"The Art of War" should be used to promote lasting peace, development: official

China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin on Monday called for a thorough grasp of the essence of "The Art of War" -- an ancient Chinese book on military strategy, to promote lasting peace and common prosperity in the world.

"How to make better use of the wisdom carried by the book to tackle global challenges and promote world peace and development is an issue deserving our attention," said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), when attending the 8th International Symposium on "The Art of War."

The book, also dubbed "The Bible of War," written about 2,500 years ago by Chinese military strategist Sun Wu (Sun Tzu), has been translated into more than 32 languages and studied by politicians, economists, entrepreneurs, in addition to students of military academies.

Jia urged continued efforts in studying the nature and essence of the book to give full play to its role in the modern world.

He also called for increased cultural exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan to carry forward and inherit the fine traditions of Chinese culture. "The fact that scholars from both sides of the Taiwan Strait are sitting one symposium on 'The Art of War' is a positive step in that direction," he said.

The symposium, co-sponsored by the China Research Society of Sun Tzu's Art of War and the Academy of Military Science of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), attracted more than 150 experts from China and abroad to discuss the work's value in building a harmonious world and containing war.

Source: Xinhua