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Remarks by Premier Wen Jiabao During Discussion with Representatives Of the Cultural Community and Young Students of Spain

2009-01-31 16:02

31 January 2009

Madame Director,
Dear Students and Faculty Members,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,

It gives me great pleasure to meet with you at the renowned Instituto Cervantes. Both China and Spain are major countries with a long history and time-honored culture, and I find our discussion today very meaningful as it focuses on the theme of culture. Jacinto Benavente, a famous Spanish playwright, once said that "culture is a good education for understanding". Indeed, cultural exchanges play a positive role in promoting the mutual understanding and friendly cooperation between our two countries.

The Chinese civilization, rich and profound as it is, has continued uninterrupted for 5,000 years. Today I want to talk to you about the primary values of traditional Chinese culture and how they are still relevant today.

First, an enterprising spirit of unremitting self-improvement. The Book of Changes, one of China's ancient classics, teaches us that "Just as Heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-perfection". It calls on people to work energetically and tirelessly as the sun, moon and stars in universe and maintain an independent will and dignity and stick to principles. To seek unremitting self-improvement is the main theme of China's traditional culture. It also holds the key to the growth of the Chinese nation and continuation of the Chinese civilization despite numerous setbacks and adversity. This spirit has enabled the Chinese people to face challenges head on and emerge from all hardships stronger than ever before.

Second, the idea of valuing peace and seeking harmony without sameness. As early as over 2,000 years ago, ancient Chinese thinkers put forward the ideas of "harmony generates vitality" and "one needs to seek harmony without uniformity". They advocated harmonious co-existence between different countries, ethnic groups, people and civilizations, and between man and nature. Harmony is in the essence of the Chinese culture and represents a noble value upheld by the Chinese people. In China's history, the value of harmony has played an important role in strengthening national unity, enhancing the cohesiveness of the country and promoting friendship with neighboring countries.

Third, the concept of people as the foundation of a nation and more important than the monarch. The idea of regarding people as the foundation of a country and the belief that when the foundation is stable, the country is in peace were set forth in The Book of History compiled in the Shang Dynasty (1600B.C.-1046B.C.). In fact, the principle of putting people first that we follow today is based on such an idea. We aim to meet the people's ever growing material and cultural needs through reform and opening up and by releasing and developing the productive forces. And we strive to realize their all-round development in an equitable and free environment.

Fourth, the pursuit of unity between man and nature and fraternity among all people. This was advocated by Zhang Zai, a Northern Song Dynasty (960A.D.-1127A.D.) philosopher. The belief is that nature has created and nurtured all men and all things on earth, and that every man is my brother and every object is my friend. It is a full recognition of the unity between man and nature. Men are created by nature and part of nature. They may acquire knowledge about nature and do things to adjust or change it, but they should not damage it. Otherwise, they will eventually suffer nature's punishment.

The traditional Chinese culture has shaped the character and moral standards of the Chinese nation, namely honesty and modesty, and constant pursuit of self-improvement. It has had a tremendous influence on China's economic and social development and laid the foundation for the Chinese way of thinking and behavior. Such influence has continued even to this day.

Both the Chinese culture and the European culture have a long history and contributed significantly to the progress of human civilization. As early as 1,000 years ago, Chinese goods and culture were brought to Southern European countries along the Silk Road. In the 13th century, the well-known Italian explorer Marco Polo travelled to China. At the end of the 16th century, Juan González de Mendoza of Spain wrote The History of the Great and Mighty Kingdom of China, the first book written by a Westerner that gave a comprehensive account of China's history, culture, religion, and political and economic conditions. The book aroused a great deal of European interest in China. Traditional Chinese classics as The Book of Changes, Tao Te Ching, and The Analects were translated and introduced to Europe in the movement of Eastern learning spreading to the West. In the 18th century, advanced science and culture of modern Europe were brought to China, forming the movement of Western learning spreading to the East and leaving a positive influence on the Chinese culture.

The Spanish civilization is an important part of European civilization. Spanish literature, painting, singing, dance, and sports are all of international repute. Novelist and playwright Cervantes, painter Piccaso, operatic tenor Domingo are well-known around the world. I first read Cervantes' Don Quixote when I was young and still find the profound thinking in the book a constant source of wisdom and inspriration. I believe that for a nation to prosper, its people should work hard in a down-to-earth manner and, more importantly, should look up to the stars in the sky and never lose their cultural tradition. For such is a nation of hope, a nation that will prevail over difficulties and adversity on its way towards a brighter future.

Diversity of cultures is the basic trend in the development of human society. Exchanges between different civilizations have boosted mutual learning and common progress of mankind. The steady cultural exchanges between China and Spain have become all the more vibrant and diverse in recent years. The two sides have hosted a number of important cultural events. Not long ago, we held the Chinese Art Festival in Spain and marked the Year of Spain in China, which gave our peoples a chance to learn about the splendid traditional and modern cultures of each country. Our exchanges and cooperation in education is also extensive. Now nearly 1,000 Spanish students are studying in China, and Spanish is taught in 16 Chinese universities. The Forum of University Rectors of China and Spain was held in 2005. Instituto Cervantes Beijing, opened in 2006, has become an important medium for promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries. All these have further deepened the mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples. I hope that the cultural community of China and Spain, particular the young students, will work together to strengthen the cultural exchanges between our two countries and contribute your share to passing on the China-Spain friendship from generation to generation.

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