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I am the first counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkiye in China. In the June issue ofChina Today, the article titled “Green Road to Growth” impressed me very much as I was one of the diplomats on that trip to Guizhou. Actually, it was my first visit to that remote province. Some people may think that area is underdeveloped, but I found traveling there was very convenient by the merit of the rapid development of local transport infrastructure. During the trip, we visited the 370-meter-high jawdropping Baling River Bridge, located near the iconic Huangguoshu Waterfall, which has attracted many skydivers. I was told that Guizhou is home to more than 40 of the world’s 100 highest bridges, making it really the museum of bridges! Another place that left a deep impression on my mind was the Tianlong Tunpu (village fortress) in Anshun, which was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Because of the unique strategic position of the passage from Guizhou to Yunnan, Zhu Yuanzhang (the emperor who established the Ming Dynasty) sent troops from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River to establish a garrison there. Those troops were the ancestors of the inhabitants of the Tunpu, who built stonestructured villages and turned the surrounding area into farmland. Only in times of war were they called to unite together to repel the enemy. Today, the locals still maintain their original style and pace of life. The historical ties between different regions in China have helped generate a unique culture that attracts tourists. In this regards, there are broad prospects for Turkiye-China cooperation, as both countries possess abundant natural resources and cultural heritage. With the recent restoration of direct flights from Chengdu in Sichuan to Istanbul, transportation conditions for tourists traveling between the two countries are becoming easier. And more bilateral exchanges are expected.

Alp Atakcan

Turkiye

I am the minister counselor of the Embassy of Colombia in China. I have been working in China for less than one year. Though a relatively new reader ofChina Today, I like reading this magazine. Its columns of Culture, Tourism, and Book Reviews often give me some new perspectives about understanding China. The trip to southwest China’s Guizhou Province also helped me better understand the philosophical concept of harmony, orHein Chinese, which contains the Chinese wisdom of dealing with the relations between humans and nature. As a Chinese saying goes, “All beings flourish when they live in harmony and receive nourishment from Nature.” In an increasingly connected world fraught with challenges, the inclusivity of the Chinese civilization shows the world how humanity can create a prosperous and peaceful future in a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and cooperative way.

Jose Francisco Diaz Ulloa

Colombia