Mirror of Tradition, China-Cyprus strategic partnership and China’s international coverage
By Liu Yantao, Chinese language ambassador in Nicosia
On Might 28, Ambassador of China to Cyprus Liu Yantao addressed the workshop on Mirror of Tradition: A Distinctive Option to Understanding the China-Cyprus Strategic Partnership and China’s Overseas Coverage, the primary highlights of that are included beneath.
President Xi Jinping factors out that nice civilizations take pleasure in similarity, mutual understanding, and extra importantly, affinity between one another. Each China and Cyprus, as historical civilizations, boast an extended historical past and splendid tradition. It’s truthful to say that similarity, mutual understanding and affinity between civilizations are the defining options of the China-Cyprus strategic partnership.
Final 12 months, our embassy and Cyprus Mail collectively arrange the particular column, Mirror of Tradition. By evaluating the distinctive cultural traditions of China and Cyprus from totally different angles, we endeavor to search out the similarities between our cultures, and on such foundation, discover the deep bonds between our peoples. In my opinion, there are 4 widespread options between Chinese language and Cypriot cultures.
Continuity. Historical Chinese language and Greek philosophers within the Axis Age shaped their considering, values and cultural traditions, that are nonetheless extremely related at this time. For instance, in China, the political pursuit of nice unity, the people-centered governance strategy, and the emphasis on morality and justice have been handed down from technology to technology. In the meantime, the spirit of democracy, freedom and humanism of historical Greece are vital tenets of latest Western civilization.
Innovation. Each Chinese language and Cypriot persons are adapting to the altering instances whereas maintaining their traditions. For instance, there’s a story within the Mirror of Tradition titled ‘Respiratory new life into ethnic trend’. Chinese language designers have put new trend parts into conventional Chinese language gown, receiving worldwide recognition. And the Style Heritage Community Cyprus (FHNC) has re-introduced conventional clothes, strategies, and supplies however with a contemporary and revolutionary twist, whereas additionally partaking the youthful technology.
Inclusiveness. Each China and Cyprus embrace multiculturalism. For instance, there’s one other story within the Mirror of Tradition titled ‘Melting Pots of Tradition’. Kizil caves, a Buddhist grotto in China’s Xinjiang, characterize the cultural heritage of Ghandara artwork and witness the combination of Chinese language, Greek and Indian cultural options. In the meantime, the combination of civilizations has affected all features of Cyprus life: faith, delicacies, clothes, and language.
Peaceable nature. Each Chinese language and Cypriot individuals love peace. The Chinese language consider that peace is valuable and that by taking a step again, one could have a broader area. In the meantime, the Goddess of Peace Irene in Greek Mythology is extensively revered, and the olive tree which symbolises peace is in every single place in Cyprus. As well as, the shipwrecks within the South China Sea and Mazotos off the coast of Cyprus make clear commerce routes of historical past, reflecting the 2 international locations’ shared dedication to reaching peace and prosperity via international commerce.
As an historical Chinese language scholar as soon as noticed, “Solely with deep roots can a tree yield wealthy fruit; solely full of oil can a lamp burn brightly.” In actual fact, China’s international coverage is deeply rooted within the 5000-year-long civilization. Dr. Henry Kissinger wrote that “China is singular. No different nation can declare so lengthy a steady civilization, or such an intimate hyperlink to its historical previous and classical ideas of technique and statesmanship.” At present, the general goal of our major-country diplomacy with Chinese language traits is to construct a neighborhood with a shared future for mankind, which displays the Chinese language individuals’s distinctive outlook on morality, society, the world and the universe.
With an outlook on morality that places justice earlier than pursuits, we’re dedicated to upholding worldwide equity and justice. The controversy over justice and pursuits is the central matter in China’s conventional ethics. Some within the West could are inclined to put their very own pursuits first and consider that there are not any everlasting associates, solely everlasting pursuits. However the Chinese language strategy this difficulty otherwise. Confucius stated {that a} man of advantage observes what’s morally proper, whereas a petty man solely goes after private good points.
We’re dedicated to equality and mutual respect between nations, large or small, which could be seen within the China-Cyprus relationship. As well as, we honor our commitments and hope to see much less wheeling-and-dealing and extra mutual respect and belief in worldwide relations.
With an outlook on society that advocates concord with out uniformity, we’re dedicated to selling exchanges and mutual studying amongst international locations. Within the 5,000-year-long civilization, the Chinese language nation has a permanent pursuit of peace, good-neighborliness and concord. We worth friendship and consider that one mustn’t do unto others what he doesn’t need others to do unto him.
Final 12 months, President Xi Jinping put ahead the International Civilization Initiative (GCI), which advocates equality, mutual studying, dialogue and inclusiveness between civilizations. In worldwide affairs, we’re against utilizing values as a political device for confrontation, or chanting the narratives of “democracy vs. autocracy”, as this could solely flip again the wheel of historical past and convey the world again to the Chilly Warfare.
Importantly, democracy is the widespread worth of humanity and the correct of all individuals around the globe. China’s whole-process individuals’s democracy is a type of democracy that most closely fits China’s historical past, tradition and nationwide circumstances.
With an outlook on the world that values peace amongst all nations, we’re dedicated to advancing peaceable improvement on this planet. Over 600 years in the past, a well-known Chinese language navigator known as Zheng He led a fleet for seven abroad expeditions. He visited over 30 international locations and areas and left many tales of pleasant interactions with native individuals.
For the reason that founding of the Individuals’s Republic of China, we now have firmly adopted a path of peaceable improvement. Seventy years in the past, China and different international locations collectively put ahead the 5 Rules of Peaceable Coexistence, which has develop into a primary norm governing worldwide relations and a elementary ideas of worldwide regulation.
At present, China requires an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally helpful and inclusive financial globalisation. We reject protectionism, decoupling, severing provide chains, or constructing ‘small yard, excessive fence’.
As well as, below the framework of the Belt and Highway Initiative (BRI) which was adopted over 10 years in the past, we now have continued to strengthen coverage, infrastructure, commerce, monetary and people-to-people connectivity with accomplice international locations.
Cultural exchanges and mutual studying carry nations collectively. Latest years have witnessed blooming cultural and people-to-people interactions between China and Cyprus. For instance, the second Confucius Institute in Cyprus has been arrange on the Cyprus College of Expertise, the Heart on China Research has been established on the European College Cyprus, the Division of Antiquities of Cyprus has joined the Worldwide Alliance of Museums of the Silk Highway, and the Theater of Ayia Napa has joined the Silk Highway Worldwide League of Theatres. Furthermore, we now have additionally organised influential occasions, such because the China-Cyprus Youth Discussion board, the Nicosia E-book Fest with China because the Nation of Honour, and the Assortment of China-Cyprus Friendship Tales, which have additional enhanced the friendship between our peoples.
Going ahead, we’re able to work with Cyprus. You will need to collectively advocate respect for the range of world civilisations, promote the widespread values of humanity, construct on the cultural heritage and break new floor, and improve worldwide cultural and people-to-people exchanges. For China and Cyprus, let’s work collectively towards the imaginative and prescient of constructing a neighborhood with a shared future for mankind!
The workshop was organised by the embassy, the Cyprus Heart for European and Worldwide Affairs of the College of Nicosia, and the Cyprus Mail.
