Learn to say thank you in Chinese language

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: My encounter with China dates back to 2002 when I was based in Hong Kong and looking after business development for Infosys in the region. After months of shuttling between HK and Beijing, the time came to make a permanent move to Beijing.

Unlike popular belief back in India in those days India was not that far behind China in infrastructure or development and prosperity. I had a sense of the difference between India and China and what to expect when I landed in that country for the first time. But nothing can prepare you for the full impact until you see it with your own eyes. Travelling from the airport to my residence—the experience was overwhelmingly world class. The question which puzzled me many times before haunted me again - why had we not been able to do this in India? This time the urge for finding an answer was much higher.

I have now been residing in China for 4 years. During that time, I got married and became a father couple of years ago. My personal experience has been very nice living in this country. The small Indian community has a strong sense of bonding and we socialise frequently. Being a small community gives you a sense of closeness which you often miss in the United States or even in Hong Kong which now has second and third generation Indians living there and who have very little in common with other Indians.

The Indian community in the Chinese capital is called ICB or ‘Indian community in Beijing’ and we try to meet almost every month over dinner or outings on weekends apart from regular celebrations during Diwali, Navaratri or Holi. Most of the Indians in Beijing work for multinationals. Few work for Indian companies. Most of the Indian IT companies set up their first shops in Shanghai. Surprisingly you will find many multinationals hiring Indians in expat positions and senior roles to run their China operations.