" China will respect the choices of Nepalese people"
By GUI XIAOFENG
Head of the Chinese Press and Publication delegation and president of the
China Association of Editorial Affairs This is the first time that we set our feet on the soil of Nepal. We have been harboring aspirations for this ancient and beautiful country, which is also our neighbor. And we are also strongly interested in how our Nepalese
colleagues develop and bring their national culture into full play in the
context of new era. The invitation from the Nepal Editorial Association has
now made our aspiration come true.
Over the last couple of days, we have met with prime minister Girija Prasad
Koirala, speaker Subash Chandra Nembang and state minister of information
and communication Dilendra Prasad Badu. We have also visited the Gorkhapatra
Publication Group, Kamana Publishing House and conducted number of
communications at various levels and from various angles discussing in
detail with our Nepalese colleagues about expanding exchange and
cooperation. We have also visited historical sites and cities. Nepalese
magnificent sceneries, brilliant ancient civilization leaves us a strong
impression and what impressed us most is that wherever we go, we keenly feel
Nepalese people's profound friendliness towards Chinese people. Wherever we
go, we see that Nepal is radiating the vigor of youth. We feel deeply moved and greatly inspired.
We have learned a lot in our visits. With the help of our Nepalese friends,
we have successfully completed our schedule, We are leaving Kathmandu for
China. Being reluctant to depart, I, on behalf of all my colleagues, will
share with you our impressions and reflections we have gained during our
four day visit. Due to the time limit, I'll only stress two points.
First, the friendship between China and Nepal can be traced back to ancient
times and will proceed in the future and should take on new look at the new
era. Nepal is an important neighbor of China and the Chinese people have
ever had friendly feelings towards Nepal. The magnificent Himalayas, the roof of the world, link up our two countries.
There is a household story of China popularizing in Nepal for many
generations. The legend was that Kathmandu was a big lake of mists and
ripples Before Christ. One day, Manju Shree came here from the Wutai
Mountain of China land lived at Swayangbu temple. She plants a brilliant
Lotus rising from the center of the lake. In order to have a good view of
and worship the lotus, Manju Shress cleft the cliff with one sword slash
and surging waters poured into the Ganga along the rift. The bottom of the
lake turned into the Kathmandu valley.The rift that Manju Shree cleft
turned into the Chobhar Gorge also named as "one sword cleft." This
beautiful legend reflects from another aspect the long lasting friendship
between the two countries.
The recorded written history of communications between the two countries has
also stridden across thousand years. As you know, China, in the course of
its 5000 year civilization development, has absorbed cream from other
civilization, of which Buddhism is of the greatest and far-reaching
influence. Besides the ethnic Han people who make up the vast majority of
the Chinese population, ethnic Tibetans and Mongolians were also greatly
influenced by Buddhism Buddhists ideas and doctrines found their way into
the fields of Chinese philosophy, ethical codes, politics, literature,
music, fine arts, architecture and language and became integrated with
native Chinese culture to form an integral part of the traditional Chinese
culture.
In history, many Chinese thinkers, politicians, literacy masters and artists
absorbed nourishments or wisdom from Buddhism one way or another. In turn,
they did their bits in developing Buddhist thoughts and, therefore, made
Buddhism all the more profound. Nepal is the birthplaces of Buddhism founder
Sakyamuni, Many Chinese, therefore, have a "Lumbini Complex."
Over the last millennia, Chinese Buddhist monks, driven by their piety and
passion, made pilgrimage to the birthplace of Buddhism to learn Buddhists
doctrines and bring back to China Buddhist scriptures, in defiance of
unbearable hardships along the way. Fa Xian, a revered monk in the Eastern
Jin Dynasty (317-420) toured to Lumbini as early as in the fifth century. He
faithfully recorded Nepal's geography, Buddhist holy places and religious
activities in his book Kingdom of Buddhism.
In the seventh century, Xuan Zang, a revered Buddhist monk in the Tang
Dynasty (618-907) and also a household name in China today, also came to
Nepal. His book "Western Regions" became authoritative materials for studies
on the history, geography, religion, resources and customs in South Asia at the time.
In China's Tibet legends about Nepal's Princes Bhrikuti marrying Tibetan
King Sontsen Gampo are still circulating. I myself, as a member of the
Chinese People's Political Circulation Conference (CPPCC) delegation, came
to Lhasa on our tour of inspecting the newly build Qinghai-Tibet Railway and
saw Sakyamuni's 8 years old life-size stature still very well preserve at
Lhasa's Ramoque Lamasery. The statue was brought to Tibet by the Nepalese
Princes as a national gift. We have lots of such stories.
In 643 AD, during the reign of the Tang Emperor Taizong, the emperor sent Li
Yibiao to India as his emissary en route Nepal. He was warmly received by
the Nepalese King. In 648 AD, Nepal sent emissaries to China. They brought
with them spinach, which enriched the variety of vegetables in China.
Nepalese teenage architect Arnkio's stories were also very popular over many
generations. In 620, the Yuan Emperor Kubla Khan ordered his adviser Baschpa
to build a pagoda in Tibet. The imperial adviser selected 80 Nepalese
workmen for the project because Nepal was noted for technical excellence of
its workmen. But the posts of the foreman remained open. The 17 year old
Arniko offered to lead the team to construct the pagoda. Baschpa thought
very highly of this extraordinary young man and entrusted him with the duty
of superintendent of the architectural project. Upon the completion of the
pagoda next year, Bschpa urged Arniko to go to Beijing China's capital. When
Kubla Khan, the emperor, asked him what he was accomplished, Arniko
answered: painting, sculpture, and gold casting and so on. The emperor let
him see a damaged bronze human model for practicing acupuncture. It was said
to be the product of the past Song Dynasty and nobody was bale to have it
repaired but Amger repaired it.
In the following years, Arniko created the majority of Buddhist statues in
the temples of Beijing and Kaiping. He also oversaw the construction of
Baitasi Temple (White Pagoda) landmark architecture in Beijing. Amiger was,
therefore, made superintendent of foreign artisans and also became a high
court official overseeing imperial construction agencies .After his death,
he was posthumously made a duke. His sons and dispels, many of whom were
ethnic Han people, Tibetans and Mongolians, were also good at sculpture.
Arniko, his sons and his disciples made great contributions to China's
Buddhist art.
In the Ming Dynasty ( 1368-1644) China and Nepal frequently sent envoys to
each other,. Exchange gifts and cementing relations. Nepalese music and
dance found their way to China in the Quing Dynasty *1644-1911). In imperial
court then was set up an agency overseeing the playing of Gorkha music. In
the other way around, Chinese culture spread to Nepal. Architecture in
Kathmandu, for example, demonstrated Chinese influence. Leech spread from
China to Nepal and keeps is Chinese pronunciation.
China and Nepal established diplomatic relations in 1955, which marked that
the traditional friendship and cooperative ties had entered a new phase. The
two sides stuck to the five principles of peaceful co-existence. They
respected each other and treated one another on the basis of equality. Top
leaders of both the countries frequently exchanged visits. While Nepalese
leaders paid visits to China as Chinese leaders reciprocated. The leaders of
both the countries decided to establish an everlasting friendly and
good-neighbor relationship for the 21st century.
Last year was the 50th anniversary of Sino-Nepalese diplomatic relations.
Top leaders from both the countries met with each other time and again. A
string of celebration events were staged and we have lots of mutual visits
of higher ranking officials. In March this year, Tang Jiaxuan, Chinese State
Councilor, toured Nepal. In late July, Chinese vice foreign minister We
Dawei paid a visit to Nepal and got in touch with leaders of the new
Nepalese government. In late August, Nepalese deputy prime minister and
foreign minister K.P. Sharma Oli paid an official visit to China.
In recent years, bilateral economic and trade cooperation has developed in
depth. Exchanges are also conducted in the fields of sports, literature,
arts, broadcast, science, religion, photography, publication and education.
In regional and international affairs, China and Nepal understand and
support each other.
China has consistently supported the efforts made by Nepal for maintaining
the independence of sovereignty and territorial integrity and never
interfered with the internal affairs of Nepal. Nepal has ever been giving
clear and firm support to China on the question of Tibet, Taiwan and Human
rights. In 2005, Nepalese government ordered the closedown of Dalai's office
in Kathmandu and issued a statement to support China's formulation of Anti
secession law. The Chinese government and people thought highly of this and
reiterated gratitude many times. The relationship between China and Nepal
has set a model for the friendly co-existence between countries of different
social systems.
The Chinese people believe that China and Nepal have similar past and are
now engaged in the similar tasks of developing the economy, safeguarding
national unification of the country and promoting the national unity and
social harmony. Both the countries share wide and last interest in bilateral
relations and in regional and international affairs. Consolidating and
expanding the friendly and cooperative ties are in the accordance with both
people's aspirations.
The Chinese government has reiterate many times that China will respect the
choices of Nepalese people concerning with the social system issue and
developing model based on your own national conditions. The Chinese
government and people will work together with the Nepalese government and
people to push the long standing friendly and good-neighbor ties ahead.
Non-governmental exchanges claim an important position in China-Nepal
relationship. The two sides have set up a China-Nepal non-governmental
forum overseen by the two countries association of commerce and industry.
The China Association of Editorial Affairs has established a solid
relationship of exchange with its Nepalese counterpart.
Prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, during his meeting with us, pointed
out that non-governmental exchanges are more important than those conducted
between the governments. One government replaces the other but people are
eternally there. Therefore, communications at people's level is the basis
of the two countries relationship. Our delegation completely agrees with
prime minister's point of view.
Culture is something that exerts influence on people's minds. Among all the
mechanism created by the humanity, culture is one that works at the deepest
roots of things and plays a long lasting and all encompassing role.
Therefore culture is the most powerful force with most profound influence. A
dress can be worn by one person but a movie and book s is for millions to
see and read. They influence the shaping of people's world outlook and
values. This function can never be replaced by any material products.
Second, culture constitutes the very foundation for a country's unification
and national unity.
Culture in general is the crystallization of the national spirit which marks
the nation out from all other nations. In this sense, culture is the very
source of vitality for the nation and the nucleus of the national coherence.
It is also the stabilizer of the society. For a country of multiple ethnic
groups, culture serves s a psychological tie that knits all the ethnic
groups together. In absence of the ethnic groups' approval of the common
culture, it is hard for a country keep stability and unification. This is
borne out by the histories of China and Nepal also is histories of the world.
In this phase, wide application of digital technology and spread of the
internet accelerate the spread of culture and widen the scope of culture's
functioning. The high speed and wide scope have never been in history. As a
result, the intensity with which different cultures and thoughts integrated
with each other and compete with one another, has never been seen in
history, either. Cultural competitive edge has been the important content of
the comprehensive national power. Correspondingly, cultural safety has also
been the important factors of national safety.
Some developed countries, making use of their economic, scientific and
military advantages and those they enjoy mass communication means are
pushing for cultural hegemony and cultural colonialism and engage in
cultural penetration against the developing countries in an attempt to
weaken their national and spirit in order to bring about a monolithic world
which are dominated by western values, serving for political hegemony.
In this scenario, cultural building is directly connected to national
security, not merely having economic significance. Our point of view is:
economies can be globalized but cultures should never be integrated into
monolithic body. Every country and every nation has rights to protect and
develop their own traditions and unique cultures. Safeguarding cultural
security in the context of economic globalization is an important task for
every country, especially developing countries.
Since its founding, China Study Center of Nepal has done a lot of work for
promoting mutual understanding, friendship, exchange and cooperation between
Nepal and China, which has had favorable influence on both the countries.
Now, I, on behalf of the editorial circle in China, would like to express
our respect for our friends at the center and congratulate them on their
accomplishments.
(Excerpts statement of Gui, leader of five member Chinese journalist team,
delivered at the talk program organized by ChinaStudyCenter).
