Traditional culture key to national identity

Editor’s note: President Xi Jinping reiterated the importance of traditional Chinese culture at the closing of the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress on March 20. Two experts share their views with China Daily’s Yao Yuxin on why traditional culture is important for China’s national rejuvenation. Excerpts follow:

The revival of traditional culture is not only related to education and ethics, but also is a strategic issue ... modernization strategy.

rise to some imbalances in society. Money-minded people with a lack of ethics and moral standards have created many problems, such as food and medicine safety scandals.

In such times, the revival of traditional culture will inject the much-needed spirit of integrity, kindness and fair play into society.

The revival of traditional culture is not only related to education and ethics, but also is a strategic issue, as Chinese culture has served as the foundation for socialist theories and principles with Chinese characteristics. Therefore, without the support of traditional culture, socialism with Chinese characteristics cannot be fully established.

To boost cultural self-confidence, Chinese culture should occupy the prime place while outstanding cultural achievements of other countries can be used as lessons.

Apart from that, Chinese society should also assimilate the thoughts of different schools including Confucianism, Taoism and legalism, in order to meet all kinds of challenges with vitality. For example, Taoism stresses the importance of harmony between man and nature and legalism will promote the rule of law.

By pursing mutual benefit and peaceful development, the Tang Dynasty (618-907) enjoyed high prosperity and friendly relations with its neighbors. And today, China’s road to future development is through building a community of shared future for humankind.

Another effective way of modernizing traditional culture is to connect it with the young generation. Ye Zicheng, a professor of diplomacy department, School of International Studies, Peking University

The US has taken actions to tighten restrictions on high-tech exports to China, and Chinese investment in the US tech sector. The decision last week by Best Buy to stop selling smartphones and laptops by Huawei is the latest example of pressures on US businesses by their government and Congress, following similar declarations by AT&T and Verizon in January.

The US is exceptional in this regard. Huawei has been quite successful in other countries. It just launched its cuttingedge P20 and P20 Pro smartphones in Paris this week. In Africa and Latin America, Huawei and ZTE, the two largest Chinese telecom product manufacturers, have helped many nations modernize their telecom systems.

The ulterior motive of such US actions is reflected in its recent National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy which repeatedly mentioned China and labeled it as strategic competitor and revisionist power that threatens the US.

The underlined message is clear: The US should do whatever it takes to prevent China from surpassing the US, whether economically, militarily or technologically.

In the early 1990s, the US exhibited similar paranoia against an economically fast rising Japan, despite the fact that Japan has been its security ally. There was much talk in the US 25 years ago about Japanese conspiracy to overtake the US or the US being at economic war with Japan.

It is true that the US containment strategy today does not look exactly like the Cold War when the US and the Soviet Union had little economic interdependence. But in trying to hurt China today, the US will also hurt itself.

However, one thing is clear, the US bid to halt China in advancing its technology sector will not succeed. Despite the US’ draconian restrictions on exporting high-tech products to China, China continues to advance.

On the contrary, the US efforts will only make China more determined in pursuing its modernization strategy. And the US may very well miss the great opportunities of the vast Chinese market, not to mention that the Chinese have a long memory about the countries that have inflicted harm on their nation.

MA XUEJING / CHINA DAILY