Lessons from Beijing?

Whether you agree or not with President Abdurrahman Wahid's policies, controversial statements and sometimes "wicked" sense of humor, I am astonished by the sheer "magic energy" he has displayed so far. This magic power of his is needed to finish round after round of overseas trips in search of what he thinks as a remedy -- albeit only a partial one -- for the country's economic ailments.

Hopefully, the priestly flavored President does not overestimate his strength, spiritual or physical, in breaking the world record for meeting world heads of state. Also his frantic missions are no proof that he is underestimating the grave situation at home, resulting in unabated cries for regional autonomy and, worse still, intensifying separatist sentiments.

It seems that the adjustment time from spiritual and party leader to statesman and head of state (usually bound by protocol) is lasting a bit too long than is comfortable for the nation to watch. His critics have shown irritation as regards his travel sprees.

Beijing is beaconing so strongly that President Abdurrahman Wahid embarks again, this time on a visit to the giant People's Republic of China, whose population exceeds one billion. The first lesson that the President may learn is how China can feed its people and provide employment as well as education for its teeming masses. The second is how do cooperatives, medium and small-scale industries complement the industries which cater for exports, without which China could not survive.

Ideologically, there is nothing to learn from a communist country which applies repression more often than a humanistic approach. Unlike religion, the ideology justifies all means to achieve an end. The President is surely aware of all this.

President Wahid should also know that in many respects China and Indonesia are manufacturing and exporting the same items, especially textiles, and, to some extent, they are competitors.

To join forces in manufacturing electronics and automotive items might lead to greater investments of Chinese capital in Indonesia, and provide more employment. In any case, trade is much better than aid.

Is President Wahid perhaps interested in China's one child policy to curb population growth? A lesson that Indonesia can certainly learn is China's high level of industrial productivity and zest for work.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta