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Viewpoints Chopsticks and international relations
Viewpoints Chopsticks and international relations | Chopsticks and international relations |
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| Viewpoints | |
| Sunday, 07 November 2010 | |
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CHINA'S Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaming has compared relations between China and the United Kingdom to a pair of chopsticks.
“Firstly, a pair of chopsticks are of equal length, just as China and Britain are equals in our relationship. We should hold dialogues on an equal footing and with mutual respect, enhance mutual trust on strategic issues and properly handle differences,” Ambassador Liu said.
“Secondly, just as it takes co-ordination of your fingers to use chopsticks properly, it takes co-operation for our relationship to grow stronger.
“Thirdly, the most important function of chopsticks is not only to pick up food, but to bring it to your mouth. So we should seek to upgrade our relations, instead of resting on past progress.
“China-UK relations have come a long way in the past decade and a comprehensive partnership has been established. Since the British coalition government took office in May, it has been committed to developing ‘closer engagement’ with China.
“We in China also give the same priority to our relations with the UK to ensure friendly and mutually beneficial co-operation.
“Prime Minister David Cameron’s first official visit to China will be an important opportunity for elevating China-UK relations to a new high. We will work closely with the British colleagues to make the visit a great success.”
Ambassador Liu was speaking at the Royal Society at an event organised by the Chopsticks Club, a unique non-governmental organisation based in London and committed to promoting Chinese food and culture in Britain.
Founded in 1993, the club now has as its two voluntary Directors two British ladies, Theresa Booth and H-J Colston, playing an important role in promoting mutual understanding between Britain and China with monthly Chinese dinners and distinguished guest speakers talking about China-interest topics. (www.chopsticksclub.com )
Ambassador Liu told a packed audience of Chinese professionals and students, business people and others interested in Chinese culture that the Chopsticks Club is well-named, because many scholars believe chopsticks embody oriental wisdom – and much more than something we use every day.
“Chopsticks and knives and forks, rather than being incompatible, are just symbols of two different cultures,” he said.
“I notice with pleasure that more and more British people are eating in Chinese restaurants with chopsticks – and many Chinese people now seem to be at ease using knives and forks.
“When every Chinese can use a knife and fork and every Westerner can use chopsticks, our world will be a better place.”
Ambassador Liu’s speech was illuminating, philosophical, often humorous and with very interesting historical anecdotes.
He said one story says that King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty over 3,000 years ago was the first user of chopsticks, made of ivory. But the Ambassador perceptively said he personally believed that chopsticks came about when ancient Chinese used tree branches or thin bamboo splits to pick up food from ceramic pots – something which could not be easily done with a knife and fork.
On the other hand, Ambassador Liu noted, to laughter from his captivated audience: “If you have a piece of steak in front of you, better to use a knife and fork, it’s much more effective than using chopsticks.”
The Ambassador, winner of the Fletcher Dean’s Medal from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in the USA and awarded the First Class Friendship Medal of the DPR of Korea this year, also spoke of more serious matters.
He said: “In the 32 years of reform and opening up, China has achieved political stability, economic growth, cultural diversity and social progress.
“This has proved that the Chinese social system and economic model are well-suited to China’s national conditions and effective in meeting the aspirations of the Chinese people.”
Alfred Lee
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Photo: Ambassador Liu Xiaoming |
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