The Chinese must be applauded for their achievements and Guyanese should embrace them as friends

Jan 17, 2023 Letters

---

Dear Editor,

China is one of the global power houses with a human element that stirs my imagination, heart and love. My deep respects to the People’s Republic of China.

The creativity of the Chinese nature is a special gift from the Universe to them. Their unique skills in Architecture is one that clearly leaves me humble. I must make mention here of The Great Wall of China which is the most famous Chinese architecture. It was originally constructed by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the third century B.C. as a means to keep out “nomadic tribes from the north”, the wall is one of the most extensive construction projects ever completed in the world. The best-preserved section of the Great Wall was built during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Today it is a powerful symbol of China’s enduring strength (https://www.chinawhisper.com/the-greatest-ancient-china-buildings).

Next, The Forbidden City in the center of Beijing which is the largest and most complete imperial palace and ancient building complex in China.  It was built between 1406 and 1420 during the Ming Dynasty. 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties lived and ruled China from there.The Forbidden City, extends 753 meters from east to west, and 961 meters from north to south. It consists of some 9,900 bays of rooms and is built mostly of wood, roofed with tiles and sits on a foundation of stone. (https://www.chinawhisper.com/the-greatest-ancient-china-buildings).

Third, the Potala Palace, which is situated on the Red Hill of central Lhasa, is the highest ancient palace in the world, with its highest point reaching 3,767.19m above sea level. The Potala Palace was built in the 7th century in the Tang Dynasty during the reign of King Songtsan Gampo of Tibet (https://www.chinawhisper.com/the-greatest-ancient-china-buildings).

Let me not talk of The mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang (China`s first emperor) which is located about 35 kilometers from Xi’an City.  It is the biggest imperial mausoleum in ancient China . More than 700,000 labourers from all over China were requisitioned in this giant project and nearly 40 years were used in building the mausoleum(https://www.chinawhisper.com/the-greatest-ancient-china-buildings).

Time does not permit me to tell of, the Zhaozhou Bridge and the Songyue Temple of China. The Zhaozhou Bridge, also known as Anji Bridge, is the largest and oldest stone-arched bridge in the world and was designed by the ancient architect Li Chun. This bridge took 11 years to complete from 605 to 616 during the Sui Dynasty(https://www.chinawhisper.com/the-greatest-ancient-china-buildings).

The Songyue Temple was built in A.D. 523 in the Northern Wei Dynasty. It is the oldest extant large pagoda in China.This twelve-sided, 40-metre-tall pagoda is built entirely of blue bricks. The body is girdled round by 15 closely-arranged eaves, which get smaller in beautiful proportions towards the tapering top(https://www.chinawhisper.com/the-greatest-ancient-china-buildings).

All these great ancient buildings my dear friends, reflect the wisdom and efforts of the Chinese people.

Their Modern Architecture of Sky Scrapers tickles the mind and thought and causes me to fall in love with China and their skills.At the 40^th Shanghai Exposition (held in 1 May to 31 October, 2010) I personally witnessed the Chinese remarkable skills in Architecture on display. These intricate skills in Architecture from Ancient time to Modern is one that truly deserves respect.

In Trading and International Commerce, the Chinese skills and knowledge is un matched. They are some of the most ethical persons in business in terms of honouring contracts extensively. The Ancient Chinese Silk Road; that is an engineering wonder to this date has taken Chinese Art and History to the different Worlds- to Mecca, Jerusalem, Indonesia, Japan, Africa, Arabia, India, Europe, etc. by Land and Sea; was a quest for “World Peace through trade”.

To this date, China is not known to invade another country to take their lands, destroy their people etc. The Chinese skills in Technology and Healthcare is par excellence. Their natural medicines, most of which is not done invasively, can both physically and spiritually cure.

Over the years, China has been supplying Guyana with a Medical Brigade that possess great skills and medical knowledge since they are recruited from some of the top Medical Universities in China, and has built their own Medical Staff Residential Complex so that their team can better serve the people of Guyana. I have never heard of a Guyanese treated by a Chinese Medical Doctor complained about not been treated very well.

From Ancient to Modern times, China has produced excellent Scientists, their technology in Satellite development is world renowned. In addition, China boasts important research findings in a number of fields, such as continental theory of petroleum origin, synthetic bovine insulin, Goldbach conjecture, high temperature superconducting, nano materials, quantum communications, and life sciences (Major Scientific and Technological Achievements of New China, 1949-2009). It also boasts major scientific breakthroughs in cutting-edge domains like super hybrid rice, high-performance computing, Chinese-character laser phototypesetting, 3G mobile communications, etc. (Major Scientific and Technological Achievements of New China, 1949-2009).The country also leads in Space Exploration Technology with its various missions to the Galaxy. It’s Nuclear Power Technology has been for the benefit of energy consumption by its people. China has never used its nuclear weapon to destroy the global ecosystem or to cause harm or to kill.

Their food and diet menus have captured the hearts of the people world over. It was from the Chinese that Marco Polo (the great Venetian explorer/merchant) took “Noodles” to Italy/Europe. They were the first nation to use ‘paper’ as money and when Marco Polo mention that to the Crown, he was imprisoned.

China and Guyana Diplomatic Relations, started by the late president Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, dates back to over 50 years. Friendships commenced; even before the establishment of formal Diplomatic Ties with China on 27^th June,1972; with the arrival of the first group of Chinese migrants to the country in 1853, and was given greater significance in October,1971 when Guyana voted in favour of the People’s Republic of China as the legal representative of China at the United Nations. Guyana opened its Embassy in Beijing in 1973, this put the country as the first among the English-speaking Caribbean countries to establish a diplomatic mission in China.

During the ensuing years both countries have hosted top level official visits, cultural exchange groups, visits by political and friendship delegations, support for each other in mutual areas of interests and benefits. Guyana is a signatory to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on July 27, 2018 (a MOU that allows cooperation in the areas of economics, transportation and communication); the 2001 and 2003 International Trade Agreement between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the People’s Republic of China; and an Agreement on the Protection of Investment with China respectively. Agreements which all fosters the strengthening of diplomatic ties and relations between the two countries. In recent times Guyana now enjoys energy and gas partnerships with China.

The People’s Republic of China needs to be applauded for their achievement as a country and we as Guyanese should embrace them as friends. I have been fortunate to visit China three times but I am still in awe of their knowledge; and their wisdom continues to inspire students, professors, economists, etc. I hope to be blessed to visit China once more.

Sincerely,

Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan

---

• China, Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Major Scientific and Technological Achievements of New China, Songyue Temple

---