By Lyu Zhou

The Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er, southwest China’s Yunnan province, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List at the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee that concluded in September this year.

China now has 57 World Heritage Sites, including 39 cultural sites, 14 natural sites, and four cultural and natural heritage sites. Together, they mirror the five prominent features regarding Chinese civilization－consistency, originality, uniformity, inclusivity, and peaceful nature.

To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must meet strict criteria. Selection criteria include exhibiting an important interchange of human values, being an outstanding example of a type of building or landscape, and being directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. The authenticity and integrity of properties are also important considerations.  

In the long river of history, the Chinese people have created numerous engineering wonders, showcasing the outstanding originality of the Chinese civilization.

The Great Wall, included on the World Heritage List in 1987, as well as the Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System included in 2000 and the Grand Canal included in 2014, are all ancient engineering classics. The Grand Canal, whose excavation began in the 5th century BC, and the Mount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, which was built in the 3rd century BC, are still functional in shipping and irrigation today, serving as examples of sustainable development of humanity.

Chinese heritage sites included on the World Heritage List, such as the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the classical gardens of Suzhou, and the West Lake cultural landscape of Hangzhou, reflect the unique aesthetic characteristics of the Chinese civilization.

Besides, the historic ensemble of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the Old Town of Lijiang, the cultural landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, the ancient city of Pingyao, and the Fujian Tulou are examples of the diverse and colorful Chinese civilization created by various ethnic groups. These sites have witnessed the uniformity of diverse Chinese civilization.

Chinese heritage sites included on the World Heritage List also reflect the inclusivity of the Chinese civilization. In 2014, the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor was included on the World Heritage List. This project, jointly proposed by China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, reflects the trade and cultural exchanges between the Asian and European continents from the 2nd century BC to the 16th century AD, as well as the resulting technological innovations.

Such cultural inclusivity is also evident in World Heritage Sites such as the Yungang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes, Dazu Rock Carvings, and Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China.

“Although Gulangyu Island is small in area, it is of great value and profound cultural heritage,” said Irina Bokova, former director-general of UNESCO. She made the remarks when presenting the World Heritage certificate to Gulangyu Island in 2017.

She said Gulangyu Island gave people hope, and it is an important classroom for global citizenship that inspires and guides people towards peaceful coexistence of cultures, which is a message needed more than ever.

On the island, the local culture in the early 20th century, the Western culture brought by the opening of ports, and the Nanyang culture brought by returning overseas Chinese converged and blended into a new look. This is the contemporary value of the World Heritage Site.

At the initial stage of China’s accession to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, China received technical and financial assistance and support from many countries and international organizations, which enabled it to continuously improve its capacity in cultural and natural heritage protection.

After extensive practice, China has gained rich management experiences and excellent technical capabilities, transforming from a recipient to a provider of heritage protection.

Starting from 1993, China has participated in international aid and cooperation for the preservation of the Angkor heritage site in Cambodia, restoring the Chau Say Tevoda temple and the Ta Keo temple, and becoming the co-chair of the International Coordination Committee for the Safeguarding and the Development of Preah Vihear.

In 2017, the Chinese government undertook a restoration project for the quake-hit Nine-Storeyed Basantapur Palace complex in Kathmandu, Nepal, making significant contributions to Nepal’s post-disaster reconstruction and social recovery.

In addition, China has also participated in cultural heritage protection projects in Uzbekistan, Myanmar, and other countries. In the course of assistance, China has maintained close exchanges and cooperation with other participating countries and recipient countries, with an aim to achieve common progress in heritage conservation.

Protecting world heritage is an international obligation of China, and also a historical responsibility of the country to pass on the Chinese civilization. As more Chinese heritage sites are included on the World Heritage List, it is believed that people will have a deeper understanding of the sites in China. China will work together with more countries to safeguard the spark of human civilization and build a shared home for humanity.

(Lyu Zhou is a professor at Tsinghua University and director of National Heritage Center of Tsinghua University)

By Yang Yi, Shi Yuanhao, Li Zhiwei, People’s Daily

The practical cooperation between China and the United States in recent years in trade, clean energy, and culture just demonstrates the close economic and social ties between the two countries and the aspirations of the two peoples.

Strengthening cooperation in various fields between China and the United States is in the interests of both countries and will also benefit the rest of the world.

Wines, almonds, cranberry sauce, cheese… Recently, these agricultural products from the United States attracted a lot of attention at the American Food and Agriculture pavilion, set up for the first time by the U.S. government at the China International Import Expo.

The CIIE this year witnessed an unprecedented level of participation from the United States – over 200 American companies engaged in agriculture, automotive, technology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare industries joined the event.

The California pavilion has attended the expo for six consecutive years, which, in the view of Jim Sutter, CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council, was a great signal.

“We value our partnership with China,” Sutter said.

China and the U.S., as the world’s top two economies, account for over 1/3 of the global economy, nearly 1/4 of the world’s population, and approximately 1/5 of global bilateral trade. Bilateral trade between the two counties hit $760 billion last year, setting a record high.

Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, said that American companies are eagerly looking forward to further expanding into the Chinese market. He believes that the economies of the United States and China should not decouple, and strengthening cooperation is beneficial for both peoples.

Located in Southern California, Lancaster is featured by sparse vegetation and exposed sand dunes. In 2013, Chinese new energy vehicle giant BYD established an electric bus factory in Lancaster, which was put into operation in the following year. BYD’s arrival has brought vitality to this small city. The factory has employed nearly 1,000 local workers, with only a few engineers coming from China.

According to statistics, approximately 75 percent of the parts used for production at the Lancaster plant are sourced from American suppliers. Through investments in facilities, equipment, and other resources, BYD has brought opportunities for the development of the entire industrial chain. In 2020, BYD opened a forklift center in Rancho Dominguez, California, and established a service network across the United States, further enriching the diversity of its products and strengthening its services.

Recently, a group of local students who learn Chinese visited a subsidiary of China-based company Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., Ltd. in Moraine, Dayton, Ohio. After the visit, they hailed the working environment and the mix of American and Chinese cultures at the facility. One student said that he hopes to get an opportunity to work in a Chinese company in the future and gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.

According to statistics, the automotive glass produced by this subsidiary takes 30 percent of the market share in the United States. It directly creates nearly 2,000 jobs for local communities and offers 6,000 jobs indirectly. Currently, the construction of a new factory by the subsidiary in Dayton has begun, and it is expected to be put into production by the third quarter of 2024.

Michael Davis, the city manager of Moraine, said that this will provide excellent employment opportunities for the workforce in Moraine and surrounding areas.

Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping noted that the economic structures of China and the United States are highly complementary, with closely intertwined interests. The economic and trade cooperation between the two countries is unstoppable and inseparable, he added.

The development of Fuyao in the United States demonstrates that “Made in China” and “Made in America” can promote and complement each other, making greater contributions to bilateral cooperation and local development.

In addition to economic and trade cooperation, cultural exchanges between China and the United States are also continuing to advance. This month, the 19th Chinese American Film Festival and the Chinese American Television Festival have presented a series of exciting activities. Excellent Chinese films and TV shows are also hitting the screens in the United States.

The festival, which began in 2005, has become a highly anticipated film and television exchange event between the two countries after nearly 20 years of development. This year’s festival featured over 30 offline screenings, with more than 100 Chinese and American film and television companies participating in film promotion meetings and virtual marketplaces, and over 1,000 film and television professionals from both countries attending the activities.

James Su, chairman of the Chinese American Film Festival and the Chinese American Television Festival, noted that this year’s activities aimed to promote exchange and cooperation in the film and television industry between China and the United States and build a bridge for communication and understanding with a more inclusive and open mindset.

This event showcases creativity and cultural diversity, proving the power of film to bring people together, said Mark Viane, Paramount’s president of international theatrical distribution. He emphasized that the festival has played a significant role in promoting film industry collaboration between the two countries, facilitating the exchange of talent, ideas, and experiences.

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with U.S. President Joe Biden at Filoli Estate, San Francisco on Nov. 15, local time. It was a strategically significant and far-reaching meeting of the two heads of state.

Xi and Biden had an exchange of views on strategic and overarching issues critical to the direction of China-U.S. relations and on major issues affecting world peace and development.

Xi gave a comprehensive and authoritative presentation on China’s position on stabilizing and improving China-U.S. relations, stressing the importance of making the right choice for history, finding the right way to get along and fostering a San Francisco vision for the relations.

The meeting is significant for enhancing trust, removing suspicion, managing differences and expanding cooperation between China and the United States. It is also significant for injecting certainty and stability into a world of turbulence and transformation.

China and the United States are the world’s top two economies. Are China and the United States partners or rivals? Should they engage in mutually beneficial cooperation or antagonism and confrontation? This is a fundamental question on which disastrous mistakes must be avoided.

If one sees the other side as a primary competitor, the most consequential geopolitical challenge and a pacing threat, it will only lead to misinformed policy making, misguided actions, and unwanted results.

For China and the United States, turning their back on each other is not an option, Xi noted, stressing it is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other, and conflict and confrontation has unbearable consequences for both sides.

Major-country competition cannot solve the problems facing China and the United States or the world, he continued, noting that the world is big enough to accommodate both countries, and one country’s success is an opportunity for the other.

China hopes that the two countries could be partners, perceiving and envisioning China-U.S. relations from the perspective of the future of humanity and Planet Earth. This fully demonstrated China’s major country responsibility for history, people and the world.

The fundamental principles that China follows in handling China-U.S. relations are mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, which are the lessons learned from 50 years of China-U.S. relations and the conflicts between major countries in history. They should be the direction of joint efforts between the two countries.

Just as mutual respect is a basic code of behavior for individuals, it is fundamental for China-U.S. relations. The two countries’ paths are different, but both are the choice by their peoples, and both lead to the realization of the common values of humanity. They should be both respected.

Peaceful coexistence is a basic norm for international relations, and is even more of a baseline that China and the United States should hold on to as two major countries.

China never bets against the United States, and never interferes in its internal affairs. China has no intention to challenge the United States or to unseat it. Instead, it will be glad to see a confident, open, ever-growing and prosperous United States.

Likewise, the United States should not bet against China, or interfere in China’s internal affairs. It should instead welcome a peaceful, stable and prosperous China.

Win-win cooperation is the trend of the times, and it is also an inherent property of China-U.S. relations.

China is pursuing high-quality development, and the United States is revitalizing its economy. There is plenty of room for their cooperation, and they are fully able to help each other succeed and achieve win-win outcomes. They should make the cooperation list longer and the pie of cooperation bigger.

Recently, the two countries have been actively implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state in Bali, Indonesia, creating conditions for fostering a San Francisco vision for the relations.

During his meeting with Biden this time in San Francisco, Xi said that China and the United States should jointly develop a right perception, jointly manage disagreements effectively, jointly advance mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly shoulder responsibilities as major countries, and jointly promote people-to-people exchanges.

Through joint efforts in these five areas, five pillars can be put in place for China-U.S. relations to grow steadily and a new vision is fostered for China-U.S. relations going into the future.

The summit meeting reached more than 20 deliverables in such areas as political affairs and foreign policy, people-to-people exchange, global governance, and military and security.

On principles guiding the China-U.S. relations, the two presidents endorsed the efforts of their respective diplomatic teams to discuss principles related to China-U.S. relations since the Bali meeting and the common understandings arising from those discussions.

They stressed the importance of all countries treating each other with respect and finding a way to live alongside each other peacefully, and of maintaining open lines of communication, preventing conflict, upholding the United Nations Charter, cooperating in areas of shared interest, and responsibly managing competitive aspects of the relationship.

These seven points of common understanding are very important in that they provide a solid foundation for deeper discussions going forward. They are further proof of the broad common interests of China and the United States and the mutually beneficial nature of China-U.S. relations. They demonstrate that dialogue and cooperation is the only right choice for the two countries.

China and the United States are different in history, culture and social system, and how to deal with these differences is an important issue that both sides always need to address.

China is committed to having a stable, healthy and sustainable relationship with the United States. At the same time, China has legitimate interests that must be safeguarded, principles and positions that must be upheld, and red lines that must not be crossed.

If the U.S. side is bent on encircling and containing China under the pretext of competition, China will firmly uphold its sovereignty, security and development interests.

The Taiwan question remains the most important and most sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations. China urges the United States to honor the one-China principle, oppose “Taiwan independence,” stop arming Taiwan, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, and support China’s peaceful reunification. China will realize reunification, and this is unstoppable.

U.S. attempts to curb or suppress China on economy, trade and technology are creating risks instead of “de-risking.” These misguided actions, and the ensuing uncertainty for China-U.S. relations, have become the biggest risk.

Stifling China’s technological progress is nothing but a move to curb China’s high-quality development and deprive the Chinese people of their right to development. China will not accept that and such a move will not succeed.

China’s development and growing strength, powered by strong internal drivers and its own inherent logic, will not be stopped by external forces. It is important that the U.S. side take China’s concerns seriously, lift unilateral sanctions, and provide an equal, fair, and nondiscriminatory environment for Chinese businesses.

A stabilizing and improving China-U.S. relationship is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and the common aspiration of the international community. Under the stewardship of the two presidents, the giant ship of China-U.S. relations has navigated hidden rocks and dangerous shoals.

The journey from Bali to San Francisco has not been an easy one. However, San Francisco should not be the finish line; it should be a new starting point. From San Francisco onward, the two sides should foster a new vision, further consolidate the foundation of their relations, build pillars for peaceful coexistence, and move their relationship in the direction of healthy, stable and sustainable development.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)