(W.E. Talk) David Gosset: Our world is in need of Chinese wisdom

By FAN Zhonghua from CNS

With the upcoming Beijing Cultural Forum 2024, David Gosset, a French international expert, founder of the China-Europa Forum and the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, will once again attend this international forum focusing on the exchange and mutual understanding of civilizations. As a European scholar who has been observing and studying China for many years, David Gosset recently received a written interview with “W.E. Talk” of China News Service, in which he made a profound explanation on how to understand China from multiple dimensions, the necessity of intercultural communication in today’s world, as well as the inherent logic between China’s renaissance and its opening up to the outside world.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

CNS: You have focused on different cities in China and edited the Inspiring Series of books. Recently, the documentary Inspiring Greater Bay Area—A French Sinologist’s Survey of Southern China was successfully completed. What kind of inspiration do you think different cities in China can provide to you or more people observing China from the outside?

David Gosset: Thank you for showing interest in our Inspiring Series. Yes, I have just completed a book and a documentary on the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

I would deem the Inspiring Series a success if it manages to convincingly convey the nuances of China. Nuances, I hope you agree, are inspiring and meaningful. Looking for nuances, one avoids simplifications. By focusing on finer details, one avoids the pitfalls of oversimplification, which can distort understanding by reducing multifaceted issues to binary or overly generalized terms. Nuances have the potential to spark curiosity and encourage a deeper understanding of China, which is crucial in combating the prevalent misconceptions surrounding the country.

CNS：In the Inspiring Series, you have included articles by well-known Chinese figures, foreign government officials, and scholars from various fields such as economy, culture, history, art, and education from both China and abroad. Why is it necessary to observe Chinese cities from such a cross-cultural perspective?

David Gosset: Indeed, in the case of our books on Tianjin, Shanxi and Shanghai, the format is a polyphony. I like the fact that personalities from different countries, and from different backgrounds write on China. When you add the perspectives, it creates a rich content. Shanghai, as seen by a European, is not the same as Shanghai seen by an American, but the two perspectives enrich each other.

In the case of the GBA, I took the time to write all the essays. The GBA truly fascinates me. We have an ancient region, the Pearl River Delta, with its culture, its heritage that is transformed into a space of intense modernity, the GBA, with entire new cities, like Shenzhen for example. And note that the GBA itself is about the creation of a new geography by the integration of 11 cities. Truly inspiring!

CNS：As the political and cultural center of China, Beijing is also one of the Chinese cities with rich cultural heritage and distinctive features. Has it also provided you with some different “inspirations” for observing and understanding China? Do you have plans to compile Inspiring Beijing in the future?

David Gosset: I will create Inspiring Beijing. It is just a matter of time. I am already thinking about the next installment in the series, and the Inspiring Series has the ambition to cover all the main parts of China.

Regarding Beijing, I was extremely happy to read the news about Beijing Central Axis being added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is highly significant at different levels. The Beijing Central Axis embodies the connection between Heaven and Earth in Imperial China. Moreover, the concept of centrality it includes is a cornerstone of Chinese philosophy and worldview. In my work, Limited Views On the Chinese Renaissance (2018), I have tried to present the importance of this notion within the Chinese context. The Central Axis stands as a vivid illustration of the preeminence of centrality in Chinese thought, reflecting its enduring influence on the country’s cultural and spatial organization.

CNS：Beijing Culture Forum takes “Inheritance, Creativity, and Mutual Learning” as its permanent theme. In your many years of observation and understanding of China, what significance does the inheritance of Chinese culture and its exchange and mutual learning with world cultures have for China’s revival?

David Gosset: China is undergoing a process of renaissance. I use the term “renaissance” because it signifies that, on an intangible level, China is reinterpreting its classical traditions to enter its own modernity. On a more visible level, China is making efforts to reinvent “Chineseness” as seen in areas such as gastronomy, fashion, design, and more.

In this process of renaissance, engaging with the Other is of paramount importance. In fact, opening up to the Other significantly influences the renaissance process. If one is not open to the Other, there is a risk of self-repetition and stagnation. In a period of stagnation, you might feel a sense of security, but it is a false sense of security. The world around you is rapidly evolving, and your risk becoming marginalized if you do not keep pace.

Of course, being open to the Other should not mean the dissolution of one’s own identity; rather, it means renewing and redefining it. I would argue that China's 20th-century renaissance has been largely influenced by its interactions with the West. This engagement has been complex, involving various periods, but ultimately, it has enabled China to transform and reform itself into the great world power it is today.

CNS：You have mentioned more than once that China’s revival is of great significance to the world, but China’s revival is also the reason that makes many Western countries vigilant. From a historical and cultural perspective, how do you think this cognitive contradiction can be better resolved?

David Gosset: I believe that China’s cultural renaissance is not perceived as a threat. The West, it seems, is curious about Chinese culture and is eager to learn more about Chinese philosophy and aesthetics. I am personally convinced that our world is in need of Chinese wisdom.

Let Chinese artists, thinkers, and creators share their insights with the world; they will make it a better place!

What the West needs to understand is that it is possible to be both modern and non-Western. China exemplifies this reality.

CNS：In 2002, you founded the China-Europa Forum to promote dialogue between China and Europe, which has had a great positive impact. I have noticed that many activities you have initiated in recent years involve China, Europe, and the United States in a tripartite participation. Why is such diverse and multi-party exchange, dialogue, and mutual learning of civilizations more important today?

David Gosset: We live in a globalized world where de-globalization is a myth. I am more concerned about de-civilization than de-globalization. Civilization is something we must build and rebuild with each generation.

In such a world, dialogue between civilizations is vital. We depend on each other. How can we address global issues without cooperation? And for cooperation to happen, mutual understanding is essential.

In other words, the cross-cultural dimension has never been more important. From a cross-cultural perspective, it is crucial to relearn the virtues of patience and humility. Understanding the Other, accepting it, appreciating it, and harmonizing with it takes time.

CNS：This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. How do you evaluate the development process and achievements of cultural exchanges over the past 60 years? In the future, what aspects do you think the two countries can start from to enhance exchanges and understanding and move forward together?

David Gosset: The 60th anniversary is a significant achievement. China and France have a deep mutual respect and are strongly connected by a shared attraction. However, I am convinced that the two countries can do even more to promote peace and common prosperity. They should also collaborate in the field of emerging technologies. Chinese and French intellectuals must ensure that the powerful technology available today serves human dignity and contributes to world peace.

It is clear that 2024, marking the 60th anniversary, is a significant milestone in Sino-French relationship. We must build on this momentum. The UN Ocean Conference, which will be held in Nice in 2025, presents an excellent opportunity for both countries to continue the spirit of the Paris Agreement from COP21, as well as the principles established at the Kunming conference on biodiversity.

I believe in progress. It is not a linear path; we experience highs and lows, and sometimes we even move backwards. However, in the long term, we make progress. I also believe that when China and France cooperate, they create the conditions for progress. When Chinese universalism meets French universalism, it ensures that humanity advances.

Regardless of the immediate challenges, let us always keep the bigger picture and the long term in mind.

Edited by WANG Zonghan