93-year-old Sidney Shapiro is a member of the press and publication sector of the CPPCC National Committee. Born in New York in 1915, Mr. Shapiro came to China in 1947 and became a Chinese citizen in 1963. From 1983 onwards, Mr. Sidney Shapiro has been elected as a member of the CPPCC National Committee for six terms. He is the former supervisor of the China Foreign Language Institute; and now is a member of the China Writers Association and the Translators Association of China.
At the CPPCC subcommittee meeting, reporters recognized Mr. Shapiro immediately. He was dressed in a suit and wearing a pair of pedal shoes. His hair is gray and sparse, but neat. His brown eyes remain affable. Mr. Shapiro has proposed a ban on smoking in public places. He said: "Smoking is harmful to a person's health. Everyone should take care of his/her body and contribute more to the country."
Mr. Shapiro enjoys practicing Tai chi. He calls the kind he enjoys, "CD Tai chi," for the beautiful music and rhythms that accompany his exercise. He told this reporter that he now busies himself with three kinds of foreign-related activities: first, accepting interviews with foreign media and telling the world more about China; second, receiving overseas tourists and showing them around Beijing and introducing China's long history and culture; and third, surfing the Internet every day. In addition to writing articles, he also sends news about China by e-mail to his foreign friends every day. "Some foreign friends have a misunderstanding about China. I want to tell them about the tremendous changes here; and help them to understand the real China – the prospering China."
Mr. Shapiro has spent 61 years in China. As a result, he is deeply attached to the country. He lives in a Shichahai hutong in Beijing. To this day, middle-aged passers-by often greet him and ask, "Mr. Shapiro, do you still remember when I used to play football in front of your yard when I was a kid?" Mr. Shapiro's eyes begin to water as he reminisces.
By People's Daily Online
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