At the Great Hall of the People in Beijing last week, an ancient parable familiar in China resurfaced in a modern diplomatic setting.
After President Xi Jinping accepted the credentials of 18 new foreign ambassadors, he invoked the parable of the "blind men and the elephant", using it to frame a broader reflection on how China is often perceived.
"The elephant is obviously very large. When a blind man touches its leg, he says the elephant is like a pillar; when another touches its belly, he says it's like a wall," Xi said. "But none of them sees the full elephant."
Noting that China's development is uneven and its culture diverse, Xi said, "To understand it, one needs to develop a comprehensive view of the real China in all its dimensions. This will help us build strong bilateral and multilateral relationships."
Xi had returned to this parable repeatedly in previous diplomatic and public settings.
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