Some people in China are eager to shake off the label of poverty and its developing country tag once they become better off. But they do not represent the majority of Chinese however much money they may squander on luxury products. In fact, such a kind of show-off in itself reveals an upstart psyche commonly seen in the nouveau riche of developing countries.

China is only big in its size and population. While its gross domestic product is ranked third in the world, it is far from being impressive if divided by its population of 1.3 billion, which ranks China's GDP way back in the list of underdeveloped countries.

We are deluding ourselves if we assume that China has joined the rich club.

Of course, China should have its say in international affairs as a just world would allow every member of the global village an equal say, regardless of its economic strength.

China's increased voting rights in organizations like the World Bank should not change its status as a developing country. Only a minority would assume that China has become a developed equal of other industrialized countries with just an increase in such voting rights.

China and its people do have the right to be jubilant while playing host to events such as the World Expo and Olympic Games, but it must not be forgotten that it is laden with various burdens faced by a developing country.

During my first trip years ago to Yushu in western China's Qinghai province, the prefecture recently hit by a devastating earthquake, I was surprised to see people singing and dancing happily during their annual Horse Racing Festival.

Four of the six counties under the prefecture's jurisdiction were state-designated poor counties, yet the people there looked happy.

In answering my questions, a local dancer said flatly that singing and dancing "do not necessarily belong to the rich. Our people will sing and dance even when they are starving."

I am not for irrational extravagance, but we in a developing country need that kind of optimism to face harsh realities and challenges to create a better future.

The author is a visiting professor of journalism at Tsinghua University.

(China Daily 05/28/2010 page8)