Ancient Silk Road embodies spirit of globalization

Luo Ping (left), founder of Able2Shine, an NGO aimed at preparing Asian-American children to succeed in the US, helps Gracie Li show her drawing of the Silk Road at the Feb 27 opening ceremony of the ongoing Silk Road - a New Look, an exhibition of pictures taken by Chinese photographers along the route from Xi'an, Shaanxi province, to Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Chang Jun / China Daily

China still has a long way to go before its proposals for world peace and development are fully heard and understood worldwide. Happily, the country has stepped up its efforts to send messengers of good will abroad to help cut through the misunderstandings and confusion.

During a talk on Feb 17, Martin Jacques, a British scholar and author of the best-seller When China Rules the World, repeatedly used the term "overreaching" to describe China's stance on certain international and domestic issues.

I wish I could have invited him to attend the opening on Feb 27 of Silk Road - a New Look, an exhibition of pictures taken by Chinese photographers along the route from Xi'an, Shaanxi province, to Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

More than 2,000 years ago, smart and courageous people of Eurasia explored and opened up several land and sea routes that linked the major civilizations of Asia, Europe and Africa, which were collectively part of what was called the "Silk Road" by later generations.

For thousands of years, the Silk Road Spirit - peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit - has passed down from generation to generation.

The exhibition displays the new look of areas in China along the ancient Silk Road and their people going about their everyday lives. It is a portrait of inclusiveness, openness and harmony.

"We'd like our audience to learn more about the scenic beauty, the traditional richness of China's landscape along the Silk Road, as well as the vigor and strength of our people, the peaceful co-existence of our Han people with ethnic minorities," said Wu Junkai, president of the San Francisco International Art Center, an exhibition sponsor.

Wu invited a group of American-born Chinese children and their parents to walk through the exhibit and discuss the importance of the Silk Road.

Dressed in traditional Chinese silk and satin costumes, 8-year-old Arian He and his partner Terry demonstrated how ancient Chinese merchants carried China-made merchandise such as tea, porcelain and fine fabrics on treks through deserts and wilderness, and finally arrived in the Middle East and Mediterranean, where they were warmly received.

"It only took us parents and children two days to come up with this mini-drama idea and rehearse it," said Luo Ping, Arian's mother and an organizer with Able2Shine, a non-profit aimed at preparing Asian-American children to succeed in the US.

"I'm so proud of China's history and being Chinese," said Luo. "I hope my child will inherit this profound pride and retell the wonderful story whenever he gets a chance."

Like a beautiful ribbon, the Silk Road closely linked the civilizations of East and West, playing a key role in advancing globalization and the development of human cultures.

In the 21st century, multi-polarization and economic globalization are further developing, and the interdependence between all countries keeps growing, said Ren Faqiang, deputy consul-general at the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, who attended the opening ceremony.

"Therefore, it's more important and valuable than ever to inherit and carry forward the spirit of the Silk Road," he said.

China has proposed an initiative to jointly build a Silk Road Economic Belt (or the Belt), and a 21st century Maritime Silk Road (or the Road), which will give a contemporary connotation to the ancient Silk Road.

With the aim of promoting connectivity between the Asian, European and African continents and their adjacent seas, the initiative will set up networks and help realize balanced and sustainable development in those countries.

"The joint effort of building the Belt and Road is in the best interest of the world community and reflects the common ideas and pursuits of human society," said Ren.

Contact the writer at junechang@chinadailyusa.com.