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Longtime expat lauds Zhuhai for being ahead of times

By Betty Lin (cityofzhuhai.com)

Updated: 2019-10-24

Under the theme Ahead of the Times, John Hedin spoke at the Maritime Silk Road forum of how Zhuhai constructed infrastructure first so that it would be there when the "inevitable" need arrived. The American news editor also made suggestions for building friendships between peoples on the routes.

Hedin came to Zhuhai from Kunming in August 1999 and since June 2001 has been editing news and documents that have been translated into English for Zhuhai Daily and the Zhuhai municipal government English website. He spoke on Oct 22 at the parallel forum on City Image Building Under the Belt & Road Initiative. Asked why he chose Ahead of the Times as his topic, he said, "Because I saw that what was happening in Zhuhai was just like what I helped bring about in Kunming."

In Kunming, he had secured grants from the Yunnan government and American and Australian sources to open China's first networked classroom and first internet cafe in June 1996. Back then, he said, one major American communications company refused a grant request, saying, "They will never allow internet in China."

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John Hedin listens keynote speaker

So, Hedin used Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport as a prime example of how Zhuhai also proved doubters wrong in the longer term. In his talk, he stated observing from the Air Traffic Control Tower: "New pilots had the runway all to themselves to practice takeoffs and landings. Blind to the potential, the media mocked it as a 'white elephant.' Now, who's laughing? Zhuhai is adding flights, doubling in size, going international."

A professional journalist for more than 50 years, Hedin stated that no one he spoke to back in the US had heard of the Maritime Silk Road. Not only that, but a fellow traveler whose company deals with two firms in Zhuhai, also asked what it was, as did a Chinese friend and business owner in Zhuhai.

In response, Hedin spoke at the forum about spreading the news. Specifically, he called for teacher exchanges between Maritime Silk Road countries, a Greater Bay Speakers Bureau that spins its speakers off to community groups, and a Maritime Road News Service that promotes human-interest stories, "not just infrastructure, deals, politics, and statistics." He also favored Maritime Road Food Streets, sea cruises, and productions about friendship and cultural exchanges.

He urged the audience members to step ahead of the times, get deeply and personally involved, and to also make lasting friendships inevitable.

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Hedin presents lecture, Ahead of the Times [Photos provided by the Organizing Committee]

On a personal note, when conditions were right, Hedin got engaged to his sweetheart of 20 years, Tang Rongzhi (Susan Tang). But weeks later, she was diagnosed with fourth-stage cancer. Despite that, their wedding reception was held at the Zhuhai Holiday Resort Hotel on Oct 22, 2016. She passed, in his arms, in January 2017. "I was meant to be back in Zhuhai on this date," he said. "So, it was not only a great honor to be invited, but fate made sure it would happen."

He now lives in Kingston NY, where he moved to be close to his eldest son's family. His grandson, age 9, whom he walks to school, knows him as Ye Ye. Although retired, Hedin continues to edit translated articles for cityofzhuhai.com.

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