Cultural exchange between China and Britain has brighter future

Chinese dancers perform in Rio de Janeiro. [Photo/CRI]

In the eyes of the anthropologist and historian, China is a very easy place to understand, based on its inner structure of the Confucianism.

However, there are still very many misunderstandings, stereotypes and bad publicity to China, which Macfarlane believed are from some arrogant westerners, who don't know Chinese history, culture and problems it faced.

Looking at the whole history of China, it is one of the less or least aggressive civilizations on the planet, which would not become a worry for him, said the professor.

"China is, in some way, the easiest civilization on earth to understand once you have the keen to it," he believed.

As the second half of the Year of China-UK Cultural Exchange started in Britain in July, a variety of events have been held across the country.

An exhibition, Yeh Chun Chan and World War II: A Chinese Member of the Bloomsbury Group, the Xu Zhimo Poetry Festival and the launching of the first international digital Kunqu Opera museum have taken place on the campus.

"Exchanges take the understanding of west to China, the more we can mutually understand at a deep level, the more chance there is we can avoid confrontation and misunderstanding," he said, adding cultural exchange between China and Britain, at this moment, is not enough, but just started.

Therefore, Macfarlane is writing books to introduce multiaspect of China. He also visited universities across China, and donated thousands of books, researches and documentaries.

"Culture is not too threatening. As human beings, we all have the appreciation of beauty and of music and poetry. We share these things, the Chinese have great love of western music and drama, and we should educate ourselves to understand the Chinese tradition," he explained.