Cultural Bridge Connect You and Me

（Vytautas Magnus University，March 5th, 2018）

It is my great pleasure to attend the Opening Ceremony of Asian Week 2018 in Magnus University (VMU). On behalf of the Chinese Embassy to Lithuania, I extend my warmest congratulations to you and my thank to all the staff who contributed a lot to the Asian Week.

East Asian cultures share the same origin of Confucius philosophy. Yet, in the process of development, each country nurtured her colorful and splendid diversity. Chinese civilization, as one of the representing country of Asian culture, has gone through 5000 years of history with rich cultural heritage. This is not only the historical treasure of Chinese nation, but also the spiritual wealth of mankind.

In the long history of 5000 years development, Chinese civilization has stayed true to the origin and root. As the unique identity of Chinese nation, the culture carried on our original pursuit which greatly enriched our survival and development. Chinese civilization, although rooted deeply in the Chinese soil, is also open and inclusive to the world through exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations. Harmony and co-existence is always an important value of Chinese culture. It is also the nature of each civilization. Today, China advocates building a community of mankind with a shared future. This is out of the wisdom of Chinese civilization, that is to integrate China’s development with the common prosperity of the world.

History and facts prove that cultural exchanges among nations lead to progress of human civilizations. The relationship between countries is built on the basis of friendship between peoples. It is encouraging to see that people-to-people exchanges between China and Lithuania has become an integral part of our bilateral relations ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries 27 years ago. Such exchanges between our peoples laid a solid foundation and generate dynamic energy to our ever-growing relationship. In recent years, we have had frequent exchanges in the area of culture and people. The friendship and mutual understanding is greatly enhanced. Today, what you will see in the Asian Week will demonstrate Chinese people’s confidence in our cultural heritage and contemporary development. You will also see the respect of Chinese civilization to other civilizations.

Civilization is colorful because of exchanges and is enriched because of learning from each other. I sincerely hope this cultural event in VMU will provide to the local people a platform to understand Chinese and Asian cultures and make contribution to the cultural exchanges across continents and cooperation in academic studies between you and other institutions of higher learning in Asia.

Finally, may I wish great success to the Asian Week 2018. Thank you.