YANTAI - Another phase of Beijing's new Sanlitun Village, the premier entertainment district in the city, opened last week. There are plans for more upscale restaurants and bars from around the world as the infusion of western amenities shows no signs of slowing.

Beijing is also set to open several new subway lines, the most important of which will link the city to its new train station in the south. And it was just announced that a new bullet train will be built linking Beijing and Shanghai, allowing people to make the trip in only four hours.

Obviously none of this is being done in anticipation of hordes of Olympic visitors. It's China continuing to do what it's been doing for 20 years -- progress at breakneck speed.

There's no doubt that hosting the Olympic Games spurred development in the Chinese capital, but much more powerful forces are propelling the country forward. While much of the world is seeing a serious economic slowdown, China's GDP growth is expected to slow from 11 per cent to nine per cent, a growth rate almost unheard of in developed countries.

The luxury goods industry is booming in Asia and property prices are high, but stable. While the rest of the world is in an economic downturn, people here seem to have plenty of cash to throw around.

There are differences in China's development curve compared to the West, but we could learn something from its strong commitment to investing in infrastructure and development.

China recently launched the country's first bullet train between Beijing and Tianjin, a booming port city of 10 million people. Tianjin has been appointed as a special economic zone, which brings with it tax breaks and other incentives for businesses.

The natural links between a thriving coastal city and nearby capital are important, and some have suggested that Beijing's growth may swallow Tianjin in the future.

The new train travels at 330 km/h and makes the 120-kilometre trek in 29 minutes.

But a new train wasn't enough. Both Beijing and Tianjin had dilapidated stations. They needed new ones, so the government built those, too. Beijing's sprawling new South Station and Tianjin Station now resemble airports, complete with luxury waiting lounges, restaurants and convenience stores. To improve transportation, the trains leave every 15 minutes, more frequently than subways in some cities.

One can imagine the feasibility studies, public consultations, lengthy contract tenders, protests, political opposition and more if even one of these projects were proposed in Canada.

Democracy is messy and nobody is advocating removing those safeguards. They provide necessary transparency.

But we're also missing a larger point: We need to look into the future, anticipate our needs for economic development and begin investing in infrastructure and development that Canadians need, even if they aren't immediately profitable.

Surely there must be a faster way to plan, approve and build projects. Surely Canadians want their government to take the necessary steps, and quickly, to invest in the country's future. Surely we can plan for increased capacity and economic development, rather than try and play catch up once our infrastructure is strained to the max.

As long as I have been alive, the ferry system between Vancouver and Victoria has been much the same, except for the arrival of a few new ferries with extra seats and food options.

The two most important aspects of the journey, duration and frequency, remain basically the same. It's still impossible to travel between two vital Canadian coastal cities after 9 p.m. on most days (flights go until midnight, if you can afford them). This, in 2008.

In an age of skyrocketing gasoline prices neither Victoria nor Vancouver have fast, efficient, reliable and extensive rapid transportation between outlying communities and their downtowns. Why?

I hope this is the lesson the West takes from China: To get things done, you need to set broad goals beyond the next election cycle and begin working to accomplish them.

In general terms, the Chinese seem to work together while we seem to work against each other. The competition out there is fierce and, in many ways, China has already surpassed us.

This article originally appeared in the Victoria Times Colonist newspaper.  It was published on Sunday September 21, 2008.