Mandarin/Nat As China marks the 20th anniversary of its economic reform programme, signs of the massive change the country has undergone are everywhere to be seen. Shining glass tower blocks dot the skyline of every major Chinese city, streets are crowded with cars and shops are filled with expensive consumer goods of every sort. But there is also another side to China's economic development, the story of those who have been left behind by the pace of change. One of China's new multi-millionaires, Li Xiaolin lives a lifestyle most Chinese only get to see on their television screens. Spacious rooms in his central Beijing apartment is filled with expensive knick-knacks and furniture, a huge stereo system and wide-screen television. Twenty years ago, Li Xiaolin was just emerging from six years labour in the countryside -- one of many young students sent to educate themselves with peasants during the Cultural Revolution. Today, Li Xiaolin has climbed up the ladder to become Chairman of the Board for a major real estate and financial company -- the Linda Group. Currently headquartered in one of Li's western Beijing buildings, the Linda group was created in the late 1980s. In 1986, as China's new motto became "get rich quickly", Li decided the only way to do so was through business. From electric cables, Li Xiaolin quickly moved to real estate where he's made most of his money. The Linda Group now employs over 400 people in Beijing alone. No doubt, Li Xiaolin is a shrewd businessman. But, perhaps more than in any other country, no business can be done without connections in China. And as the pictures on the wall of his office show -- Li Xiaolin's connections are highly placed. Li Peng, Li Ruihuan, Zhu Rongji -- have all met Li. As they have brought him great success, Li Xiaolin pledges utmost allegiance to China's recent economic policies and the men who have created them. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) "To be exact, the success I have managed to achieve today must be equated with China's reform and opening up policy. This policy has given us many opportunities. So we must also thank Comrade Deng Xiaoping." SUPER CAPTION: Li Xiaolin, Chairman of the Board, Linda Group But in the countryside where Deng Xiaoping's reforms began, widespread poverty persists. Cui Haichen and his family still live in the cave his father cut out of a mountainside in Shanxi province nearly fifty years ago. Since the breakup of the commune system twenty years ago, Cui has been free to grow and sell what he likes. But he says the changes have brought little material benefits. The reason is land. This tiny plot, less than one fifth of an acre, is all Cui and his family have to live on. It's not enough. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) "The most important reason is there's not enough land, we can't earn any money, in this area it's just impossible. Only if you're an official, then it's better. Officials they do what they like, they mess things up. For ordinary people it's no good." SUPER CAPTION: Cui Haichen, Farmer, Houma, Shanxi Province With the pressure for land continuing to increase, the prospect of a better life for Cui and his family is not good. But it's not just China's peasants who are suffering. On this Beijing street corner crowds of unemployed workers gather each morning in the hope of finding part-time work. Many carry tags, like this cook, showing what job they are able to do. China's official unemployment rate is about 5 million, with another 15 million classified as laid off. But in reality tens of million of Chinese have no work, and the number is climbing rapidly. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) SUPER CAPTION: Unemployed iron worker, Houma, Shanxi Province You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/b03849927518ff3d06b4078e4852a693 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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