Cultural interaction a necessity on road to peace

It is essential for people to understand each other's cultures, which is an extremely important way of promoting peace and mutual appreciation. Without it, the risk of animosity and hostility, even war, increases. Cultural understanding helps appreciate how other people live, think and feel, what matters to them, and how their past has helped shape their present.

On Nov 5, UNESCO approved a resolution to designate March 21 as "International Taijiquan Day". Taijiquan, which can be literally translated as "supreme ultimate fist", is a form of Chinese martial art with a long history. But, based on Taoist philosophy, it is much more than simply a form of exercise. Nowadays, it has become popular internationally, in part because of its relaxing, yet purposeful, effect. That's a good thing for Chinese culture and mutual understanding.

What I want to emphasize in this article is the need for cultural exchange. Taijiquan is most certainly popular and important among the vast array of forms that make up Chinese culture. When talking of cultural exchange, I include sports, education, arts and performing arts like theater and music. Designating an international day for a form of culture is a good way to promote it around the world. But I'd like to add that in this case it is a good way to promote Chinese culture in general all over the world.

One way to promote cultural exchanges is through tourism. International cultural tourism encourages people from all over the world to experience and appreciate the cultures of other peoples in its various forms. There is nothing like visiting another country to broaden cultural appreciation and the longer one can stay in another country, the deeper and more durable that appreciation is likely to be.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a disastrous effect on tourism everywhere. However, statistics from the United Nations Tourism's World Tourism Barometer suggest that in 2024 the number of tourists worldwide was about the same as before COVID-19 and the figure continues to rise in 2025. In particular, China's tourist industry is among the largest in the world; it is the world leader in terms of inbound, outbound and domestic tourists and in revenue from tourism.

There are various reasons to go abroad as a tourist — scenery, buying interesting things, sampling different cuisines. International sports events, visiting cultural places and going to cultural performances are also important reasons. China has risen enormously as a venue for international sports events.

And I doubt any country in the world has a greater variety of scenery — especially mountain scenery — than China. It also has a vast array of interesting, beautiful and wonderful cultural locations. Apart from the dominant Han ethnic group, there are 55 ethnic minorities that have an array of different cultures, architecture and styles of music and dance, with some having their own indigenous theaters as well.

Actually, as an Australian brought up in Sydney in a family that valued Western classical music, I love European culture, including its music. But as one who has visited China many times and studied its culture, I also love Chinese culture. I passionately advocate cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. To love and understand one culture does not mean to look down on the others.

Of course, Chinese people want to promote their own culture, and they have every right to do so. But they are also keen and able to understand Western culture than the other way around. In other words, though many Westerners try to understand other cultures, in general the West tends, more than China, to assume cultural superiority. And it's important to note also that Chinese and European are not the only wonderful cultures in the world.

Just now in Australia there is a move, at the government level, to try and understand Asia, especially China, including its language, culture, history, society and literature, by promoting them in the education system. This is because of a decline in Asian studies, including China studies, over the past couple of decades. It reflects badly on Australia, especially as it has occurred at precisely the time when knowledge and understanding are becoming increasingly important.

On the other hand, Australian studies centers are doing well in China, with many people trying to understand Australian literature, theater and arts. What strikes me as really interesting is that this is happening despite the imbalance between Australian and Chinese cultures in terms of weight and importance.

I might also draw attention to the positive role of the Chinese diaspora, which can and does spread Chinese culture, while also absorbing the culture of the country where they live. The Chinese diaspora is among the world's largest but is by no means the only one. Unfortunately, there is a downside to this — some people resent those of a culture different from their own. In many countries social divisions are worsening, and one of the main reasons is because some people refuse to try and understand cultures other than their own.

So, my message is that we must promote cultural exchange and interaction. People should increase their efforts to understand other cultures. I know from personal experience that Chinese culture is well worth studying and understanding. I consider it essential that as many people as possible should understand and appreciate Chinese culture, history, society and lifestyle.

We live in a world where tensions, hostilities and animosities seem to be on the rise. Mutual cultural study and appreciation are an essential way to try and overcome the problems created. We must try to understand one another!

The author is a Sinologist and an emeritus professor at Griffith University in Australia.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.