Thursday, April 24, 2008

CHINESE Ambassador Tong Xiaoling yesterday highlighted the importance of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in forging friendship with foreign countries, including Brunei whose ties with China dated back to about 600 years ago.

She said that many Chinese treasures could be found at Brunei Museum, after the wreckage of Chinese navigator Zheng He's vessels were found in Brunei's offshore areas.

The tomb of Boni (old Brunei name) King Maharaka Karna in China's Nanjing also bore witness to the friendship between the two countries, Her Excellency said during the opening of the Chinese Language and Cultural Week at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).

"Now, the world is witnessing a new round of friendly intercommunication, that is the Torch Relay for Beijing Olympics - the Journey of Harmony," she said.

The Chinese ambassador said that China's passion for Olympics is not an "alleged thirst for prominence and recognition", but because the ideals and values of the Games are similar to China's.

"However, there are some people or forces attempting to politicise and sabotage this Journey of Harmony - the Dalai Lama clique and its supporters," she said, adding that facts have proved the Lhasa incident on March 14 was premeditated and masterminded by the Dalai clique.

The violent and criminal act of undermining the Olympic Games and split Tibet from China is "a betrayal to the Olympic Charter and a blasphemy to the Olympic spirit", she said.

"We firmly believe that the Beijing Olympics will be a great success," she added.

The ambassador also noted the importance in exchanges and dialogue among countries, as globalisation is moving at a rapid pace and nations are more closely intertwined.

"It is necessary for all to understand and learn from each other," she said, adding that the Chinese Language and Cultural Week will provide Bruneians an opportunity to better understand Chinese culture.

Dato Paduka Dr Hj Ismail Hj Duraman, UBD's Vice-Chancellor, said the Chinese Language and Cultural Week's exhibition hoped to show a taste of the "real China" to students and the public.

He said that Mandarin remains one of the most popular foreign language electives over the past five years.

When UBD introduced Mandarin as an elective in 2003, 81 students signed up for the course, but due to limited resources, the university could only accept 70 in its first class.