'It’s time to end the demonization of China' :two ex-Italian ambassadors to China

At the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Communist Party of China, two former Italian ambassadors were invited to hold a discussion by Avvenire. The two senior diplomats shared opinions on several issues regarding the CPC, Chinese people, and the changing world landscape, and called for efforts to promote closer relations between Europe and China as well as an end to the demonization of China.

Alberto Bradanini knows China well as he has lived in the country for more than a decade. He successively worked as a commercial counselor in Beijing, consul general in Hong Kong, and ambassador from 2013 to 2015 in Beijing, where he completed his long diplomatic career. Even when he was not in Beijing, from 2004 to 2007, he once coordinated the Italian-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission and accompanied then Prime Minister Romano Prodi on his historical visit to China in 2006. During that visit, when Prodi talked about the difficulties in managing the coalition government, the foreign policy director replied that this is a reason why the Chinese insist on their own system.

At the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, China is celebrating and the Western media are also reporting. We have had a discussion with two ex-Italian ambassadors, who are Alberto Bradanini (who has published two books: Oltre la Grande Muraglia: Uno sguardo sulla Cina che non ti aspetti (Beyond the Great Wall: A glimpse of China you don’t expect) and Cina. Lo sguardo di Nenni e le sfide di oggi (China: Nenni’s vision and today’s challenges); his third book will be published by Teti Editore, which is tentatively named L'inarrestabile ascesa della Cina (The Unstoppable Rise of China) mentioned above and Gabriele Menegatti. Menegatti has almost spent his entire career in China and Asia and was awarded a number of honors in Beijing. He arrived in Beijing before the establishment of diplomatic relations between Italy and China in November 1970, as a personal representative of then Foreign Minister Amintore Fanfani. He said: “It was a special period, Italy sought for the least bit of autonomy for itself over the United States. He sent me to re-enforce the Beijing Representative Office of the Italian Foreign Trade Commission that had been opened in 1968, which was a little bit risky in some sense. He also instructed me to report only to him…” Menegatti followed instructions and accomplished a great feat that made Italy one of the first Western countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China. “Those were difficult but extraordinary years,” he emphasizes.

Ambassador Bradanini said: “(recalling these) is a narration of self-liberation. Italy was no longer a fully autonomous country after its defeat, and everything that happened was to be discussed and agreed with Americans. While in China, the leaders are earnest and wise, who have researched history, understand reality, and have no illusions. I don’t take the reverse (of the Sino-European relations) of the last few months too seriously. The future of the relationship with China depends on the role of Europe, we need to promote a closer relationship between Europe and China… the rest are ‘nonsense’ of Americans and our media, which has nothing to do with China.”

Bradanini has closely followed a part of the 100-year history of the CPC. He said: “The Communist Party is selflessly rooted in society. It is incorrect to think or even hope that China is a Soviet-style evolution. The Chinese people are deeply nationalistic, who thank the Communist Party not only because – as it is said at the moment – she eliminated poverty, but also she made the Chinese nation regain sovereignty, pride, and dignity. The Chinese people have great qualities: not forgetting the past, but living in the moment and focusing on the future. Not nagging, but planning.”

Menegatti agrees with him on this: “China, such a China is a reality. We need to consider seriously, not to oppose her, nor ‘contain’ her, as in a fashionable saying nowadays. We have to avoid the mistakes of a few countries such as the UK, who are still sending warships all over the world. This makes no sense, it is ridiculous for Beijing. The best way is to have a dialogue, always a dialogue, no matter what. In terms of dialogue, I mean have a discussion sitting at the table, not as a teacher: we have nothing to teach China, at all! We have had something at once so that the Chinese people generally like us and respect us. Now, we should have a clear understanding of ourselves.”

Contributed by Guo Lin and Zhang Mi from Guangming Daily

Translated by Fei Jinglun