BEIJING, Sept. 28,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For many foreigners, China may
remain a mysterious land. However, for some China hands, the real
China is credible, appealing and respectable. Their research and
observations provide authentic reflections of China's
transformation, mirroring the country's achievements and
attractiveness. On October 1 of this
year, the People's Republic of
China (PRC) will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its
founding. The Global Times launches a series titled "China Hands: My China Voyages" to share the
connections, stories and insights of influential scholars and
analysts who study China, narrating the changes and accomplishments
they witness in China, and
presenting a multifaceted view of the country.
In the third article of the series, Arnaud Bertrand
(Bertrand), a French entrepreneur and commentator on economics and
geopolitics, shared his stories with Global Times (GT) reporter Li
Aixin.
GT: How did you come to be connected with
China?
Bertrand: My personal connection with China began
when I studied at a university in Switzerland. On the first day in the student
dormitory, I met a young Chinese lady named Junjun who lived across
from me. Little did I know at the time that she would become my
wife. After about one or two years, we got together. Through her, I
discovered China. I traveled there for the first time with her, and
we eventually moved to China together. This experience opened the
door for me into the country. Then I traveled a lot in China and met many more Chinese people. I also
studied traditional Chinese medicine, which deepened my
understanding of Chinese philosophy.
What really attracts me to China is how profoundly different the
country is. I've visited 53 countries and lived in eight, so I have
some experience with various cultures. However, China stands out as
the most unique.
China embraces the philosophy of yin and yang, where these
opposites are not seen as good or bad but as interdependent. The
goal is to seek balance and harmony. It is this completely
different approach to understanding the world that fascinates
me.
I also have a deep appreciation for history and traditional
Chinese culture. I love nothing more than to travel, especially in
the countryside in China,
discovering old, small traditional villages that haven't changed in
1,000 years. The people there still wear traditional costumes that
have been preserved for centuries. I think China is very good at
preserving its traditions and culture, which reflects a strong
sense of duty.
GT: In your opinion, what are the biggest achievements that
China has made in the past 75 years?
Bertrand: I think the biggest achievements are twofold.
First, China has remained a sovereign country that can decide its
own fate. Second, it has maintained peace.
China made the difficult choice to remain a communist country
while fostering good relations with the West.
The Chinese government also cracked down hard on corruption,
ensuring that China remains the master of its own destiny. This
demonstrates impressive statecraft, as combating corruption is no
easy task.
Remaining peaceful is not easy to achieve either, because China
is one of the countries with the most neighbors in the world.
Additionally, it faces significant challenges within its own
borders, particularly in relation to Xinjiang and Hong Kong. We shouldn't underestimate how
difficult it is to maintain peace under these conditions.
Remaining sovereign and peaceful has enabled China, both as a
society and a state, to focus fully on economic development and to
implement the necessary measures to make the country prosperous.
The end result is well known: China has transitioned from a very
poor and underdeveloped country in 1949 to the second-largest
economy in the world today.
GT: What's your view on China's contributions to the
international community over the past 75 years, especially
regarding the three global initiatives, the Belt and Road
Initiative and the concept of a global community of shared
future?
Bertrand: All these initiatives, when examined
closely, are a logical continuation of what China has contributed
to the world over the past 75 years.
First of all, China is living proof that there is no
one-size-fits-all system for all countries. The Chinese experience
demonstrates that each country needs to find a path that suits its
own context, culture and history. This is essentially what the
Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Civilization
Initiative advocate, which suggests you can only develop by
adopting their rules and becoming a mirror image of them.
The second point is that China truly believes
in multilateralism. In fact, among the world's major powers,
China is likely the one that most values the importance of
multilateral institutions and the establishment of rules for all
countries, as opposed to a world governed by the principle of
"might makes right."
Multilateralism is the concept of a global community of shared
future, which aligns with the GDI that China is trying to promote.
Sadly, this is not the trend in the world today.
However, I predict that this is a temporary situation because
the vast majority of the world is on China's side in this regard.
They want rules to apply equally to everyone and seek a fair world
where power does not dictate respect for those rules. They want the
world to be a global community of shared future, rather than
resembling a feudal system where the majority of the planet exists
in servitude to the most powerful states.
I believe this reflects a historical trend, and China should
continue to advocate for this vision, as it has been doing. These
initiatives stem from 75 years of China's experience, diplomatic
tradition and exchanges with the international community.
GT: What do you think reform and opening-up have brought to
China and the world?
Bertrand: Reform and opening-up have brought
unprecedented prosperity to China in the modern era and have had a
profound effect on the world, enabling China to become a
manufacturing superpower. This shift allowed Western companies to
make immense profits by producing in China, giving consumers access to a wealth of
products.
The very lesson of reform and opening-up is that China grew
strong by engaging with the world. China should promote its vision
of a global community of shared future, emphasizing coexistence.
China should continue to articulate its positive vision, where
there are no winners or losers, and focus on further opening up.
The more people understand China, the less fear there will be, as
knowledge is a powerful antidote to negativity.
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinas-philosophy-of-seeking-balance-and-harmony-fascinates-me-french-entrepreneur-302261759.html
SOURCE Global Times