Former Egyptian Prime Minister Sharaf calls for understanding China beyond numbers
Quick Look
- Former Egyptian Prime Minister Issam Sharaf said at the China-Egypt Civilization Roundtable Dialogue and Premium Book Donation Ceremony that to deeply understand China, one must go beyond numbers and focus on history, culture, systems, philosophy and accumulated experience.
- He emphasized that cultural and ideological relationships can create understanding between people, and encouraged mutual translation between Arabic and Chinese and direct exchanges between young people.
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Why It Matters
Sharaf said that his contacts with China began more than 20 years ago. Through many visits, dialogues, readings and meetings with the Chinese people, his understanding of China has gradually changed.
China News Service, Cairo, September 30 (Reporter Ma Xiuxiu) On September 30, local time, former Egyptian Prime Minister Issam Sharaf delivered a speech at the China-Egypt Civilization Roundtable Dialogue and Premium Book Donation Ceremony held in Cairo, Egypt, saying that in order to understand China more deeply, he must go beyond numbers and look at history, culture, systems, philosophy and accumulated experience.
On September 30, local time, the China-Egypt Civilization Roundtable Dialogue and the Premium Book Donation Ceremony were held in Cairo, Egypt. The picture shows former Egyptian Prime Minister Issam Sharaf attending the event and delivering a speech. Photo by China News Service reporter Ma Xiuxiu
Sharaf said that his contacts with China began more than 20 years ago. Through many visits, conversations, readings, and meetings with the Chinese people, his understanding of China gradually changed. At first, he was shocked by the magnitude of the achievements and the extraordinary speed of development he saw. As time went by, he became more and more interested in what could not be directly seen, which was "the thought behind this change."
Sharaf said numbers can tell people the scale of development, but numbers alone cannot explain why development occurs. "In order to understand China more deeply, I must go beyond numbers; look at history, culture, systems, philosophy and accumulated experience." He pointed out that true understanding requires knowledge, listening, and also requires people to not only see another civilization through their own imagination, but also understand it according to the way it sees itself.
"Political relations build trust between countries, and economic relations create common interests. Cultural and ideological relations can create something equally important: understanding between people." He said that mutual understanding is one of the most solid foundations of lasting friendship.
He also encouraged more translations between Arabic and Chinese, expanded cooperation between universities, scholars, writers, publishing houses and cultural institutions, and especially encouraged young people to discover each other directly. "Because the future of Egypt-China relations is ultimately in their hands." (End)
Open Questions
- What specific quality books were given away during this event?
- Will the China-Egypt Civilization Roundtable Dialogue become a regular mechanism?
