Clearing Western misconceptions about China

UK business leader Jonathan Geldart seeks to portray a balanced perspective of the country through extensive experience

Editor's note: As the People's Republic of China celebrates the 75th anniversary of its founding this year, China Daily asked prominent international figures to reflect on their relationship with the country and to talk of the direction in which they see it going.

For many years, Jonathan Geldart has been saddened that the Western perspective of China and the Chinese is asymmetrical to the truth, while Western media, with a deep-rooted ignorance about the true China, continues to fuel misunderstanding and mistrust.

In response, Geldart seeks to provide a measured and even-handed perspective rooted in his prolonged engagement with China, hoping this would help Westerners gain an appreciation that their rather narrow view of China at a superficial level needs to be reviewed in light of the stories from the real lives of its citizens.