Zhang Jiadong, director of the South Asian Studies Center at Fudan University, discusses China-South Asia cultural exchanges, historical ties and the role of the Belt and Road Initiative in fostering mutual understanding
By Fan Zhonghua, Li Peng and Wen Longjie
As close neighbors, China and South Asian countries have engaged in cultural and trade exchanges for over a millennium, forging deep connections to shape their interactions today. But what does this legacy mean for contemporary China-South Asia relations? How can both sides further strengthen people to people exchanges, cultural ties, enhance trust and drive regional prosperity?
Zhang Jiadong, director of the South Asian Studies Center and director of the BRI Strategic and Security Research Institute at Fudan University, offers insights into these issues in an exclusive interview with China News Service.
China News Service: Do China and South Asia’s historical exchanges provide unique advantages in fostering mutual trust today?
Zhang Jiadong: Looking back at history, China and South Asia have been engaging in direct cultural exchanges for thousands of years. The ancient Silk Road, established during the Western Han Dynasty (202BC – 8AD), not only facilitated trade in silk, porcelain and spices but also the spread of culture. Similarly, the Tea Horse Road, whichemerged in the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907), linked China with South Asia, West Asia, Central Asia and Southeast Asia, further cementing these connections.
Take India as an example. Even today, we can still see the intermingling of Chinese and Indian cultures has deep and extensive roots. For instance, brown sugar, which originated in India, has a distinct name in Hindi, while white sugar is called cheeni, which directly related to the pronounciation of “China” in Hindi as “Cheen”, meaning “from China.” This suggests that sugarprocessing techniques, introduced from India to China, were later refined and reintroduced to India. The Hindi word for tea is chai, which is strikingly similar to the Chinese word “cha.” Such long-standing and profound cultural exchange has led to mutual learning between Chinese and Indian cultures in many fundamental concepts. For example, China’s notion of “allying with distant states while attacking those nearby” parallels India’s “Mandala theory”(a traditional geopolitical strategy). Similarly, India’s “five elements” (earth, wind, sky, water and fire) mirror China’s own elemental system (wood, fire, earth, metal and water). The cultures of China and India have engaged in mutual learning and assimilation at their very roots, making the “branches and leaves” of these two “great trees” more easily comprehensible to each other. This is why, despite occasional conflicts, large-scale confrontations between China and India have been rare, due to the deep-rooted cultural affinity between their civilizations.
CNS: South Asia is home to a complexmosaic of civilizations. How should China approach exchanges and cooperation in such a diverse region?
ZJ: From the perspective of civilization, South Asia can be roughly divided into three regions: the Hindu cultural zone (such as India, northern Sri-Lanka, and Nepal), the Islamic cultural zone (Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives, with Afghanistan sometimes included in this category), and the Buddhist cultural zone (Bhutan as well as
central and southern Sri Lanka). As a result, many South Asian countries are rich tapestries of diverse religious and cultural communities. The entire region is a “cultural melting pot,” presenting a fragmented and multi-faceted cultural landscape.
Therefore, when China engages with South Asian countries on different levels, the primary challenge is not necessarily religious and cultural differences or conflicts, but how to adapt to “South Asian culture.” “South Asian culture” refers to the distinct cultural traits that manifest in daily habits, behavior and spirituality. People in South Asia tend to place greater emphasis on the happiness of the afterlife rather than opportunities
or wealth of the present. This is in stark contrast to East Asian concepts that focus on personal achievements in the present life. This cultural difference can lead to significant conceptual disparities in cooperation, yet it is a common challenge faced in cross-cultural exchanges worldwide.
In today’s world, there should be a consensus that all cultures are equal. Cross-cultural communication is a process of mutual understanding and adaptation. Many Chinese scholars and entrepreneurs, when visiting South Asian countries, wear local clothing, eat
local cuisines and engage in deeper interactions by visiting local homes, all in an effort to better understand the other culture.
Moreover, one must possess the ability to engage in cross-cultural communication, especially language skills. Beyond English, if one wishes to genuinely communicate with different groups in South Asia, it is important to consider acquiring proficiency in languages such as Hindi, Bengali, Sinhalese, Urdu, and others. It is also crucial to understand the mindset, lifestyle and other aspects of the groups you interact with. Lacking this cultural understanding can create psychological barriers and even affect one’s judgment of a group.
CNS: South Asian countries play a key role in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Over the past decade, how has the BRI influenced cultural exchange and mutual understanding?
ZJ: The BRI is crucial for enhancing exchanges and mutual trust between China and South Asian countries. The history of human society’s development has been a gradual process of integration through countless forms of interaction. Unlike past spontaneous exchanges based on practical experience, the BRI is the largest initiative in human history propelled by a single country, consciously constructing a framework to overcome spatial distances and civilizational divides. It is a proactive plan and practice.
However, the outcomes of cultural and civilizational exchanges require long-term accumulation to fully emerge. At present, the impact of the BRI is primarily reflected in the economic sphere. Transforming these economic phenomena into cultural phenomena — such as achieving cultural identity — takes much longer, even centuries or millennia. With cultural exchange and assimilation are constantly taking place in the
era of globalization, the BRI undoubtedly accelerates and smooths the process.
Looking at the past decade, one of the most important aspects of China’s relationship with South Asia is that China’s development practices and achievements have brought new anticipation.
After World War II, South Asian countries gained independence and attempted to develop their economies following the models of the US or the Soviet Union, but none of these attempts succeeded in a sustainable way. As a result, lots of people of South Asia have long been pessimistic about their countries’ development prospects, with
many elites leaving for better opportunities abroad. In fact, globally, many developing countries, including those in South Asia, face similar development challenges.
The success of a vast developing country like China has a powerful demonstration effect, allowing South Asian countries to see a new way forward, with precedents that can be referenced and emulated, as well as confidence in development.
Through extensive and practical cooperation, the BRI has brought China’s development experiences, advanced technologies and management concepts to South Asia, subtly influencing various aspects, including efficiency improvement.
This ‘power of example’ has become a very important background factor in the interactions between China and South Asian countries.
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A promotion event for the 9th China South Asia Expo and the 29th China Kunming Import and Export Fair, which are scheduled to be held in mid-June, is held in Beijing, January 15, 2025 (Photo by VCG)]
CNS: Why is it so important for China and South Asian countries to strengthen cultural mutual trust and economic cooperation at this moment?
ZJ: In recent years, many South Asian countries have experienced rapid development and economic growth, and the region’s importance and economic influence have been rising quickly. With nearly 1.9 billion people, South Asia is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. Its population is very young, with abundant labor supply and low market development costs. A vast emerging market is taking shape, presenting opportunities not only for China but also for European and American countries, which are accelerating their efforts to enter the South Asian market.
Additionally, due to historical and geographical factors, the industrial structures of South Asian countries are quite similar, and their economic levels are not significantly different. Most of these economies are outward-oriented, resulting in less internal trade within
the region. However, China’s industrial structure and products are highly complementary to those of South Asian countries. Compared to Western developed nations, China’s products better align with the current consumption levels and market demands of South Asian countries in terms of variety, quality and price. This strong economic complementarity has formed a natural economic bond between China and South Asia.
Furthermore, because China and South Asian countries share common goals of economic development, improving livelihoods and promoting prosperity, countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri-Lanka and the Maldives are very enthusiastic about participating in the BRI. Many projects have already achieved initial success.
CNS: Both China and India are major Asian powers, and their relationship is often seen as competitive. How do you think the two countries can reach a consensus as they look toward to the future?
ZJ: International competition in the 21st century, in the era of globalization, is fundamentally different from that in the 20th century in both its preconditions and logic. In the first half of the 20th century, in particular, the global system was incomplete, and the world order was unstable. National competition was marked by the jungle law of
the “survival of the fittest”. After World War II, with the consolidation of the sovereign state system, competition among countries became more about resources within the constraints of international order, rather than efforts to eliminate each other. Under this logic, countries like China and India — both with large economies, strong national identities and rich histories and cultures — should naturally develop a relationship characterized by both competition and cooperation.
Looking ahead, both China and India are significant poles in a multipolar world. The two neighboring countries should not be trapped in the mindset of “neighbors as rivals.” I believe that both countries will recognize this reality at the strategic level to prevent such a situation from occurring.
Therefore, it is crucial for China and India to continue strengthening people-to-people exchanges and mutual trust, which have been lacking for a long time. However, the rapid socio-economic development of both nations has generated a strong demand for cultural and trade exchanges, making this the right time. At the government level and in
public opinion as well, the two countries should adopt a friendly attitude, focus on each other’s positive developments, treat each other equally, learn from one another and gradually eliminate the stereotypes that have built up over the years.
CNS: In promoting cultural and civilizational exchanges between China and South Asian countries, what role do you think the media should play?
ZJ: The media plays a crucial role in this process. First, reporting should take a more appreciative and objective stance rather than resorting to sensationalism for attention. Second, the media should highlight the positive aspects of the other side. Focusing solely on a country or region’s challenges does little to foster mutual understanding. What truly shapes exchanges, cooperation and even international relations are their strengths and development trends. The progress and development of South Asian countries are key to fostering future friendly exchanges and cross-border cooperation, and these should be a priority in media coverage.
From another perspective, geographically speaking, China and South Asian countries share a relationship of neighborliness, where “proximity fosters friendship, distance preserves neighborly ties.” Chinese culture values harmonious relations with neighbors, following the belief that “kindness toward others brings harmony” and “a good neighbor is a best friend.” Approaching neighboring countries and friends with an objective and appreciative mindset undoubtedly helps build goodwill and trust between nations.(END)