Exchange Is at the Heart of Culture – Interview with Mathias Lafolie, Cultural Counselor at the Swedish Embassy in Beijing
By staff reporter ZHOU LIN
THIS year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Kingdom of Sweden. To learn more about the relationship between the two cultures, China Today interviewed Mathias Lafolie, the Cultural Counselor at the Swedish Embassy in Beijing and a well-known theater director who was in 2013 appointed full time professor at the Central Academy of Drama in China.
China Today: Sweden was the first Western country to formally establish diplomatic relations with China. How do you view the relations and cultural exchanges between the two nations?
Mathias Lafolie: Sino-Swedish diplomatic ties were first formed in 1950 but in my view, it’s important to consider the establishment of relations as an ongoing process. Valuable exchanges need to go on not just among official institutions but also among collaborating individuals. As Swedish Cultural Counselor, I place great importance on exchanges, especially those between individual artists. Sharing ideas with peers from different cultural backgrounds helps in achieving mutual understanding. Exchange is at the heart of culture.
China Today: China and Sweden have a long history of cultural exchanges. In July 2006, a replica of the 18th-century ship Götheborg arrived at the starting port in Guangzhou of the Maritime Silk Road after a nine-and-half-month voyage. What is the significance of this event in the history of Sino-Swedish friendship?
Mathias Lafolie: The Götheborg was a wooden merchant ship of the Swedish East India Company that made three voyages to eastern China in the 18th century, bringing back Chinese porcelain, tea and silk, which had suddenly become popular among Swedish people. One could say that trade relations between China and Sweden have been in place for 200 years and that the Götheborg is a physical symbol of the connection between our peoples. It embodies our joint history and showcases the sustainable exchanges we’ve made. Communication is important and the successful voyage of the new Götheborg was an opportunity to explore a deeper understanding of what is going on between our two countries at present.
China Today: On that subject, it was recently reported that the Confucius Institute at Stockholm University is going to shut down. The news has roused attention in both Sweden and China. What is your opinion on this? How do you see the role of Confucius Institutes between China and the host country and their citizens?
Mathias Lafolie: The Confucius Institute at Stockholm University was the first to open in Europe 10 years ago. The university decided in December last year to end cooperation between the two institutions. Swedish universities make their own decisions. The state does not interfere. The principle of academic independence is very important to us.
There is profound interest in Chinese culture among Swedes and the Confucius Institute provides an accessible channel for us to learn Chinese and to get to know its culture.
China Today: In 2010 the two countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Culture 2010-2014 to push forward cultural exchange. What is the importance of this collaboration?
Mathias Lafolie: Cultural exchange is like the soul of a nation. If cultural communication can be established at state level, it shows that the two nations share mutual interests. I am an artist myself, and for Swedish people art means freedom and independence. To be an artist, you should always open your mind and reflect on your life in different circumstances. The value of art is to make exchange possible, and state-level agreements facilitate such exchange between institutions and individuals.
China Today: In 2011, the Swedish tourism authority established an office in China to encourage the Chinese public to learn more about Swedish customs and encourage them to visit. What is your view on the tourism sector?
Mathias Lafolie: These days there are more tourists from China to Sweden than ever before. Tourism is a good way to satisfy our curiosity about another culture. Sweden is an open society and people are serious about their responsibilities to the government and their communities. When Chinese tourists come to Sweden it offers them an opportunity to see how we actually live. For example, Swedish families often do sports together at the weekend. The experiences of everyday people and not just the tourist attractions need to be cherished.
There are also more and more Swedish tourists visiting China nowadays. The first time they come, they might want to visit the Great Wall; but the next time, they would like to meet the people. It creates a deeper interest in culture, tradition, customs, and ideas, all of which show the vast diversity of China. Reading about it is not the same; you have to explore it yourself.
China Today: In 2013, the opening ceremony of the first session of the Sweden-China Cultural Festival took place in the King’s Garden in Stockholm. The event was a huge success. What was the significance of it in promoting cultural exchange?
Mathias Lafolie: The success of the cultural festival reflects the genuine interest that Swedish people have in China. Chinese culture, art, gastronomy and businesses were all presented – the food was the highlight! The ambience of different people eating together made it easier to understand the essence of Chinese culture and to reflect on how people communicate. It illustrates that cultural communication is not just a theory – it is real life.
China Today: On November 8 2014, the 9th Nordic Documentary Film Festival (NORDOX) was held in Beijing. The first show, Don’t Count Me Out directed by Karin Wegsjö, left a deep impression. Why do you think film is a good medium to enhance understanding and communication between two peoples?
Mathias Lafolie: This is a very touching film about a woman’s fight against the degenerative disease ALS. You see the heroine battling against her fate. You start to reflect on your own life and you understand her situation. You are not watching someone else; you are united in her plight. Documentary films like this are important for sharing subjects that we don’t know about or put aside since they are difficult to confront or we think they are too complicated to handle. The core idea of the documentary to me is pointing out the subjective version of life that we need to acknowledge to better understand ourselves and perhaps, in the long run, to become better people. Everyone is part of culture. You contribute yourself and you share your ideas on culture. We have to observe life and reflect on the question “Who am I?”
China Today: What about China impresses you most?
Mathias Lafolie: Meeting young Chinese students, seeing their needs and demands, and discovering how they view their lives, culture and art has been an invaluable experience for me. It is a good way to learn about Chinese society and modern-day thinking and to better understand human beings. I have to say that the young generation in China inspires me a lot.
China Today: Are there any Sino-Swedish cultural activities or events planned for 2015?
Mathias Lafolie: Activities this year will focus on healthy living, particularly for children. As in China, society in Sweden has much respect for children and makes sure they have a solid foundation for future development. Therefore, we chose this theme as a reflection of Swedish society and to appeal to the Chinese too.
