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Online profile gives China's Premier Wen "face" with world public |
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17:40, June 03, 2008 |
Premier Wen Jiabao has become the sixth most popular politician on the U.S.-based Facebook, a popular social networking site, with more than 44,000 "supporters".
Facebook users can show support for Wen by clicking on the "become a supporter" link beside his image. Worldwide, overseas Chinese account for the vast majority of supporters.
Although Wen isn't first on the list, he is the only Asian among the 10 most-supported politicians. Barack Obama of the United States ranks first with more than 874,000 supporters. Wen is, however, well ahead of such notables as George W. Bush and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.
Wen's page was set up two days after the May 12 earthquake in southwest China, which killed more than 69,000 people and left more than 18,000 missing. It's a simple page, without such trendy applications as Youtube Box, a link to many streaming video clips. But photos of the premier, 66, shuttling through the hardest-hit towns, and many supportive posts have given the page an incomparable emotional touch.
One of the photos showed Wen, having swapped his normal dark suit for an all-weather jacket and bullhorn, standing in the rain and shouting to a trapped student: "This is Grandpa Wen, hang on, we will rescue you!"
Just hours after the 8.0 magnitude quake, a rescue team, headed by Wen, flew to Sichuan Province, the worst-hit province.
"I could not hold back my tears when I saw the pictures of Premier Wen working at the front of the quake zone," an entry posted by "Jiajia" below his photos said.
"I felt very warm when I read that Premier Wen Jiabao immediately set off to the stricken areas," a netizen calling himself Harold wrote. "I feel like our leaders are always with us when there is any trouble."
Snapshots of Wen presiding over quake-related meetings were also uploaded on the page. At these meetings, the topics under discussion ranged from big issues such as the top priorities of the relief task force to tiny details like milk powder for infants.
"You have shouldered a whole nation's pains, and you have given an undefeated faith to all Chinese," commented Allen Wang from London.
Also on the page are photos of Wen with international rescuers and helpers.
In one photo, Wen was standing among the members of Heart to Heart International, a volunteer team from the United States. "I appreciate the support from the government and people of the United States," Wen was quoted as telling the volunteers.
It is not known who set up Wen's page on Facebook, as anyone with an e-mail account can set up a profile. Other pages about the premier, like "Premier Wen Jiabao Lights Up My Life" and "We Love Wen Jiabao," also have hundreds of members.
However, the appearance of Chinese premier on Facebook signals the increasingly open and approachable image of the Chinese government that is welcomed by the world public.
The Hong Kong-based newspaper Ta Kung Pao said in a commentary: "As one of China's senior leaders, the premier not only manages the government's daily work but also displays the ruling party's ideals and principles personally." This has prompted many people overseas who visit Facebook to learn more about him and the Communist Party of China.
Among the posted entries, there are also appeals to Wen to crack down on reported local corruption cases arising from the earthquake.
Source:Xinhua
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