Latest news with #Sinology
Borneo Post
6 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
Global volunteers join hands to help preserve China's heritage
Global volunteers help with restoring ancient buildings in Pingyao County, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 4, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhihao) TAIYUAN (Aug 13): Amid the scorching summer heat of north China, 17 Chinese and international volunteers huddle beside the gatehouse of an ancient residence in the historic Pingyao County in Shanxi Province, carefully restoring bricks under the watchful guidance of seasoned professionals. From Aug. 1 to 13, the Shanghai Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation, together with Pingyao County, is hosting a volunteer camp focused on architectural heritage conservation in Dongquan Village, a traditional settlement in northern China. Over two weeks, the volunteers will help restore the gatehouse and surrounding walls of the centuries-old residence under the guidance of master craftsmen. They will visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Pingyao Ancient City, along with historic sites like Shuanglin Temple and Zhenguo Temple. The itinerary also includes meeting inheritors of local intangible cultural heritage, from traditional puppet performers to artisans of Pingyao's famed lacquerware craft. Among the 17 participants, six are from France. Leading the French group is 26-year-old Aurore Franche, a model with a deep passion for cultural heritage preservation. She sees it as a tangible link to the past, and joined the program to gain firsthand experience with traditional Chinese craftsmanship. 'Chinese architecture is so beautiful, especially the incredible mortise and tenon structure,' she said. 'It's amazing how the pieces can fit together so securely without glue or nails. That reflects the wisdom of ancient Chinese builders.' Sara Zuniga, a university student from Mexico with a long-standing fascination for history, said her studies are fueled by a desire to understand the brilliance of past civilizations. 'Unfortunately, many of Mexico's historical sites have been damaged over time as development progressed. This makes me feel regretful and motivates me even more to protect what remains,' she added. For Zuniga, China — halfway across the globe — had always felt like a mysterious and captivating place. 'Before coming here, my impression of China was limited to what I had seen in films and reports from Western media. I wanted to see this ancient country for myself.' At the restoration site, a young man fluent in Chinese quickly caught the attention of fellow volunteers. Herwann Rocrou, 23, is an archaeology student in France and a passionate enthusiast of Sinology. In his spare time, Rocrou studies Chinese and has traveled to cities like Shanghai and Suzhou. He's also explored ancient Chinese cultures, including the Yangshao culture and Shang and Zhou culture. He said that he joined the Pingyao volunteer program to deepen his understanding of how traditional Chinese architecture is preserved and restored. 'I love Chinese history and culture, and it's my dream to one day live in China with my girlfriend.' During the volunteer program, international volunteers teamed up with skilled masons in Dongquan Village, a nationally recognized historic site. They also visited ancient structures and relics in Liangcun Village and explored Pingyao at night, one of China's best-preserved and inhabited ancient walled cities. According to Ding Feng, secretary general of the Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation, the foundation has organized 48 volunteer camps across Shanxi, Guizhou, Fujian, Yunnan and other provinces since 2010. More than half of these activities have taken place in Shanxi, a province famous for its ancient architecture and home to over 28,000 historic structures, with nearly 1,000 international volunteers taking part over the past 15 years. 'Our goal is to give the public, especially young people, more opportunities to get directly involved in heritage protection,' Ding said. 'By working with their hands, they form a physical connection to traditional architecture, which deepens their emotional ties and sparks greater enthusiasm, initiative and awareness for preserving cultural heritage.' – Xinhua architectural China cultural heritage volunteers
Jordan News
09-08-2025
- Science
- Jordan News
World Sinology Center: Three Years as a Global Bridge - Jordan News
On August 8, 2022, on the shores of the Yellow Sea, an ambitious global intellectual journey began with the inauguration of the Global Center for Chinese Studies (CCTSS). From its inception, it marked a turning point in strengthening China's academic and cultural presence on the international stage. Today, three years after its founding, the center is no longer merely a research institution; it has become a global symbol of dialogue among civilizations and a strategic platform for conveying Chinese culture to the world in a balanced and effective scientific manner. اضافة اعلان Since its inception, the center has adopted a comprehensive vision based on promoting international academic exchange, supporting cultural cooperation mechanisms, and producing systematic knowledge about Chinese civilization. Under the leadership of Professor Xu Baofeng, it has built a broad global network of academic relations, including an elite group of researchers, thinkers, and translators from around the world. With an approach that combines academic depth and communicative effectiveness, the Center has played a pivotal role in building a modern Chinese cultural discourse that keeps pace with globalization without compromising its cultural roots. As part of its mission, the Center has organized distinguished conferences in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America, attended by more than a thousand scholars from over 100 countries. They discussed ways to promote Chinese studies in regional contexts and opened new paths for cultural understanding and exchange of expertise. These conferences were not merely scholarly events; they served as true bridges of communication that extended deep into global academia, making the Center a trusted reference for contemporary sinology. The Center adopted the "global planning and material landing points" approach, establishing over 50 branches and national councils in various countries around the world over the course of three years, including Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Chile, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Jordan. These branches have not only promoted academic exchange but have also become vital platforms for cooperation in the fields of publishing, translation, education, cultural tourism, and the creative economy. At the level of research and knowledge production, the Center has launched qualitative research projects, including a re-examination of Chinese classics within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, the "Sino-Research History Theory" book series, and a Dictionary of Chinese Cultural Knowledge, which has been translated into 13 languages. The Center has also contributed to promoting cross-cultural translation through cooperation agreements with 23 countries and the launch of digital translation and publishing platforms covering 30 countries and 11 languages. The Center also witnessed the launch of a comprehensive report on the development of Sinology in the world, prepared by a research team led by Professor Xu Baofeng. Comprising more than 320,000 words, it covered developments in Sinology in 108 countries, constituting an unprecedented scholarly reference used to analyze global trends in Chinese studies and plan future academic exchange strategies. The Center has become a platform for Chinese cultural diplomacy, participating in prominent international forums, and its name has been linked to several high-level official visits. It has also been included in the outcomes of major ministerial conferences and cultural dialogues. Through its academic and cultural activities, it has contributed to establishing China's presence on the global intellectual scene, not simply as an economic power, but as a civilizational actor with a rich intellectual heritage and a contemporary vision for coexistence and understanding among peoples. The Center has not neglected the local dimension, working to link its international resources with the development scene in Chengdu and the New Territories by supporting educational institutions, organizing cultural events, and developing cooperation between local companies and international organizations. It has succeeded in creating an integrated model that integrates academic research and practical application, making it one of the most prominent models for integration between national platforms and regional development agendas. In a changing international environment that requires new tools for dialogue and communication, the Global Center for Chinese Studies continues to play its vital role as an institution that combines civilizational and strategic dimensions, seeking to build true bridges between China and the world. Three years have been only the beginning of a long journey of influence, knowledge, and human convergence. As the Center opens up to the future, its responsibility to consolidate understanding among civilizations and present the Chinese experience to the world grows with an academic spirit, an open mind, and a universal language.
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
What is Sinology?
Explore how Sinology enriches our understanding of China-Africa cooperation and why it is crucial for future studies. Image: IOL / Ron AI Why is the Knowledge of Sinology Essential to Studies of China-Africa Cooperation? The present article aims to highlight the role and impact of China-Africa cooperation studies through the light of Sinology studies 汉学 (Hanxue). In essence the article aims to explicate differences in definitions between Sinology and China-Africa Studies. It argues that China-Africa Studies will remain limited and devoid of future based analysis. Sinology, the study of China by foreigners has since time immemorial been the foundation of observing, reading and researching Chinese history, culture, identity formation in both ancient and contemporary times. China-Africa studies have tended to take a perspective of events based analysis. Such a view has tended to limit China-Africa Studies to important high-level events between government leaders and institutions. The plethora of literature drawn from these studies tend to be limited as to the analysis of Chinese culture, history, philosophy, identities including other variables that inform the foundation of the Chinese society from ancient to contemporary era. At the least such studies tend to rely on the rosy-eyed explication of revolutionary ideological commonalities of the anti-colonial struggle. The present article aims to highlight reasons and showcase instances as to why knowledge and understanding of Sinology is imperative to current China-Africa cooperation studies. The First School of China-Africa Studies The nascence of China-Africa studies has contributed with new knowledge that help understand trade, politics, interactions, and various exchanges that take place between leaders and peoples from respective nations in the relationship. There have been two main schools of China-Africa cooperation. The first is that, which holds to the ethos that China-Africa relations emerged as early as the 15th century. These studies normally cite sea voyages by Admiral Zheng He to Mombasa, in Kenya and Sofala in Mozambique and other small localities on the eastern coast of the African continent. There has been ample evidence that indeed voyages by Admiral Zheng did touch ground in the vast coastal region of East Africa. These studies have of late advanced to inquiries that include academic studies including communication, media, culture, intercultural exchanges, People-to-People relations and cross-cultural communication strategies. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The second school of China-Africa Studies The second school tends to focus on trade and its development since the nascence of contemporary China-Africa cooperation. Scholars engaged in this school tend to focus on symmetries, synergies, trade-fairness or deficit and high-level political China-Africa cooperation. These studies may be regarded as a collective of China-Africa Trade Cooperation Studies. China-Africa studies rely on interdisciplinary perspectives to study China-Africa relations, focusing on economy, politics, social, and cultural interactions, cooperation, development, and global governance. Employed methodologies tend to be eclectic and include case studies, comparative analysis, statistical analysis, and field research. The main goal of these studies is to analyse the role and impact of China in the development of Africa, and assessesimplications China-Africa cooperation for global governance and impact on policy analysis and formulation on the African side. However, majority inquiries of China-Africa studies remain limited as they eventually hit a ceiling or a brick-wall. Such a limitation is caused by lack of or absence of in-depth Sinology skills and know-how. Lack of engagements with Sinology postulates that form foundational China knowledge limits inquiries into the subject of China-Africa relations and cooperation. There is a plethora of literature that points out that there can be no thorough understanding of a culture, people, identities, and foundational practices that inform and shape their everyday lives. In the case where one lacks instruments that allow an in-depth inquiries into a given people or a civilisation it is impossible to study, decipher, understand and form an opinion of without having at least a basic understanding of their historical trajectories, culture, identity formation and languages that form their existence since the beginning of time. Si duo dicunt idem non est idem. If two languages say the same thing, it is not the same thing. Translation: Stone, J. (2006) Closer to home, the struggle icon and former the first of a democratic South Africa, President Nelson Mandela is known to have stated that; "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language that goes to his heart." Similarly, 'traduttore, traditore' dictum, is a classic example that points to a need of using local language as 'translator' is referred to as a 'traitor'. Such a statement is made as an encouragement to use original language in most scenarios as to mitigate shortcomings and fallacies of translation and interpretation. Umberto Eco states that it's necessary to understand that translation is not always exactly the same, but 'almost'. These examples aim to demonstrate that engaging in China-Africa Studies devoid of Sinology is like speaking a foreign language that is neither understood by Africa nor by China. What is Sinology? "Sinology refers to the study of China by foreign scholars. Sinology consist studies of traditional Chinese language, writing, history, culture, thought, literature, art, religion, and institutions. Simply put, Sinology is the study of China by foreigners, which stands from an "outside" perspective and applies its own academic traditions and methods to understand and interpret Chinese civilization. Global Sinologists consist of Western scholars, scholars from East Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, South American scholars and to a lesser extent, African scholars. The core features of Sinology include: the object of study is China: it focuses on the achievements of Chinese civilisation (both ancient and contemporary China). The researcher is a foreigner: researchers come from countries and regions beyond China. Three aspects that consist Sinology research variables are, 'outside and foreign perspective'; 'interdisciplinary'; and research of 'text based materials'. An "outside" perspective: providing a different perspective of observation and understanding from the local Chinese academic tradition, Chinese Studies 国学 (Guoxue). Interdisciplinary: Sinology covers a wide range of disciplinary fields such as linguistics, history, philosophy, religion, literature, art history, archaeology, anthropology, and political science. Text-based: traditional Sinology pays particular attention to the translation, verification, annotation and interpretation of classical Chinese texts (e.g., Confucian and Taoist texts, historical books, and literary works). Sinology World Council Definitions of Sinology by the Sinology World Council: Sinology is a multidisciplinary field of study that provides valuable insights into China's complex and dynamic society, fostering greater understanding and cooperation between China and the world. Sinology, also known as Chinese studies, is the academic study of China that makes inquiries into culture, language, history, politics, society, classic and contemporary literature, folklore, allegories found in the classics, and Chinese linguistics. Foundational feature of Sinology consist of examination of China's past, from ancient China to contemporary times. Subjects that are part and parcel of China's past consist of inquiries about pre-imperial China, imperial China and post imperial China that examine philosophy and religion, exploration of Chinese thought, from Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and governance. The two last aspects of Sinology inquiries fall under the rubric of culture and society. The two focus on the investigation of Chinese culture, social structures, and daily life to include art and archaeology to include Chinese art, architecture, and material culture. The ultimate goal of Sinology is to help study and understand China's past, present and future. Sinology aims to promote cross-cultural communication strategies to include cultural exchanges and understanding between China and other nations. Sinology aims to inform policy formulation, decisions on implementation and broader international relations. The centrepiece of Sinology is founded in advancing teaching, learning and correct understanding and use of language. The Confucian subject of 证明 Zhengming and more contemporary 提法 tifa (correct formulation of words) refer to correct use of language as it refers to building of local identities and maintain social hierarchies in accordance the social Chines cultural realm. It also helps with understanding the social and national mood at any given time of interactions with national and individual Chinese entities. Dangers of Sinology Deficit in China-Africa Studies What are the key differences between Sinology and China-Africa Studies? In regards to geographic focus, Sinology encompasses various aspects of Chinese studies across the world. China-Africa Cooperation Studies is limited to relations between China and different individual African nations. In reference to methodologies Sinology employs more traditional humanities, social sciences, interdisciplinary approaches, while China-Africa Cooperation Studies tends to be eclectic in nature often dependent on the latest China-Africa event. In more simplistic terms, Sinology focuses on China and its position in the world including future trajectories. China-Africa Cooperation Studies on the other hand, explore China's presence and interactions on the African continent. The latter tends to limit itself to comparison and judgment of China on the African continent versus that manifest or promised by the West and its institutions. As a result of Sinology deficit in the continent, the verdict of these comparisons and judgments tend to favour Western narratives as benchmarks of standard conduct in cross-cultural communication and exchanges. The long-term, 'traditional partner' of the past half a millennia always wins by default of these judgments and comparisons, not as a voice of reason but for lack of 'other voices' among China-Africa scholars. Sinology deficit in China-Africa Studies may result in lack of deeper analysis on the impact contemporary China and its culture on the African continent. Such deficit may lead to shortcomings in both understanding of current events and on laying out future scenario conditions that aim to strengthen China-Africa relations and cooperation. These may also lead to cultural insensitivities on both sides of the China-Africa cooperation spectrums. Such circumstances may lead to potential conflicts and in the process posing danger to the long-term future of the China-Africa cooperation and relations. Events Based Analysis versus Future Based Scenario Analysis Events based analysis relate to analysis of conferences, forums, seminars and visits by leaders and dignitaries from either side of the China-Africa cooperation. These include signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) towards a particular agreement or intent to engage in a particular cooperation activity, be it educational, industrial or economical. The most vogue type of MoU in the past decade has that which involves cultural exchanges and People-to-People Relations. One would assume that there has been lots of benefits for Africa emanating from these agreements. However, records reveal that little to none has been implemented simple because lots is lost in translation. Between Chinese and African governments there exists lots of dormant agreement in the form of unsigned 'Agreement Frameworks'. An educated guess as to stagnation despite governmental agreements in place would there exist lack of understanding of offerings that are brought to the table and those that offer those products and services. Future scenarios for sustainable China-Africa cooperation are first determined by how cooperation manages to consolidate its successes into a 'Good China-Africa Story'. That is, instead of only receiving; the other party also has to reciprocate symbolically and in kind to goods that are offered. The two questions below ought to help us find a possible path towards identifying and then mapping a strategy to enhance those successful moments - be they tangible or simply symbolic instances of China-Africa cooperation. It is in such instances that knowledge of Sinology becomes an asset that helps in understanding and accessing low hanging fruits of the China-Africa cooperation. What are the measurable 'quantifiable' successes of the China-Africa Cooperation? How doChina-Africa cooperation parties consolidate, sustain and set in place long-term strategies aimed at enhancing cooperation between partners and the entire south-south cooperation in order to have a significant impact in the geopolitical spaces? An answer to the above questions lies within an understanding of respective cultures among member states of China-Africa cooperation. However, it is now apparent that China-Africa Studies lacks instruments that would help understand and engage in deeper and meaningful cultural engagements between China and different African nations. There is a need to have a deeper knowledge and understanding of Sinology that may offer a window into understanding of deeper foundations that sustain traditional Chinese culture that enjoys a continuum from ancient to present Chinese society. Overlaps and Differences The present article has delved into details regarding similarities and differences between Sinology and China-Africa Cooperation Studies. Scholars, analysts and observers ought to also pay attention existent differences and overlaps between Sinology and China-Africa Cooperation Studies. By understanding overlaps and differences between the two, researchers will be able to navigate these fields and contribute to meaningful scholarship and policy discussions that aim to inform a long-term China-Africa cooperation and relations. Overlaps between Sinology and China-Africa Studies consist of understanding China's foreign policy and its role in geopolitics. Second overlap is in the analysis of China's economic and political influence on the African continent. The third is that, which examines cultural exchange and people-to-people diplomacy. However, while China-Africa cooperation studies tends to focus on China's impact on the African continent, Sinology seeks to understand ancient and imperial salient patterns that inform China's current existence, development and rise to the global centre-stage since it nascence to the present day. China-Africa cooperation needs to urgently delve into Sinology in order to ensure a long-term partnership of equals and a successful building of a China-Africa community of a shared future along the principles of a Global Civilization Initiative. In conclusion, Sinology is the study of China by foreigners, which has undergone an evolution since the times of encounters with Marco Polo in the year 1275, Jesuit missionaries, like Michele Ruggieri and Matteo Ricci in 1583. The discipline has evolved into a standard professional discipline that today incorporates modern social science methodologies. Today, Sinology provides an indispensable external perspective for the understanding of Chinese civilisation, and serves as an important bridge for Chinese-foreign cultural exchanges and academic research. In the modern context, it is often intertwined or integrated with the broader study of China. It is for such a reason that China-Africa cooperation Studies need to urgently engage Sinology as a sign and form of reciprocity to all China efforts to engageAfrica in its developmental quest through cross-cultural communication strategies in the form of People-to-People relations and People-to-People Exchange. * Professor Paul Zilungisele Tembe, Founder and Director of SELE Encounters. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Lessons from the 'China in the Eyes of Sinologists - A Cultural Tour in Sichuan'
A vendor hangs a red lantern at her shop which sells Chinese New Year decorations in Zitong county, Sichuan Province. Image: File / Independent Newspapers A Cross-Cultural Communication Perspective Sinology is a fortunate study of China by foreigners. One would then ask why use the word fortunate in reference to a study to a given culture, language, historical trajectory, and daily practices through times including contemporary habits? The answer ought to be very simple and it is set between two temporalities. One, Chinese culture is the oldest continuous living culture among all civilisations. Secondly, China has managed to hold its ground and to keep a constant existence among an array of morphing civilisations over time. Despite, local, regional and global raptures and conveniences China has historically managed to maintain a traditional, linguistic, and bureaucratic, golden thread that traces back to ancient times through dynasties to contemporary era. In contemporary times, China has prevailed through its reform and opening up era despite an array of doomsday prophecies. Since then China has managed to navigate difficulties that deliberately aimed to circumvent its developmental path. In the last five decades of rapid development China has managed to impress both friends and foes. The developmental trajectory and unity of China, although at times diverse and eclectic in accordance with the global dynamics it has managed to follow its own unique organic style. It has followed a recognisable path that is guided through cultural nuances and adherence to ancient adages, idioms, proverbs, maxims and customs that have come to reflect constants and postulates of the traditional Chinese philosophy and cultural realm such as in 'moderation', (中庸) zhongyong, 'correct name', (正名) zhengming and 'filial piety' (孝) xiao, just to mention a few. It was through such a fortunate position of a Sinologist and an understanding of China's historical and cultural trajectory that one traversed the entire process of the 18th Special Book Award of China ceremony. Little did I know that the events immediately post the 18th Special Book Award of China ceremony held answers to the long held questions regarding cross-cultural communication strategies framework befitting 'partnership of equals' in the new era. As a practising sinologist one runs a risk to either rely on clichés that tend to claim standard never changing traditional postulates. On the other hand one also runs a risk of interpreting traditional Chinese philosophy and culture within the prism of the First World War dichotomies or prophecies of the ;'End of History-the Last man Standing ' neo-liberal hubris. Thanks to my decades old research one has learned to listen and read China within its own rights. As an auto-ethnographic researcher, the motto is; write what you see, be ready to listen and delve deeper into issues that really matter to the Chinese society like one would if researching any other society. Such a realisation compels one to realise dangers of research that is only informed by secondary sources and exclusivity. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ A realisation that China ought to be lived and researched within its own historical trajectories and efforts to relate with the rest of the world brings forth new perspectives. Perspectives that will help establish a novel cross-cultural communication strategies framework suitable to the notion of partnership of equals between China and the world. One possible solution to the archaic master-servant version of cross-cultural communication strategies is that informed by the concept of reciprocal forms of engagements. An inquiry to a cross-communication strategies theoretical framework itself stems from an inquiry as to what cross-cultural or cross-civilisation communication strategies ought to be applied in the new dispensation the notion of partnership of equals where south-south nations are at the helm of world governance. What ought to be the new cross-civilisation communication strategy that helps reflect a new era born of prevalent relations among partnership of equals? Such an inquiry reflects an inquiry and a quest for those who aim to research and understand China as a civilisation, a people, a culture, and a language that helps with identity formations that informs the entirety of the Chinese people and practices there within. The 18th Special Book Award of China ceremony manifested as recognition of my past and present efforts to understand Chinese culture, traditions and language in order to be able to tell and write a 'China Good Story' and a 'China-Africa Good Story'. Consequently, the 'China in the Eyes of Sinologists – A Cultural Tour in Sichuan' opened a new door, for a long-tern future research and engagements with China. China in the Eyes of Sinologists - A Cultural Tour in Sichuan The type of hospitality afforded to a group of Sinologists Sichuan government officials, conservationists, cultural workers and authors laid threadbare a possible framework for a cross-cultural communications strategies befitting partnership of equals. A group of 15 Sinologists consisting of writers, translators and publishers represented 8 countries including the United States, France, Egypt, Tunisia, Poland, South Africa, and Spain. Despite cultural differences among visiting Sinologists, Chinese hospitality cemented a cultural and scholarly bond among visiting Sinologists. They all spoke different languages, but Mandarin Chinese bound them into one collective, despite their different perspectives and approach to researching China, they all had one quest; that of telling a China Good Story. As Sinologists along with local cultural personages, environmental and conservation specialist and Sichuan authors visited the Red Army Long March Memorial Hall and Zhuo Keji Tusi Official Village in Maerkang City to enjoy the history and culture of Sichuan Tibetan areas. The visit went through the Mount Siguniang Geological Museum and Outdoor Museum, including developmental history and mountain culture of Mount Siguniang Geopark. The visiting group also got an opportunity to understand the unique elements of the Jiarong Tibetans; and the splendour of unique conservation efforts at the Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base, the biggest one in the world. It suddenly dawned on me that a possible the only way to be worthy of hospitality being afforded to us during our visit was to reciprocate the kindness, understanding and diligence from our hosts. Reciprocity and reciprocal practices took a centre-place in my quest to come up with an efficient and functional cross-cultural communication strategy framework. A framework that is suitable for cross-cultural communications between China and south-south cooperation nations and rest of the world. That is, reciprocity irrespective of local, regional or global power, irrespective of economic prowess, irrespective of cultural differences and standing in the geopolitical space. During the Sichuan Cultural Tour one came to regard reciprocity as a foundation to practice of mutual-interests, mutual understanding and mutual respect. Reciprocity stands as a foundation of all concepts that aim towards harmonious communication and understanding among nations. My observations during the Sichuan Cultural Tour revealed that cross-cultural communication of partnership of equals may gain traction and long lived through an understanding and practices of reciprocity. The argument is also supported by final impressions and takeaways from the Sichuan Tour that began in Chengdu into Maerkang City and Mount Siguniang in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture stricken by awe of the development and changes of China in the new era. Impressions and Takeaways from the Sichuan Cultural Tour The unique impressions and takeaways from the Sichuan Cultural Tour will forever influence my work from now onward. These impressions and takeaways stand to encourage me to further deepen my study of Chinese Culture, Identities and Ideology. The experiences of harmonious living among the multi-ethnic citizens of Sichuan, a convergence of diversities towards a united and unique Chinese culture have left an indelible mark in my understanding of Chinese culture. Conservation efforts and model of global standards in Mount Siguniang and Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base became evidence to harmonious co-existence between humans and nature. Last but not least, generosities afforded by Sichuan authors through discussions of their works, diligence shown by nature specialists and by the guiding team, together form a platform and a window toward a deeper and better understanding of China and its culture. In conclusion, a journey that began with the 18th Special Book Award of China has given me a spiritual sense of accomplishment as a researcher and a Sinologist. The second leg of the journey that took me across several areas and mountain cities of Sichuan has opened a new door for further reading and learning of China within its own rights and historical trajectories. Seeing and listening first-hand to sounds of Maerkang, Siguniashan and the Wolong Panda Conservation Base has put back my faith in humanity. These lessons learned are not forgotten but are passed forward to other worlds. South Africa through my telling of a 'China in the Eyes of Sinologists - A Cultural Tour in Sichuan' has become richer. These first hand experiences, impressions and takeaways from Sichuan Cultural Tour will contribute in a better understanding of China and serve as a Good China Story among the people of South Africa. I would finally like to extend my warmest gratitude to the organising committees and guiding teams. To my Sinology colleagues, I would like to say, 'let the wave of reciprocity ride until we meet again'. Until we meet with more and better stories and books on China, about China and the world framed within the notion and practices of reciprocity along principles of the Global Civilisation Initiative and Building a Community of a Shared Future for Humankind. * Professor Paul Zilungisele Tembe, Founder and Director of SELE Encounters. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
CNBC
23-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
China to urge Iran to leave Strait of Hormuz open, avoid military response to US: Strategist
Andy Rothman, founder of Sinology, talks about China's position in the Middle East conflict, and why it's likelier to urge Iran to de-escalate even as it condemns the US strikes over the weekend. He also talks about US-China trade relations – and why tariff talks are getting complicated.
