Book series in Romania offers true perspective

BUCHAREST－The Discover China series of books was launched in Bucharest on Monday.

Off the Wall－How We Fell for China, by William N. Brown, and some other books have been published in Romanian by Corint Publishing House and the Chinese publisher Foreign Language Press.

"We started this project five years ago to promote cross-cultural knowledge and introduce aspects of Chinese reality and culture," says Raluca Sofronie, editor with Corint Publishing House.

"We'll continue to translate a wide array of educational and informative books on Chinese society, culture, history and philosophy."

Marina Almasan, a TV producer with Romanian National Television, says: "Brown's book is a lesson for those who are biased against China out of ignorance and because of having shaped their ideas according to negative distorted propaganda.

"I also fell in love with China after my first trip there. China is a phenomenon. Those who speak in stereotypes are ignorant. With all due respect, there are people who still believe the Chinese are backward and all dressed in gray uniform-like tunics."

Luminita Balan, Romanian director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Bucharest, says China will "remain a profound civilization of mankind".

"Brown's book is based on the letters he sent with his family while he was living in China, and he explains that many statements about China are wrong and one has to live in China to see the reality, and to remove all false perceptions," Balan says.

"This book made me live again with open eyes my own experiences with China in the 1980s. We can recognize elements of the enriching Chinese civilization and philosophy. China creates opportunities for self-introspection and reflection about the world. It's a country that can reinvent itself."

Florin Burican, a Sinologist who once studied in Beijing and later married a Chinese woman, recommends everybody to visit China "because it's a unique experience".

Ion Antonescu, former secretary of state for culture and owner of one of the country's largest travel agencies, says China is "a favorite travel destination because it's a world in a country".

Xinhua