Open-minded and independent Chinese youth

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-15-2008 15:25

Fashionable, individualistic and open-minded these are a few characteristics of young Chinese people today. They hold quite different attitudes towards life when compared to their parents. And they have to cope in a competitive society and face a great deal of social pressure.

Fashionable, individualistic and open-minded these are  a few characteristics of young Chinese people today.

In tomorrow's segment of our series on three decades of reform and opening up, we examine how the reasons for studying English in China have changed through the different stages of the country's opening up and development process...

25-year-old Li Qian is trying to master table etiquette. As a red wine salesperson she is naturally expected to be knowledgeable about wines.

Li Qian said, "It is a challenge to reach my monthly sales target which is as much as hundreds of thousands of yuan. Our clients are very professional. So I must be knowledgeable and answer all kinds of questions professionally. This really pushes me to learn every day. There is certainly lots of pressure."

Li Qian's job is not as romantic as she had expected. She spends about 4 hours on the phone every day, dealing with clients. But she never regrets her career choice. When she talks about wine, she is intoxicated.

Li Qian said, "I really like my job. It gives me a lot of satisfaction and has enriched my life... and I have also made many new friends. I am quite willing to meet the challenges...such as pressure, learning more about wine...improving my interpersonal skills."