Looking for Mr. Li

Two Dutch radio stations is making a documentary about Chinese in globalization era. As a race with biggest number in the world, Chinese are everywhere. There are more than one billion Chinese in China only. Since I can meet a Chinese everywhere I go, any city I've been and any market I was; I can assume that almost a billion Chinese and Chinese descents out there outside of China. Two billions people, wow, that's one-third world population.

China has long history. When European thought that Earth was flat; Chinese had been sailing oceans. When Columbus arrived in America; Chinese had been digging gold there. They are now spreading from Siberia to Cape of Hope, South Africa.

'Looking for Mr. Li' is a documentary series co-made by VPRO and RNW. The name Li/Lee is associated to a Chinese just like Jose to a Spanish or Ahmed to an Arab. Mr. Li is the face of the fastest growing power in the world: China. He closes oil deals, build hospitals and highways, sells merchandise, or businesses on oil pipelines explains.

In the series Looking for Mr. Li, four reporters cover about the sun and shadow of globalization. With the Chinese expansion as red thread. In Zambia, Venezuela, the United States and India, those reporters looking for Mr. Li. They follow key persons on the spot and tell their stories. Reporters are establishing long time - five to six weeks - in a country and do deep digging report of the daily lives of the people they take in their path.

The key question is whether globalization a curse or a blessing. And with the Chinese as an example: what does the rise of China stormy for countries where Mr. Li active? Provides a higher prosperity? More hospitals and schools? And what does the advent of Chinese know-how and expertise for local traditions?

The Looking for Mr. Li documentary consists of weekly radio broadcasts, a website with blogs, photos, movies, articles and expert comments. You can find full report and coverage at its official site weblogs.vpro.nl/lookingformisterli/ but unfortunately no English option.

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