City makes most of being back in favour
Looking at how Beijing showers favours on Shanghai today, it is hard to imagine that the two leading mainland cities were at cross purposes for a good part of the 50 years since 1949.
For now, Beijing's old fears about Shanghai - first it was too capitalist, then too leftist - have been submerged. Indeed, never since the communist takeover have the two been as cosy with each other as in recent years.
A big reason for the amiable state of affairs is, of course, the rise of the so-called Shanghai Faction in Beijing: those leaders who earned their spurs in Shanghai went on to greater things in the capital city.
Among the prominent figures are President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji, who were both the city's mayor and party chief in the late 1980s to early 1990s.
But more significantly, Shanghai has increasingly emerged as Mr Jiang's political power base. He brainstorms with, and draws his ideas from, think-tanks in leading educational institutions from Fudan University and the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.
His most powerful right-hand man, who operates as his chief-of-staff, is a Shanghainese, Zeng Qinghong, a princeling with an impeccable background who works behind the scenes to help consolidate Mr Jiang's grip on power.
Mr Jiang's confidence in Shanghai is strengthened by the presence of his mentor, Wang Daohan, the country's chief negotiator on Taiwan affairs, and his son's family, who are his eyes and ears.
With so many leaders in Beijing coming from top positions in the commercial centre at one time or another, it is hard for Shanghai to misbehave as they are familiar with how it is run.
Indeed, unlike Guangdong, Shanghai has been obedient and conscientious in carrying out the wishes of the central government. A Shanghai professor, put it this way: 'When a pin drops in Beijing, Shanghai shudders.' So, naturally, Shanghai is on the alert to ensure it does not displease the leaders. Its security apparatus works extremely hard to nip potential sources of trouble in the bud.
Dissidents are kept under close surveillance to make it hard for them to cause trouble or maintain contacts with foreign journalists, who are themselves constantly subjected to tight checks, even more so than in Beijing.
For its good behaviour and its economic contribution to the country, Shanghai is richly rewarded.
In September, it became the first mainland city to host Fortune magazine's global forum, generating unprecedented publicity from American media.
On Tuesday, the country's first international arts festival opened in Shanghai for a month's run. But the biggest reward will be Shanghai's chance to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum in 2001.
No doubt, Shanghai is having the best of times since 1949.
It is the only city boasting two international airports. There is the new, ultra-modern Pudong Airport, which will be the country's largest when completed, and also the old Hongqiao Airport, which has undergone a facelift and is now better run than Beijing's Capital Airport.
The city also boasts the country's two largest car manufacturers, Shanghai Volkswagen and Shanghai General Motors, and there are several other areas in which it enjoys advantages denied most other mainland cities.
Beijing has been making up for its neglect of the city until the early 1990s, and Shanghai has been zealous in seizing all the opportunities it can lay its hands on to restore its greatness.
