The German 'Chinabild' is virtually Chinese-free

Thorsten Pattberg and Frank Sieren - Vertrauen Wagen (Peking University Conference)

Thorsten Pattbergwith Frank Sieren, Bestselling Author, Journalist, and Political Commentator

PEKING UNIVERSITY - I have been frequenting Beijing since 2003 –lived, studied, and created here- but never met in person who is possibly the Number One of all German “China-Experts”: Frank Sieren. Mr. Sieren is best known for his close relation to former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt who is a known "Friend of China" and who met many of China’s most influential leaders, including the great dictator Mao Zedong himself. Sieren and Schmidt produced very influential books, articles, and interviews. As a result, Frank Sieren became a superstar in all things related to China in the German-speaking world (his books became bestsellers in Germany and have been translated into Chinese), and a famed public speaker and moderator on Sino-German relations –political and cultural. He lives in China –in Beijing, mainly- for almost two decades now. Not always easy, I guess –the air quality, the traffic jams, the party dictatorship- but as the expat saying goes: Someone’s got to do it! Best of luck! [GO TO FRANK SIEREN'S WEBSITE]

China Is Unloved And Unknown - My Cup of Chinese Tea

China is unloved and unknown - My Cup of Chinese T - Pei Desi, Germany

China is unloved and unknown. This is primarily a language and communication problem.

"China is onbemind én onbekend. Dat is vooral ook een communicatie- en taalprobleem. Wat het Westen van China ziet, gebeurt vaak door een Engelse taalbril. Dat vertroebelt het zicht meer dan we denken. Het Engels wordt vaak gezien als de internationale taal bij uitstek, maar is niet geschikt is om duizenden concepten uit oosterse culturen in woorden te vatten. ‘Vertalingen reduceren de wereld tot wat we al weten,’ aldus taaldeskundige Thorsten Pattberg van aan de Universiteit van Beijing. ‘Het verbaast mij altijd dat mensen elkaar in de haren vliegen over merknamen, patenten en intellectueel eigendom, maar het recht op eigen definities van culturele sleutelbegrippen gewoon weggeven.’"

[READ FULL ARTICLE HERE, if you can! ;-)] [VISIT MY CUP OF CHINESE TEA BLOG.]

Thorsten Pattberg with ZHUO Xinping Director of the Institute of World Religions at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASS)

Thorsten Pattberg with ZHUO Xinping, Aug 2013

Professor ZHUO Xinping is the Director of the Institute of World Religions at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CASS). He is also a former graduate of the University of Munich, Germany, and speaks fluent German with a wonderful Bavarian accent. De Mass, de Brezn, da Butter!