‘Peace is always the primary choice’

Professor Hu Meixin stated that even in the discussion of art of warfare, war is the last choice.

Presenting Social Governance thought in Traditional Chinese Culture at the ongoing China Omni-Media Seminar for journalists from English-Speaking African countries, Professor Hu Meixin gave a detailed explanation by giving significance and recognition to a constructive governance with leadership qualities in any nation.

“Peace is always the primary choice. Even in the discussion of art of warfare, war is the last choice. Governing a big state is like cooking small fish and social governance is always taken as a very serious matter and treated with great caution and care.”

Professor Hu also talked about a great sense of social responsibility for the leaders, making reference to the Chinese philosophy of being embedded in a treasured object called (Jade) which she described to be more precious than gold or silver.

In her additional deliberations, she revealed that Chinese government is totally independent of foreign intrusion, adding that behind the Communist Party of China (CPC), there is no foreign power to control the policies made by the CPC.

“We take people as the root of the whole society. People are the most important part of the society,” she explained.

In a general perspective, she said that in the practical art of war, the best thing of all is to take the enemy's country whole and intact.

“It is not good to shatter and destroy. So too, it is better to recapture an army entire than to destroy it, to capture a regiment, a detachment or a company entire than to destroy them.”

“Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.”                                                                                                      

Participants described her lecture as one of the most engaging and interactive sessions which was also punctuated with questions and answers.

The two-week seminar, which attracted 30 media personnel from 10 African nations is currently being held at the Zhejiang Normal University (ZJNU), Zhejiang Province, Jinhua City in China.

The seminar was organised by the Zhejiang Normal University with funding from the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), People’s Republic of China.