My wife and I spent nearly four years in China, mostly teaching English in Yangshuo, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. We had a fantastic time, making many great friends whom we still keep in touch with.

With the unveiling of the new Chinese leadership, it is our hope that China and the West can forge stronger ties. We Westerners have been encouraged to believe so many bad things about China, which simply are not true. Fortunately, we arrived in China with an open mind. But many people refuse to visit China out of misplaced fear.

Fear is a dangerous thing that leads to misunderstandings, and all too often, violent conflict. It is high time that Western countries judged China honestly.

My wife and I both are English and we can honestly state that we think the Chinese government does a great job under very difficult circumstances. The West should be supporting China rather than making false accusations against it all the time. Why can't we all simply be friends?

Mark Sings, via e-mail

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(China Daily 11/29/2012 page9)