Hardworking Chinese impress UN Official

By Zuo Likun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-08-05 15:58

"Chinese people are among the most hard-working people I have come across", Khalid Malik, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in China, said in an interview with China Daily website Thursday.

They are "very determined to succeed, absolutely committed to one's future", Malik observed, recalling his first encounter with his Chinese colleagues when he arrived in Beijing in 2003.

"When I first got to the office, I sat down with every one of them, to talk with me individually. And I was honestly impressed, because anyone who had done a bachelor's was studying to do a master's anyone who [had] a master's was studying another language.

"Not a single person was not doing anything more to improve their skills," Malik raised his tone.

"It's quite remarkable. Sometimes I feel I should do something more myself," the Oxford alumni and former economist said with a smile.