Remarks by Ambassador Tan Jian at the Opening Ceremony
Subcamp Great Wall of Nawaka
(August 8, 2022，Zeewolde )
Dear Mr. Gerrit Jan Gorter, Mayor of Zeewolde,
Mr. Fei Yuliang, head of School for Chinese Martial Arts,
Mr. Rob Mertens, Mr. Joren Bekooy, leaders of Subcamp Great Wall,
Girls and boys, ladies and gentlemen,
A very good evening to all of you!
I am so happy to come to this Subcamp Great Wall.
I feel younger in joining you.
Today is the 8th of August. It is past 8 pm now.
Eight is a lucky and and auspicious number.
Fourteen years ago, the Beijing Summer Olympic Games formally opened at 8 pm, August the 8th, 2008.
I don’t know if the organizers have chosen the date and timing of this event by chance or by design. I think it might be the latter. I do appreciate that. You have a good knowledge of our culture.
Dear friends,
I wish to thank you all for your interest in knowing more about China.
This is an age-old civilization. Among all ancient human civilizations in the world, the Chinese civilization is the only one that remains uninterrupted, for five thousand years till now.
What will come to your mind when talking about China?
l Silk. Look at me, I think I am more handsome in my national dress.
l Porcelain. I know the Dutch really like it, that’s why you make the Delft blue.
l Panda. Oh, lovely black write pandas. There is a panda family at the Ouwehands Zoo in Rhenen, altogether three of them, visited by many everyday.
l Kung Fu. Master Fei will give a performance. America put panda and Kung Fu together in a animated movie and it was a big hit worldwide.
l The Grand Canal. It stretches some 1,800 km, connecting the major rivers in China.
But it is the Great Wall that is the most representative of China.
It was first built almost 2,700 years ago.
Meandering 21,196 km over the mountaintops and desert in the north part of China, the Great Wall is one of the most spectacular and stupendous works of human beings.
It symbolizes the hardworking and perseverance of the Chinese people.
I also wish to add that, as the Great Wall was built for defense purpose to resist attacks from the nomads, it is also an epitome that Chinese people are peaceful. They are not interested in provocations and waging wars, of course they will defend themselves.
I know some people may have doubts on this point.
Then I wish to ask this question:
Can you recall that China has ever done anything that harmed the interest of the Europeans, in the past decades, in the past hundreds of years, or thousands of years?
The answer is NO.
I was told that Nawaka is the event for sea scouts in the NL.
China was also strong in sea sailing in ancient time.
When Admiral Zheng He made seven maritime expeditions in the early 15th century, 87 years before Christopher Columbus sailed to America, reaching as far as the east coast of the Africa continent, no colonization ensued.
So, when you hear people call China an 800-pound gorilla, I hope you could tell the stories of the Great Wall and Admiral Zheng He. See us as pandas, bamboo-eating pandas.
Dear participants,
In conclusion, I would like to welcome you to visit the Great Wall, see the charming Beijing and experience the colorful China.
Let’s appreciate the world wonders, learn from the history, enhance mutual understanding, promote trust, build our shared human community.
The future belongs to you.
Thank you all.
Wish you luck.