Cultural Exchanges Narrowing the Distance between the Peoples of China and the United States

By Zhang Niansheng and Zheng Qi, People’s Daily Reporters

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Cultural Exchanges Narrowing the Distance between the Peoples of China and the United States

By Zhang Niansheng and Zheng Qi, People’s Daily Reporters

Library of Congress, built in the year 1800, has the largest collection in the world, with over 1 million books in Chinese. However, in the 1960s -1970s, there were only about 300,000 books in Chinese. The leap from 300000 to 1 million, along with development of China-U.S. relations from the establishment of diplomatic relations to maturing relationship, which also reflects the rising interest of the U.S. circles in China.

Books become an important way for the cultural exchange

Dr. Wang Ji, President of the U.S.- China Policy Foundation, had worked in the U.S. Library of Congress for 47 years, is a witness to the soaring collection of Chinese books in the Library of Congress. The collection of Chinese books set a record of 1 million books, which was achieved as he was the director of the Chinese Department of the Library of Congress.

Full of pride, Dr. Wang Ji shared his experience with reporters. In the year 1969, when Library of Congress commemorated the 100th Anniversary of the Chinese book entry, he promised Mumford, then the Library curator, to make Chinese books collection more than 1 million, which surprised Mumford. In 2004, when Wang Ji retired from the directorship of the Chinese Department, his promise was achieved.

Since the year 1869, the collection of Chinese books in Library of Congress has covered all disciplines, especially the humanities and social sciences, including rich Chinese classical literature and traditional Chinese medicine. There are about 4000 copies of local chronicles for the Ming and Qing Dynasties, about 2-300 of which are the only copies existent. In addition to publications in Mandarin, the Library also has a large collection of books in Manchu, Mongolian and other ethnic minority languages. Unlike ordinary libraries, Library of Congress is a subordinate to the Government of the United States, so the curator is appointed by the president and the employees are government employees. In addition to the collection of books, Library of Congress is also responsible for providing decision-making research for members of Congress and government departments.

Wang Ji told reporters that when he worked in the Chinese Department, he received about 150 researchers every month. These Chinese books provided an important reference for the U.S. departments, educational research institutions and scholars. "In order to meet the increasing demand, the curator encourages us to purchase Chinese books every year in Beijing, Hong Kong, etc., and exchange books with the libraries there." In addition to books on humanities and social sciences, the U.S. Library of Congress also pays attention to the collection of books and periodicals on Chinese science and technology. "The Library buys Chinese science magazines and books annually and subscribes to 500 Chinese periodicals. We have all the periodicals published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

For the U.S. Federal Government and Congress, the Library’s Chinese department is equivalent to a "think tank on China". Wang Ji still has fresh memory, before President Reagan visited China in 1982, his secretary called Wang Ji for recommending three thin reference books on Chinese culture to the president. Wang Ji selected the books as required. After President Reagan's visit to China, he sent a letter of thanks and a photo of his personal signature to Wang Ji.

"Without communication, there is no understanding, and the exchange of books is an important way of cultural exchanges between China and the United States." Wang Ji smiled and said that he witnessed the Sino-U.S. cultural exchanges grow from the trifle beginning to the prosperous expansion, my work is very meaningful".

The cultural exchanges between China and the United States are carried out constantly

Similar to Wang Ji's personal experience, the cultural exchanges between China and the United States are carried out in an unprecedented intensity. Whether in New York, Washington, D.C. or some remote rural areas, journalists have seen the great participation of the American people in Chinese cultural performances.

"What is the purpose of building the Great Wall in ancient China?" "What kind of tea is the specialty produced in Jiangsu?" Not long ago, the "Jiangsu Cup" Chinese speech contest in Washington area was held at Eliot International Relations Institute of University of George Washington. There are not only prepared speeches, but also answer impromptu and speak impromptu. Before the competition, John L. Holden, CEO of the U.S.-China Strong Foundation, delivered a fluent speech in Chinese. He told reporters that he began learning Chinese from the 1970s. At that time, it was only for his personal interest that speaking Chinese seemed cool, he thought, and didn't expect it to be very useful now. "Today's American student learning Chinese will undoubtedly provide them with more possibilities for their future". John L. Holden believes that training a new generation of talents who can communicate with China in the United States will help enhance communications between the two countries, further eliminate differences and misunderstandings, and is an inevitable choice to enhance Sino-U.S. relations. The next goal of the U.S.-China Strong Foundation is to establish effective networks to connect students, Chinese teachers and future employers so as to further enhance the enthusiasm of American students in learning Chinese. The data shows that at present, the United States has opened 110 Confucius colleges, 501 Confucius classes, and Chinese-learning students have increased year by year.

Like the Chinese language, more and more traditional Chinese culture is coming into the United States. Virginia Museum of Art from November 18th, 2017 to March 11th, 2018 holds the "Brilliant Qin Dynasty -- Terracotta Army exhibition", which is one example. In the eyes of the American people who are interested in Chinese history and culture, the exhibition will be a cultural treat -- the exhibits are from 14 museums and archaeological institutes in Shaanxi Province, up to more than 130 pieces, including 10 genuine Terracotta Army figures, and more than 40 objects have never been exhibited in the United States.

In fact, similar major Chinese theme exhibitions have been launched in recent years in some major museums in the United States. In the year 2016, the Chicago Field Museum held a successful exhibition of Qin Terracotta Army, which increased visitors by 500,000 over the previous year. From March 27th to July 16th this year, the largest exhibition of Chinese culture and art was held in New York Metropolitan Museum, attracting more than 300,000 people to visit. In the eyes of museums circle in the United States, the Chinese Museum hardware and exhibits have reached the world advanced level. Many museums hope to carry out exhibitions of art exchanges with China.

Nair Gies, director of the Virginia Art Museum, loves Chinese art and has actively promoted Chinese culture to American audiences for many years. In his view, the American people know little about China's magnificent and brilliant art and culture. "Holding exhibitions related to the Chinese culture can help American people further know China and understand China." He told reporters that he has been to China a dozen times, and that the Chinese people are the most hospitable people in the world. "The common grounds between China and the United States are more than that many Americans recognize, and we should further strengthen cooperation in various fields such as society and culture."

The weight of exchanges in humanity and culture is becoming heavier

In the current overall pattern of Sino-U.S. relations, the weight of exchanges in humanity and culture is becoming heavier and heavier. Both Governments of China and the United States regard the cultural exchanges and cooperation as an important part of the relations between the two countries and continue to promote it.

Not long ago, the action plans made by the first round of Sino-U.S. social and cultural dialogue have very rich contents in strengthening cultural exchanges and cooperation for both sides, involving education, culture, innovation and other areas, implementing the Sino-U.S. two way study "dual 100,000 plan"; supporting the mechanisms cooperation between University think tanks, and organizing the Sino-U.S. university think tanks dialogue every year; holding China-U.S. youth hit-off contest every year, and establishing China-U.S. youth hit-off exchange centers in the two countries; promoting Confucius colleges and Confucius classes in the United States, and working together to train local Chinese teachers in the United States; supporting cultural institutions to establish long-term cooperation mechanism, and holding "Sino-U.S. Cultural Forum"; promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two public cultural institutions such as libraries, museums, etc. and implementing the Sino-U.S. library management personnel exchange project; promoting the mutual visits of excellent art works between the two countries, and promoting the understanding of the two peoples to each other's culture...

According to statistics in the year 2016, a total of 5.3 million people traveled across the Pacific, with an average of over 10,000 people per day. About 300,000 Chinese students go to study in the United States each year, and 1 out of 3 foreign students in the United Sates comes from China, and over 14,000 American students come to China to study and exchange.

Culture comes from hearts, and goes straight to hearts of peoples. The exchanges in the social and cultural fields between China and the United States have effectively helped enhance mutual trust, eliminate misunderstanding and narrow the distance between the two peoples. As Li Shaoxuan, the gold medal winner of the Jiangsu cup -- Chinese speaking contest, said that learning Chinese and making friends with Chinese, you will find that Americans and Chinese are alike, who are all ordinary people.

(Excerpts of the article in People's Daily November 24, 2017, p.22)