be the stage for a rising car kingdom. When Vittot first came to the Chinese capital as an exchange student in 1995, the city only operated two metro lines, while bicycles dominated the streets as cars were far beyond the means of most residents. "There were few motor vehicles on the roads, and most of them were minivans," the 41-year-old French national said. Now a financial controller with French automotive component maker Valeo, Vittot recalled the past in his office in Beijing's Chaoyang District, where high-rises and fancy shopping malls have replaced bungalows and farmers' markets that had once sprawled across the area in the 1990s. "It is rarely seen in world history that reforms can bring such great changes to a country and affect the lives of so many people," he said. China adopted policies to initiate reform and opening up to the world in 1978. Having stayed in Beijing for over a decade, Vittot has witnessed how this historic move transformed the city into a modernized metropolis. Vittot said what drove him to study Chinese language in China was his curiosity about the country's changing society under the Deng Xiaoping-initiated reform and opening up policy. "In the eyes of many Europeans, China at that time was a great country that was gradually opening up after going through a period of isolation." In his first years in Beijing, Vittot noted the city's lack of internationalization. He was among the few caucasian faces on the streets, often attracting curious glances from locals. "Many people were very hospitable and interested in talking with me," Vittot said. "But sometimes I was questioned by the city's administrative staff, who seemed anxious upon my presence here." But signs were clear that the city was embracing big changes. Beijing at that time was in the midst of a heated campaign to improve its traffic infrastructure, and the year 1995 saw the building of a major expressway linking the city proper and the suburbs. The impact of reform was also palpable in other social and economic fields. China in the 1990s saw the privatization of the country's housing sector, remolding of state-owned enterprises and less restriction on foreigners and foreign companies in the country. The unprecedented wealth amassed in the private sector soon pushed up demands in the car market, which was also benefited by favorable central policies and improved urban infrastructure. Anticipating market potential, many foreign car companies ventured into China in the 1990s, including Vittot's employer Valeo, which now operates factories in Chinese provinces like Hubei, Hunan and Jilin. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that 20.6 million automobiles were sold in 2012 in China, making it the world's largest automobile market. By the end of last year, Beijing registered 5.2 million automobiles, and the number is expected to reach 6.5 million in five years. "Besides (the greater number of automobiles), traffic in today's Beijing is more orderly and convenient, showing the city has become more internationalized," he said. While the city's rush toward modernization and internationalization has brought comfort and convenience, a number of problems like air pollution and traffic jams have been spawned, as Vittot observed. Since last year, Beijing has been hit by rounds of prolonged smoggy weather, with environmental experts saying excessive car use in the metropolis was responsible for a large portion of the airborne pollutants. Vittot suggested Beijing place more focus on developing green energy and preserving the city's cultural roots. "As a foreigner, I feel very comfortable living in an internationalized Beijing, but I don't know whether locals feel the same," Vittot said. "The old Beijing has its charm, and there are many things that need to be preserved."