Closer distance makes better understanding

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2015-07-02

Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the third Cultural Discovery Tour to China by Diplomats brought a delegation of diplomats from 15 countries to North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

The diplomats pose for a photo in front of the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan on June 27, in Inner Mongolia. [Photo/Chinadaily.com.cn]

As they arrived in Hohhot on June 25, the diplomats were greeted with hada, a customary Mongolian way to honor guests.

What key words will foreigners use to describe a Chinese place? For example, Beijing the capital may refer to the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and roasted duck. Likewise, the key words of Inner Mongolia might be  “grasslands” and “blue sky", according to Yuan Hui, a journalist of China Daily in Inner Mongolia. However, it’s far from enough, she said.

How to present a real China to the World? Yuan described it as an opportunity but also a challenge for Inner Mongolia.

In the three-day tour, the foreign diplomats visited the dairy giant Yili Group, the Inner Mongolia Museum, the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan and Subohan Prairie in Ordos.

Diplomats attend a traditional wedding ceremony on Subohan Prairie in Inner Mongolia on June 27. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Andrew Eric Ancheta, a member of the delegation, told the Chinaculture.org, the website of the Ministry of Culture, that he was impressed by a wedding ceremony on Subohan Prairie. China is no longer only means Confucius for him after this Inner Mongolia tour, he will introduce more foreigners to Inner Mongolia.

Closer distance makes better understanding, Yuan said.

Victor Konnov, head of the delegation from Russia, said he enjoyed not only clean air, blue sky and white clouds, but also the culture of Inner Mongolia. He expects closer exchange and cooperation between Inner Mongolia and Russia, which borders this autonomous region.

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