2017年CRI Expert: Cultural dialogue essential to Belt and Road development

 

The Prince's School of Traditional Arts is currently holding an exhibition titled “Sacred Art of the Silk Road: Dunhuang's Buddhist¹ Cave Temples” in collaboration² with the Dunhuang Academy and the Dunhuang Culture Promotion³ Foundation. [Photo: China Plus/Duan Xuelian]

Sir David Green was at the 2015 Boao Forum⁴ when Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled plans for the Belt and Road Initiative.

The former director general of the British Council says he's very pleased to see that there is a very strong cultural element to the initiative.

"I was very impressed with the cultural dimension of the initiative and he talked about the importance of the cultural aspect, intercultural dialogue and bringing people together through cultural exchange, very much in the tradition of the ancient Silk Road."

With a long career in bridging cultures and a deep passion for art, Sir David Green now chairs the Board of Trustees at the Prince's School of Traditional Arts in London.

He had the opportunity to meet with the Chinese President during his state visit to the UK in 2015.

"I met them with Prince Charles at his home in Clarence House. We had an exhibition of work from the Prince's School, we had two Chinese students who were doing their MA with us at the time. We explained to them about the work at the Prince's School and in particular the Dunhuang Project which the Chinese President was very interested in."

The Prince's School of Traditional Arts is currently holding an exhibition titled "Sacred Art of the Silk Road: Dunhuang's Buddhist Cave Temples."

Sir David Green speaks at the opening ceremony of the exhibition “Sacred Art of the Silk Road: Dunhuang's Buddhist Cave Temples” which is being held at the Prince's School of Traditional Arts in London. [Photo: China Plus/Duan Xuelian]

Organized in collaboration with the Dunhuang Academy and the Dunhuang Culture Promotional Foundation, the exhibition includes a life-size, hand-painted replica⁵ of the Mogao Cave 3. One of the most exquisite⁶ Buddhist caves in Dunhuang, the Mogao Cave 3 is so delicate that it's been closed to the public.

Wang Xudong, director of the Dunhuang Academy said that Dunhuang is located at a strategic point along the ancient Silk Road, and had been a vibrant⁷ hub for cultural exchange. He believes that the Belt and Road Initiative will breathe new life into the cultural heritage of Dunhuang.

"We are not only bringing the exhibitions to the world's audience, but also sending experts, especially young researchers to different countries, in the hope that when they return to Dunhuan, they will think with a new and wider perspective. At the same time, we are inviting⁸ international scholars to Dunhuang and tell the story of this ancient culture with their own languages."

Wang said that under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, the first Silk Road International Culture Expo was held in Dunhuang in September 2016, and the second expo is scheduled for the same time this year.

For CRI, I'm Duan Xuelian in London.

1 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

2 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

3 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

4 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

5 replica   

n.复制品

参考例句：

• The original conservatory has been rebuilt in replica.温室已按原样重建。
• The young artist made a replica of the famous painting.这位年轻的画家临摹了这幅著名的作品。

6 exquisite   

adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的

参考例句：

• I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。
• I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。

7 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

8 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。