Shanghai Dispatch #4

SHANGHAI, China — While much of the world is facing recession, China is reporting economic growth. According to the National Bureau of Statistics yesterday, the world’s fourth largest economy rose by 10.6 percent between January and March.

The expansion is evident in China’s major cities…as WBUR’s Tom Ashbrook has been reporting this week from Shanghai.

In his dispatch from there today, Tom talks about his visit to a neighborhood that’s home to some of the city’s four million migrant workers.

To hear his impressions, click on the listen link above.

Audio for Tom’s Shanghai dispatch will be available later Thursday.

Tom Ashbrook has been following developments in China since he started his reporting career in the region. This week, he and the On Point team are broadcasting live from Shanghai.

Today’s first hour conversation looks at China’s environmental nightmare, and its effort to clean up. Then, in the show’s second hour, the show touches the third rail in China — dissent — with voices from outside the Communist Party view of the world.

Click below to visit the special web site for On Point in Shanghai.