BY YANN VERNERIE
President of EDN Media Prod, France
A first impression is often considered as a good one or at least the one you will remember. But to understand a situation you need to have the ability to analyze, at least very fast, the situation you are facing. In other words, it is better to have a background to understand what is going on and how far you can misunderstand what you see for the first time, in order to get the right and correct analysis. Basically we call it experience. So a first impression is a mix of immediate learning, knowledge and also the ability to analyze the present time, in order to
be able to create an opinion or to get some first impressions. About China, everything is much easier. Yes, it is quite easy to have first impressions due to the transparency and the warm welcome of the Chinese people. And in case of any hesitations, the modern or futuristic architecture of the cities or the organization of modern public transports (airport, railways, metro, smooth traffic flow) which are really impressive and amazing, will definitely help anybody to get first impressions of China.
In photography we used to say that you can see only what you know. Generally, about first impressions it is quite important to try to develop your own understanding in order to maximize your first impressions at your arrival, and basically being able to take relevant pictures of the place you visit. But here, in China the situation is a bit different. Even though you travel often over the world, you might be facing a first impression every time you will visit China. Because this country is a huge one with 9.6 million square kilometers. But also China is moving really fast. That’s why each time I travel to this part of the world I get some new insights, new feelings and basically a first impression as if I was visiting China for the very first time.
Ecological first impressions
A huge change is going on and I can feel the strength of history on its path. Last year China became the first country which reduced its carbon intensity at a large scale combined with a robust economic growth. When I learnt that it was a really big news, then it was like I got my very first impressions. It was also a breath of fresh air from China – the leading worldwide producer of renewable energy.
But it is also unexpected to see how the country starts at a large scale in the desert areas involving the civil society and the private companies. 25% of the territory is now covered by the forest – Grain for green, Green Great Wall. So many astonishing and exciting projects for sustainable future.
Innovation clusters
I remember my very first impressions and how I was highly impressed about my first visit to China in 2016. Of course I was amazed by high tech industries, drone industries, WeChat payment facilities or intuitive communication and translation. I was impressed by the “new brand” and Huawei products or Alibaba worldwide organization and logistics and also by the futuristic architecture or the lighting effects by night. It was ten years ago and I could not imagine that I will face again and again some surprises and logically the feeling of having a first impression each time I come to this lovely country.
And due to that fact, a decade later I still have the feeling that I face my very first impressions about China and this country still surprises me every time I come. Space Odyssey Long March of CNSA, dozens of new medications to fight against cancer, ecological major success & tremendous changes, AI and robotics are definitely quite new for me. All these new impressions about China remind me of the University and the well-known economical theories of my student years in Paris or Moscow. And especially the Schumpeterian innovation cluster, an idea based on the fact that innovations came together and might be exponential. This theory finally became very concrete to me. A reality that I could myself experience here in China. The Greek philosophers used to speak about Kairos, a window in the timeline. Now I feel that something very special is happening here and I am happy to be a very small part of it, even as a witness.
Manufactured Admirable Design, “MAD in China”
From where came the first impressions we may feel? China is a country with five thousand years of existence. The country is not especially changing but growing incredibly fast in the same path. Creativity, modernization and harmony. A lot of people are speaking about manufactured Chinese products. But this is in the DNA of the country to send innovative products abroad. A thousand years ago fireworks, silk, teas, spices and ceramics were leading in the international exchanges. In 2026 nothing changed but everything has grown. ‘Made in China’ was the norm the “Mad in China” like “Manufactured Admirable Design” became the new reality. Because yes, worldwide customers became really mad about Chinese products. Electric cars, smart phones, computers, cameras, drones everybody is kindly mad about Chinese products. The same manufactured products which have an amazing and positive impact in our lives. Yes, the Chinese products spread around the world give a first impression.
Why first impressions can change your life ?
A first impression can be a game changer. Why? Always a first impression can determine or change your life. A job interview for instance is only made of first impressions and might change your life for several years at least. So the first impressions experienced by anybody can really become a game or even a life changer. When you arrive in China, your feelings are so strong that you might like to be a part of the experience. At the first level you come back to your hometown with a lot of positive emotions with a new willingness to start your projects or your work. After some time you might promote or encourage your relatives or young people to go to China to discover a new world of opportunities. And it might change the destiny of some people in your network. So at every levels such a Chinese Golden Age Revival might totally change our nearest future in an unexpected positive way thanks to first impressions.
*The views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the individual authors and do not reflect the position of the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Journalist Network.