Tomorrow, 18 February, marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year Celebrations, and also the culmination of the Chinese Spring Festival 2007. This will be celebrated with a performance by the Chinese National Orchestra. Alex Vella Gregory talks to Mr Zheng Hao, Director of the China Cultural Centre, to discover more about China and cultural relations with this fascinating country.

How important is music within Chinese cultural life?

It is fair to say that music is part and parcel in Chinese people’s lives. Traditional Chinese music enjoys a long-standing history. According to archaeological finds, Chinese musical instruments appeared as early as the Neolithic Age and ancient instruments could play a 7-note scale 8,000 years ago. Over the centuries, Chinese music has developed into an independent school. The styles and characteristics vary from one ethnic group to another and from region to region. The Chinese music world is fairly diversified and rich. Western classic music, jazz and pop music all enjoy great popularity in China.

Without a doubt this will be a unique opportunity to witness some of China’s finest music and musicians perform live. How important is it to have these cross-cultural exchanges?

It is the diversity of cultures that makes the world rich and colourful. Only through cross-cultural exchange can cultures learn from each other and make progress. Ultimately, it all boils down to heart-to-heart communication between different communities. It can help enhance friendship and eliminate estrangement. In this sense, culture plays an irreplaceable and indispensable role.

What other events have been planned for the Spring Festival? Is there anything in particular to watch out for?

Apart from the concert to be held tomorrow at Teatru Manoel, there was also an open square gala performance presented by artists from the Chinese Shaanxi Folk Art Theatre at St George Square Valletta, Republic Street and Upper Barrakka Garden last Tuesday. There was also a Spring Festival Party which consisted of a variety of cultural presentations, including traditional Chinese music, tea-art and Taiji. Besides, at St James Cavalier, a Chinese exhibition of Fans and Umbrellas will be displayed until 5 March.

How long have you been director of the China Cultural Centre in Malta, and what have been your experiences so far?

I took up my post as the Director of China Cultural Centre in April 2006. Over the past few months, I have been deeply impressed by the brilliant civilization, beautiful landscape and the friendliness of the Maltese. I am deeply impressed by the cultural pluralism of the Maltese, and find them very receptive to foreign cultures.

Without a doubt there are a lot of differences between Maltese and Chinese cultures. What aspect/s of Maltese culture intrigue you most?

A lot of Maltese friends asked me whether I felt that Malta is a small country. I think that the size of countries doesn’t matter that much and what counts is the mind and culture. Maltese culture and civilizations are so great that they can rival any other culture and civilization. What amazed me most is that there are 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites concentrated in such a small geographical area.

What about Chinese culture? Which aspect/s of Chinese culture do you like most?

This is a very hard question as China is a multi-ethnic country of 56 groups; each ethnic group boasts its unique culture. If I had to pick one, I think I would choose Chinese philosophy. Its concepts of harmony were proposed by the great philosopher and educator Confucius more than 2000 years ago. The idea still exerts tremendous profound influence over Chinese society today. It has its manifestations in all aspects of people’s lives such as family relations, culture, arts and social life.

How can culture strengthen diplomatic ties between two countries? How well is this working between Malta and China?

There are three pillars in diplomatic relations between two countries, namely, political, economic and cultural relations. In order to further political and economic relations between two countries, they should seek to understand each other and the best vehicle for this is culture. China-Malta cultural relations have been high on the agenda of both the Chinese and the Maltese governments. The cultural relations between China and Malta are developing by leaps and bounds, especially in recent years. The China Cultural Centre in Malta was established in 2003 through the hard work and dedication of

Mr Jiang Zemin, former president of China and Prof Guido De Marco, President Emeritus of Malta. Thanks to the great support from the two governments, the China Cultural Centre has been playing an important role in promoting bilateral cultural exchanges and friendly relations.

What future projects do you have to strengthen Malta’s cultural ties with China?

In 2005, the Hon. Dr Francis Zammit Dimech, the Minister for Tourism and Culture of Malta, paid a visit to China and signed the 2005-2008 Executive Programmes of Cultural Cooperation with his counterpart the Hon. Mr Sun Jiazheng, Minister of Culture of China. The visit injected new impetus into the bilateral cultural relations. Under the valuable initiation from the Hon. Dr Dimech, Beijing Opera Theatre staged a very successful performance in Malta in 2006 and the terra-cotta soldiers exhibition will shortly be opened to the public at the National Museum of Archaeology. The China Cultural Centre will be dedicated to the promotion of Maltese culture to the Chinese people while enabling a better understanding of the Chinese culture here in Malta. The China Cultural Centre is ready to work closely with the Maltese cultural departments, institutions and organizations to jointly promote the cultural ties of the two countries.

If money were not a problem, what event/s would you like to organise in Malta?

I think I would be glad to bring over a symphonic concert of traditional Chinese music to Malta. I love it so much that I would like to share it with each and every Maltese friend.

Finally, across Europe it is traditional to make New Year’s resolutions every New Year. Given that this is the start of the Chinese New Year, do you have any resolutions?

Regarding New Year’s resolutions, I think that I have some ideas, which probably cannot be equated with resolutions. As a famous Chinese saying goes, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. The trickles make a stream and the streams can become a torrent. I would like to join hands with our Maltese friends to offer the most basic cultural service as the starting point. I believe that through our perseverant efforts, cultural exchanges between our two peoples can become “a torrent”.