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Elaine Chao shares childhood memories with netizens

By Xiao Yang & Zuo Likun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-08-25 23:57

US Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao hailed China-US sports exchanges and shared the story of her family's struggle with Chinese netizens on Monday.

In town as head of the US presidential delegation at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, Chao took part in a China Daily online dialogue. Her father, James Chao, too participated in the session.

US Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao (2L) and her father James Chao (L) receive a gift from Huang Qing (2R), China Daily deputy Editor-in-chief, and Gao Anming, Editor-in-chief of the official website of China Daily, during a visit to the China Daily headquarters in Beijing, August 25, 2008. [chinadaily.com.cn]

"President (George W.) Bush brought his father to Beijing, so I brought my father too," she said in a lighter vein.

Elaine Chao, the first Chinese American, and also the first Asian-American woman in the US cabinet, is a popular figure in China.

Citing Chinese basketballer Yao Ming who plays the NBA as a model athlete, the secretary hailed the exchanges of sportsmen and ordinary people between the two countries.

"I think it's always very positive to have exchanges of all kinds, whether it be in sports or in people-to-people diplomacy. I think it behoves both of our countries to have an active exchange program," she said.

Netizens and mobile phone users asked her thousands of questions, ranging from China's culture to the competition between Chinese and American workers for jobs. But her family's struggle after migrating to the US was the most common one.

Elaine Chao was born in Taipei in 1953 and migrated with her family to the US when she was eight.

She recounted the difficulties the family members faced in the early years of their migration when they had little knowledge about the US, its language and culture and even the American people's food habits.

Her farther had to work three jobs to support the family, but managed to fund five of his six daughters' study in Harvard University, including Elaine's.

"My parents never gave up hope. They were always optimistic, forward thinking … Being children of such parents, one can't help but try to do one's best to be worthy of their devotion," she said.

James Chao, too, shared his experience with the netizens. He said his wife wanted to see all her children get the best of education. But, in true Chinese tradition, she also wanted them to get education according to their aptitudes.

Describing Sunday's closing ceremony as "spectacular", Elaine Chao said the road China has taken merits attention. "I was here in 1979. China has made tremendous progress since then," she said.

"I wish everyone interested in China or in China-US relations would take this journey from 1979 to 2008 with China."

Chao's words struck a chord with the netizens. "I see in her the combination of a Chinese woman's mildness and an American politician's firmness and confidence," a young woman netizen said.

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