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Danish Queen’s visit signals strong ties and solidarity
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THE visit in late April of the Danish Queen Margrethe II to China set three precedents.
First, it was the largest delegation in Danish history. Second, Danish monarchs had never previously paid two visits to one country, except for Scandinavian neighbors. But this was her second visit to China after 35 years. Third, the Danish Queen is the first incumbent foreign head of state to visit the Nanjing Massacre Memorial.
There is a cultural bond connecting the two countries. One hundred years ago, the first Andersen’s tale “The Emperor’s New Clothes” was translated into Chinese.
After that Anderson became a “civil ambassador” to China forever. Other stories — “The Little Mermaid,” “The Ugly Duckling,” “The Nightingale,” and “The Little Match Girl” — all have come to China.
Even the statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the national treasures of Demark, came to the Shanghai 2010 World Expo — her only foreign visit.
More than fantasy plots, lovely princes and princesses, sadness and happiness, Anderson’s fairy tales express love, respect, sympathy, justice and human dignity. These themes have transcended age and nationality.
Nanjing Forever-Sindberg Rose
Another Dane’s story is getting more popular. During the Nanjing Massacre, a young Dane, Mr Sindberg, was working in a Danish Cement factory in Nanjing.
He protected 20,000 Chinese refugees inside the plant. Today a yellow rose named Nanjing Forever-Sindberg Rose is growing in the garden of the memorial. It came from Sindberg’s hometown, Aarhus Municipality.
Thinking about the Anderson’ fairy tales, Sindberg’s story and the Queen’s visit, I realized there are the same themes of the three things: they are love, justice and human dignity.
The Queen’s visit is reminiscent of another Danish monarch.
One night in 1943, the Nazi occupiers ordered all Jews in Denmark wear the yellow star. The next morning along the streets of Copenhagen people found the Danish King Christian X proudly riding his horse, a yellow star shining on his armband. Thousands followed their beloved monarch by doing the same. The following day the Germans rescinded the order.
According to the Danish foreign minister, the Queen’s visit was non-political. We don’t expect Denmark to take any side concerning the dispute involving the Chinese Diaoyu Islands. Both Danish and Chinese people were victims of the atrocities committed by fascists and we all have fought fascism. Neither will forget history.
The writer is associate professor in the culture and communications department and research fellow of the Sino-Denmark joint research center on China and International Relations, University of International Relations. Johnliu1963@yahoo.com.
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