Building bridges

Alex Vella Gregory meets Chinese Ambassador to Malta Cai Jinbiao to discuss one of China’s most prized forms of intangible heritage, Peking opera.

Chinese Ambassador to Malta Cai Jinbiao firmly believes that culture brings people together. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

“China is too vast for one person to grasp,” says Cai Jinbiao, Chinese Ambassador to Malta as his face lights up with a broad smile.

Everybody in China knows about Peking opera. You can go for a stroll in a park, and there will be people practising scenes from Peking opera

Well, it is certainly too vast to grasp in one hour, so where does one start from to understandthis huge and mysterious country? The answer is simple, you startfrom its people.

It is one of the great mysteries (and privileges) of life that you can walk into a building and come out of it an hour later feeling enriched and enlightened.

It was not just the hospitality with which I was greeted that impressed me, but the level of respect accorded to me which went beyond polite cordiality.

Mr Cai, ambassador for one of the world’s richest countries, had actually researched material for this interview and came prepared with notes. I was speechless.

The reason for this interview was ostensibly to discuss Peking opera, in view of an upcoming performance by the Hubei Province Theatre at the Manoel Theatre.

Peking opera is a complex art form that originated in the late 18th century, and brought together the disciplines of singing, recitation, dance and martial arts. It is also one of China’s most prized forms of intangible heritage.

Despite having a lot in common with Western opera, Peking opera differs in its use of stock characters, emphasis on acrobatic prowess, elaborate costumes and make-up, and simple staging. Like Western opera, the subject matter can be anything from historical drama, to legends or even simple family life. It is also an art form rich in symbolism and steeped in tradition.

It comes as a surprise to know that this ancient art form is still very much respected in China.

“Everybody in China knows about Peking opera. You can go for a stroll in a park, and there will be people practising scenes from Peking opera. People just come together to share the experience,” explains the ambassador.

This need to share is something that seems to be ingrained inChinese culture, and it is alsosomething which Mr Cai found here in Malta.

“When I first came to Malta, it was on Good Friday. I was being shown around by some friends, and we met a Maltese family, who promptly invited us in for tea. We stayed there for over an hour talking. Later, I found an opportunity to invite them over to thank them. That is something I will never forget.”

There have been Sino-Maltese relations since the 1970s, well before most Western nations acknowledged the potential of this growing nation. Malta was also the first Mediterranean country to have a Chinese Cultural Centre, and one of the first in the world. Mr Cai himself was an interpreter to Dom Mintoff on one of the former Prime Minister’s visits to China. Talk about a small world.

When Mr Cai took up his posting here, he was therefore no stranger to our small island nation. He is also grateful for the hard work that was already being carried out by the China Cultural Centre in Malta.

“We are the best,” he proudly announces. When he ran through the programme of their upcoming projects, I could easily understand that pride.

It is all too easy to look at an ambassador as a political man,but clearly Mr Cai knows fullwell that a good diplomat goes beyond simply having trade contacts or keeping the goodwill between countries. He firmly believes in the role of culture in bringing people together.

“When you discuss politics not everyone will agree with what you say, but everyone can discuss a song or play.”

So all of the China Cultural Centre’s programme is not simply exotic entertainment, but an invitation to build bridges and arrive at a mutual understanding. Of course, there are geographical and linguistic barriers, but nothing that cannot be overcome by goodwill.

“Sometimes, in the evening, I like to watch Maltese television. Of course, I do not understand anything of what is being said, and can only follow the images, but I like to feel what is going on. I like to feel the pulse of this nation that has welcomed me so warmly.”

And in one sentence he has answered the dilemma he himself had imposed at the beginning.

Yes, China is a vast country. It is magnificent, timeless and diverse, and beyond the comprehension of any one human being. But, you do not need to understand it. You just need to feel it, and let the immensity of it all help you bring out the immensity of your own soul.

The Peking opera runs at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta on Friday and Saturday. Visit www.teatrumanoel.com.mt for more information.