“I'm from the ‘De’ Ethnic Minority, the smallest ethnic group in Yunnan.”

The man speaking these words is Michael Hermann, a German national who currently serves as Chief Representative for the Yunnan and Chongqing Representative Offices of the Swiss ‘Federation for Associations connected to the International HUMANA PEOPLE TO PEOPLE Movement’(HPP), an international non-profit charity organization. Twenty years ago, Hermann came to Yunnan, China, dedicating himself to disease prevention, rural development and early childhood education. He has travelled across all 16 prefectures (cities) of Yunnan, and the HPP charitable projects he leads have attracted over 4,500 volunteers and benefited more than 4.5 million people.

In March this year, wearing a white Chinese-style short jacket, Hermann was interviewed by reporter from “Global People” in Beijing. He describes himself as “having roots” in China, even beginning his sentences with “our China”. “Our China makes progress every day, at an unprecedented pace - I have to keep myself immersed in it at all times.”