<TABLE id=msgUN border=0 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD id=msgUNsubj vAlign=top>
Coffeeshop Chit Chat - MP Ong: Even Ancient China embraced FT!</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>Mar-13 2:43 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 15) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>30050.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Mar 13, 2010
budget debate
Cultural diversity in ancient China
<!-- by line --><!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
DR ONG Seh Hong (Marine Parade GRC) yesterday described how China's Tang dynasty thrived because of its openness to talent. We produce here an extract of his speech:
'A city with people from China, Japan, Korea, India, Vietnam, Persia, central Asia and many other parts of the world. Places of worship for Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
Women with blonde hair and blue eyes working side by side with locals in taverns, serving drinks to and entertaining customers with songs and dances.
Is this Singapore? No. This was a scene from the city of Chang An during the Tang dynasty more than 1,400 years ago.
The Tang Dynasty was the golden age of Chinese culture and economic development. It produced two of the greatest poets in Chinese history. One of them, Li Bai, was born in a town in Kazakhstan. Some historians even believe Li Bai was not a Han Chinese but a foreigner.
Why did the Tang dynasty prosper? I believe it was partly because of its open-door policy and tolerant attitude.
Through the sea trade route and Silk Road, Tang not only benefited from doing business with the world but also gained many new technologies, cultural practices, contemporary items and new ideas.
The infusion of foreign influence enriched China for more than 300 years.
Singapore today is a cosmopolitan city. More than one million foreigners live in Singapore. They come with rich cultures and traditions of their own. I believe they add to the richness and vibrancy of our colourful and diverse multiculturalism...
Can we afford to close ourselves up?
Here is another lesson from Chinese history. China shut its doors in the Ming dynasty and remained so till the Qing dynasty. China ended up poorer for it.
The isolationist policy of the Ming dynasty condemned Khotan (a key trading oasis in Xinjiang) to the desert elements, eventually buried by the sand.
Hence, Mica needs to have a policy of enhancing and tapping on our cultural diversity. (By doing so) we would be the ideal place for the start of a cultural Renaissance for the region.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
budget debate
Cultural diversity in ancient China
<!-- by line --><!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
DR ONG Seh Hong (Marine Parade GRC) yesterday described how China's Tang dynasty thrived because of its openness to talent. We produce here an extract of his speech:
'A city with people from China, Japan, Korea, India, Vietnam, Persia, central Asia and many other parts of the world. Places of worship for Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
Women with blonde hair and blue eyes working side by side with locals in taverns, serving drinks to and entertaining customers with songs and dances.
Is this Singapore? No. This was a scene from the city of Chang An during the Tang dynasty more than 1,400 years ago.
The Tang Dynasty was the golden age of Chinese culture and economic development. It produced two of the greatest poets in Chinese history. One of them, Li Bai, was born in a town in Kazakhstan. Some historians even believe Li Bai was not a Han Chinese but a foreigner.
Why did the Tang dynasty prosper? I believe it was partly because of its open-door policy and tolerant attitude.
Through the sea trade route and Silk Road, Tang not only benefited from doing business with the world but also gained many new technologies, cultural practices, contemporary items and new ideas.
The infusion of foreign influence enriched China for more than 300 years.
Singapore today is a cosmopolitan city. More than one million foreigners live in Singapore. They come with rich cultures and traditions of their own. I believe they add to the richness and vibrancy of our colourful and diverse multiculturalism...
Can we afford to close ourselves up?
Here is another lesson from Chinese history. China shut its doors in the Ming dynasty and remained so till the Qing dynasty. China ended up poorer for it.
The isolationist policy of the Ming dynasty condemned Khotan (a key trading oasis in Xinjiang) to the desert elements, eventually buried by the sand.
Hence, Mica needs to have a policy of enhancing and tapping on our cultural diversity. (By doing so) we would be the ideal place for the start of a cultural Renaissance for the region.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
