A lesson for China from the knights in armor

The knights and monks commemorated at Westminster Abbey are celebrated for their honor, which in English culture is dictated by strict codes, Young says.

If one stabs one's enemy after he has tripped over, there is no honor. In British culture, Young says, honor is achieved by two adversaries fighting one another on equal terms, which is not the case in Chinese culture.

So if Britain's history and culture are the foundations of Western society, then the Chinese government should actively do more to make sure Chinese people learn from Britain and is able to understand and communicate better with the Western world, Young says.

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Chinese people's lack of understanding of the West has led them to behave, often unwittingly, in ways that have attracted resentment overseas, he says.

He cites the tendency of young Chinese in London to board underground trains before allowing passengers to get off, something that is common in China, Young says.

"This is only an example on a personal level. Perhaps it's not too serious. But the same mistakes have been made on higher levels in terms of investments and political relationships with other countries. This is where China could stumble."

Such behavior could greatly harm the next stage of Chinese outward development, he says.

In Western people's attempts to avoid racism, they inevitably see China and Chinese people through their prejudices of the communist Soviet Union during the Cold War, which is an image of aggression.

But if Chinese adopt and understand more Western practices, then prejudices and preconceptions will not crowd out what China has to say to the rest of the world, he says.

To achieve this, Young believes it is a good idea for the Chinese government to send young leaders in every field to work in equivalent British institutions for a few years and understand how things are done in Britain.

The Chinese government should also encourage Chinese international students studying in Britain to spend more time making friends with locals, rather than forming close friendships among themselves. Wherever possible, the Chinese government should also go out of its way to create opportunities for Chinese students to mix with their Western counterparts.

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