(Essential questions) Mark Levin: Why do Westerners need to "seeing is believing" to understand China?

　　China News Service, Beijing, September 18th, title: Mark Liwen: Why do Westerners understand that China needs "seeing is believing"?

　　China News Agency reporter Ma Jiajia

　　In China, there is a group from different countries, and they finally choose to work and live in China, telling Chinese stories from a unique perspective.

The American Mark Liwen is one of them. He is a university teacher, but also a country musician, writer and sociologist.

In 16 years in China, Mark Levin has traveled to 29 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in China, insisting on using American country music to tell the customs and social changes in China. So far, he has composed more than 70 songs. China is presented to the world.

The Chinese Government Friendship Award winner and a foreign teacher at Minzu University of China, Mark Liwen, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Service on "Questions of East and West". From the perspective of an American who has been in China for many years, he discussed the differences in ideology and culture between the East and the West as well as exchanges and mutual learning. The obstacles in it.

Data map: Aerial photography of the Canal Cultural Corridor in Huaian, Jiangsu.

Photo by Yang Bo

The actual record of the interview is now compiled as follows:

China News Agency reporter: You have spent nearly 16 years in China since 2005. What significant changes have you felt in China?

How do you think of using music to tell Chinese stories?

Mark Liwen:

My first stop in China was Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province, because it was the hometown of Premier Zhou Enlai.

One day in Huai'an, I wrote the first song after I came to China, "Huai'an's Future Is Full of Hope" with a happy mood-because I feel that there is a bright future there.

　　It was in China that inspired me, and I started original songs.

I like to play the guitar and walk on the streets of China. When inspiration comes, I can record it at any time.

There is a song that records white water rafting on the Lijiang River, which I recorded during the trip.

Later, I started to create based on specific themes.

I think that music is a faster way of communication and expression than writing a book.

　　When talking about the changes in China over the years, everyone will talk about WeChat, high-speed rail, etc., but I think there are more important ones.

When I first arrived in China, some students lacked confidence in the development of the country and the individual, and they would wonder why the mobile phone is only "Made in China" instead of "Designed in China."

This situation will not happen anymore. Students are proud of the country's achievements and future plans, and this sense of pride will also be internalized in their hearts and form motivation, which will affect their personal behavior.

Data map: More than ten volunteers from the Changsha Blue Sky Rescue Team carried heavy-duty disinfection machines to disinfect the inside and outside of Changsha Railway Station.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Yang Huafeng

China News Agency reporter: What do you think are the similarities and differences in the way of thinking between the East and the West? Can the two sides reach a mutual understanding?

Mark Liwen:

I recently wrote a song about China's response to the new crown epidemic, and I have also written songs about China's response to Wenchuan earthquake, snow disaster, floods and other disasters.

The common theme of these songs is to express the unity of the Chinese government, army, police, enterprises, and people.

However, in the United States, when a disaster occurs, people often waste a lot of time arguing: Should this be done, and which?

Instead of everyone working together to solve the problem.

　　This actually reflects the characteristics of Chinese traditional culture and modern civilization, that is, problems can only be solved through joint efforts.

In contrast, the United States has always paid too much attention to personal achievements and personal pursuits, and it is the same today.

Take the United States' response to the new crown epidemic as an example. It is difficult to solve because of the lack of unity.

Only by working in unity can progress be made.

　　I hope that the American people can reach this understanding of China, but there is still a gap in reality.

When encountering problems, the Chinese are more willing to help; while in the United States, the attitude of assistance will be less, and people's minds are more distinct between themselves and the other.

Data map: A foreign tourist interacts with Chinese children.

Photo by Kan Li, China News Agency reporter

China News Agency reporter: In your opinion, in order to promote exchanges and mutual learning between the East and the West, what kind of efforts can China and Western countries make?

Mark Levin:

China opposes hegemony, advocates managing its own country, and then explores the road of cooperation.

However, the United States believes that cooperation with the United States must follow the rules set by the United States.

　　In many cases, political conflicts in the United States are fierce, and people lack confidence in the government.

I think that as far as people are concerned, improving the relationship between the United States and China or the relationship between Western countries and China depends more on people.

The best way to communicate across cultures is to sit down and communicate in person with two people from different cultural backgrounds.

This kind of communication is one person waking up another person, two people inspire each other.

Although they come from different countries and speak different languages, the goal of both parties is the same, that is, to pursue a better life without harming the other.

From this, the two parties began to understand the common ground and consider the direction of cooperation.

　　I know many foreigners. Before I came to China, I had a misunderstanding of China. After I came to China, I communicated and worked with Chinese people, and I gradually understood and respected China.

A few years ago, I met a musician from Boston in the United States at a Chinese music festival and asked him how he feels about living in China.

He said: "It's wonderful here. I didn't know it before I came. When I return to the United States, there are so many (Chinese stories) that I want to tell others."

　　When foreign tourists and students come to China, what they get is personal experience: talking and learning face-to-face with Chinese people, seeing with their own eyes how the people's livelihood in China has improved, and thus forming an accurate understanding.

Only by seeing the living conditions of the people of different ethnic groups in China will we find that the accusations made by the US government and some media against China are seriously inaccurate.

Only by personally experiencing the local customs can we truly understand it.

Personal experience is better than reading, listening to interviews, and watching TV.

Data map: International students from Shanxi University of Finance and Economics learn the skills of tea ordering in the Song Dynasty of China and experience tea culture.

Photo by Wu Junjie

China News Agency reporter: During your tenure at the Minzu University of China, how did you see how teachers and students of different nationalities get along?

Mark Liwen:

A few years ago, I was asked this question at a symposium: The Central University for Nationalities (hereinafter referred to as the National University of China) has students and teachers from different nationalities. How do you deal with teachers and students from different nationalities? Conflicts between countries, especially those caused by ethnic issues?

My answer at the time was: "In the 11 years I worked at the National People's University, I have never seen or heard of any conflict between teachers and students due to ethnic issues."

　　I think the key reason for achieving national harmony lies in the common values ​​of everyone.

While seeking their own well-being, they are all thinking about how they can contribute to the country so that more people can live a better life.

This is the "family and country feelings" embodied in Chinese traditional culture.

Data map: Aerial view of Taihu New Village, Xunwu County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province.

Photo by Liu Lixin

China News Agency reporter: Based on your personal observations, how do you view the current environment of multi-ethnic development in China?

What do you think of the accusations made by some Western countries on China's so-called human rights issues?

Mark Liwen:

I have visited 29 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in China, many of which are located in ethnic regions.

There, I saw the policy of "two no worries and three guarantees", that is, no worries about food, no worries about clothing, compulsory education, basic medical care, and housing safety are guaranteed. These are all obvious developments.

I have witnessed these changes in Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangsu and Yunnan.

China has successfully eliminated absolute poverty. We have every reason to believe that China will achieve more poverty reduction goals.

　　As for the various accusations made by the United States, through the first-hand information obtained from my visits to various places, I can responsibly say that those accusations are not true.

The United States always likes to accuse countries of "competitive relations."

For countries that refuse to be bullied, the United States will make all kinds of arrogant demands; but those countries that have good relations with the United States and obey the United States, even if they really do terrible things, the United States will ignore them.

　　We must not forget that the United States started a war against Iraq on the grounds that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, and launched the Vietnam War on the grounds that warships were attacked. The reasons for the intervention of the US government in the war were all false information.

So I have always been very clear that some of the things the American media said are not true.

(End) (Jiang Wenqian also contributed to this article)

About the interviewee:

　　Mark Levine, American country musician, sociologist, writer, and professor.

Currently an American teacher at Minzu University of China, a special professor of the European and American Education Alliance, a review expert of the China International Talent Exchange Foundation, teaching English speech and debate courses, and the author of "My Chinese Story" and "Important Speeches-Spiritual Thoughts" ".

He uses American country music to tell Chinese stories and has composed more than 70 Chinese theme songs so far. He has made outstanding contributions to spreading Chinese culture and promoting cultural exchanges between China and the West. He has successively won the title of "Honorary Citizen of Huai'an City" and the "Great Wall Friendship Award" of Beijing. In 2014, he won the Chinese Government Friendship Award for his outstanding contribution as a foreign expert in China's modernization and reform and opening up.