Long Links

By Wen Longjie and Cui Bailu

China and South Asian nations are geographically close, with a long history of interaction, characterized by mutual learning and exchange. This long-standing relationship has produced a wealth of cultural achievements that highlight global civilizational dialogue. Today, the challenge lies in leveraging the unique cultural strengths of both regions to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields in the new era, breathing new life into millennia-old civilizational exchanges and writing a new chapter in building a China-South Asia community with a shared future.

In an interview with China News Service, Ye Hailin, President of the Chinese Association for South Asian Studies and Director General of the Institute of West-Asian and African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explored the historical and contemporary dynamics of Sino-South Asian relations through the lens of civilizational exchange.

Ye Hailin (Photo by CNS)

China News Service: Asia is home to many ancient civilizations. Given the geographical proximity of China and South Asia, what notable civilizational exchanges have occurred historically? 

Ye Hailin: The Himalayas may separate China from South Asia, but they have not hindered friendly exchanges between our peoples. Historically, interactions relied on four main routes.

The Western Route: It extended from the ancient Silk Road in northwest China, including Xinjiang, through Afghanistan and Central Asia, entering India via present-day Pakistan. The Southern Silk Road: This route began in China, traversing Guizhou and Yunnan provinces into Myanmar, then reaching South Asia through Bangladesh.

Himalayan Passages: These involved routes through the southern and northern Himalayan ranges. Despite their towering heights, multiple mountain passes allowed explorers and early cultural pioneers to traverse these mountains.

Maritime Silk Road: It connected Southeast Asia through the Andaman Sea to the South Asian subcontinent and onward to the Arabian Sea, reaching as far as the Persian Gulf region. These four routes facilitated extensive cultural contact and friendly exchanges between the peoples of China and South Asia. Exchanges that dated back to the Qin (221 BCE–206 BCE) and Han (206 BCE–220 CE) dynasties flourished during the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) periods, and continued into modern times. Although Western colonialism briefly disrupted the relations, friendly exchanges have remained a dominant theme throughout history. A significant highlight is the cultural interaction centered on Buddhism between ancient Chinese and Indian civilizations. Originating in present-day India, Buddhism became integral to ancient South Asian culture before being introduced to China during the Han Dynasty, where it evolved into distinct Chinese schools and practices before spreading further. Many Chinese monks traveled to ancient India to study Buddhist teachings, while Chinese monks like Xuanzang and eminent Indian Buddhists like the patriarch Bodhidharma propagated Buddhist doctrines in China. This close interaction exemplifies significant civilizational exchange. Additionally, ancient Chinese goods such as silk, tea and porcelain enriched local lifestyles in South Asia.

Even during Western colonial subjugation, mutual support persisted between our peoples, exemplified by Indian doctors like Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis who aided China during the Japanese occupation.

CNS: Given their proximity, what social and cultural similarities and differences exist between China and South Asian countries?

YH: As representatives of ancient Asian civilizations, China and South Asian nations share many spiritual similarities. The value of harmonious coexistence is central to Asian civilizations. Both have largely upheld peaceful interactions with foreign cultures, contrasting with Western approaches.

Additionally, Eastern civilizations effectively address relationships between humans and nature, as well as among humans themselves, whereas Western societies tend to emphasize divine connections. Though religious beliefs differ–India's polytheism versus China's secular ritualism-neither advocates exclusivity. Neither society is monotheistic, and both prioritize humanity's centrality.

Philosophically, both regions value human relations and ethical conduct. Politically and economically, they emphasize harmony with nature in alignment with global calls for coexistence. Shared aspirations for decolonization and opposition to imperialism and feudalism have fostered common values like independence and modernization.

Today, as two of the world's most populous regions, China and South Asia face urgent modernization needs to share broad consensus on their paths forward.

CNS: What specific practices have China and South Asian nations engaged in recently regarding cultural exchanges?

YH: Cultural exchanges have surged in recent years, particularly among youth, which have increased significantly. Many South Asian students study in China while young Chinese travel to South Asia for education or work. These interactions not only foster mutual understanding but also bring firsthand insights back to their home countries, facilitating further collaboration and the Belt and Road Initiative.

Collaborative efforts in preserving classical civilizations enhance mutual understanding as well. For instance, China's assistance in restoring Nepal's Nine-Storeyed Basantapur Palace complex in Kathmandu's Durbar Square exemplifies this commitment. Other projects include China's cooperation with Pakistan on Gandhara civilization preservation, archaeological collaborations with Afghanistan, and cooperation with Indian thinktanks in the study of classical civilizations. These specific practices serve as the foundation for cultural exchanges between nations, generating profound and lasting impacts that transcend time and space.

While significant progress has been made in cultural exchanges, challenges persist, particularly between China and India, due to bilateral political tensions. Nonetheless, curiosity about each other's cultures prevails despite stereotypes. This mutual interest can lead to cultural collisions worth encouraging while ensuring they are properly guided–these are the two sides of the same coin.

The quake-hit Nine-Storeyed Basantapur Palace complex at the heart of the Durbar Square, a world cultural heritage site in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, after the five-year restoration project with the aid of Chinese experts, July 15, 2022(Photo by Xinhua)

CNS: What are the characteristics of cultural exchanges between China and South Asian nations compared to other regions?

YH: First, shared cultural traditions form a foundation for friendly cooperation and mutual learning.

Second, collaborative projects emphasize tangible outcomes that benefit both sides through heritage preservation alongside economic exchanges and technological cooperation.

Third, cooperation can overcome obstacles. Despite political issues between China and India, cultural exchanges and economic ties remain strong. There is a popular saying on the internet:" No one can prevent China from being friendly with a certain country, not even the country itself," which aptly describes the situation between China and India. No one can prevent friendly exchanges between these two ancient civilizations and peoples, not even the Indian government.

Of course, civilizational exchanges still face challenges from geopolitical shifts, cultural perceptions and societal customs, but commonalities in the civilizational foundation help mitigate cultural shocks.

CNS: What foundations support economic cooperation between China and South Asian nations? What achievements have been made?

YH: The foundation for economic and trade cooperation is robust across civilizational traditions, practical needs and global economic transformations. Shared values facilitate understanding while modernization demands consensus on collaboration. Both have significant complementarities that offer ample room for industrial, economic and technological cooperation.

Projects under initiatives like the Belt and Road position South Asia as a crucial intersection for development via land (Silk Road Economic Belt) and maritime (21st Century Maritime Silk Road) routes. Notable projects include the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, agricultural cooperation between China and South Asian nations, China-Sri Lanka cooperation in industrial parks and ports, industrial partnerships between China and Bangladesh, and energy cooperation between China and Nepal, significantly changing the economic development trajectories of many South Asian countries and yielding fruitful results. Even amid political tensions with India over certain issues, economic cooperation continues to rise, indicating vast potential for further collaboration.

CNS: As developing countries and emerging economies face development needs alongside common global challenges, in what areas can China and South Asian nations strengthen cooperation in the future to contribute to the advancement of human civilization?

YH: With over 40 percent of the world's population residing in these regions combined, joint modernization could significantly impact global development. The experience gained from labor-intensive economies could offer valuable lessons for other developing countries. Amid the global economic slowdown, fully translating population advantages into consumer demand could lead to global industrial cooperation and extend global value chains and supply chains, thus playing a positive role in the recovery of the world economy, while addressing resource scarcity through new energy and technologies could foster sustainable development. Collaborative potential between China and South Asian nations not only promises regional advancement but also provides insights into the global modernization process.