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CMG program explores Marco Polo's legacy from "Mr. Million" to porcelain in Europe

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CMG program explores Marco Polo's legacy from "Mr. Million" to porcelain in Europe

2025-03-25 14:58 Last Updated At:17:57

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠A special episode of "Harmony in Diversity", a cultural exchange program co-produced by CMG and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, explored the lasting impact of Italian explorer Marco Polo on cultural exchange between the East and West, especially his role in introducing porcelain to Europe.   The episode, aired on March 15, featured a discussion with tenor Wang Kai, who portrayed Marco Polo in the Chinese opera "Marco Polo", Italian mezzo-soprano Valentina Volpe, and Wen Zheng, professor of Italian at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

The three were visiting the exhibition "A Journey of Knowledge: The Travels of Marco Polo and Its Legacy Between East and West", which commemorated the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death in China last year.

The exhibition, which includes a timeline depicting key events in Venice's history from the 13th to 17th centuries, also highlights how Polo's memoirs, "The Travels of Marco Polo", contributed to a greater understanding of Asia in Europe.

On display are antique porcelain artifacts, including Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) pieces, underscoring Polo's significant role in the East-West cultural exchange.   Wen opened the conversation by discussing the significance of porcelain in the context of the Silk Road.   "Since the time of Marco Polo, many have shared stories of the East, and those porcelains have come to symbolize the East. We often speak of the Silk Road, but in many respects, it is porcelain that truly traveled along it," Wen explained.

Volpe, reflecting on Marco Polo's influence, noted: "If I'm not mistaken, the word 'porcelain' was translated into Italian by Marco Polo from Chinese, making him the one who introduced this term. Once these Eastern treasures reached Europe, some began circulating in European and Italian markets. In Italy, we refer to them as 'porcelain'. We owe this word to Marco Polo."

"Indeed, even this term was brought to us by Marco Polo. It wasn't just the porcelain; the very word 'porcelain' itself may have been introduced by him," Wen added.

The conversation also touched on Marco Polo's nickname, "Mr. Million".

"After returning from China to Venice, he often shared his extraordinary experiences in the East. However, some of the magnificent and rich experiences he encountered were so beyond his vocabulary that he would frequently say 'a million, a million' to convey their grandeur. Over time, people started calling him 'Mr. Million'," Wen explained.   Wen also noted that the true origin of the nickname could be traced to Polo's family name.   "Of course, this is more of a popular legend. The true reason for the nickname 'Million' lies in his family name, which bore a homophone to 'Milione', meaning 'million'," Wen said.

The conversation also highlighted Polo's connection to Venice. Volpe pointed out: "In Venice, there's a place known as the 'Palazzo Milione', which is Marco Polo's former residence."

The episode wrapped up by focusing on Polo's travels in China, with Wang Kai recalling his role in the opera "Marco Polo", commissioned by Guangzhou Opera House.   "Yes, and Professor Wen, I remember when I portrayed Marco Polo in the opera, I was assigned to Hangzhou, which was called Lin'an at the time," Wang noted.

Wen explained that Hangzhou, favored by Kublai Khan, was once known as "Xingzai" in Marco Polo's time.   "It was indeed called Lin'an. Yes, Kublai Khan was particularly fond of Hangzhou, so he built his palace there. In 'The Travels of Marco Polo', we find that Hangzhou wasn't referred to as Hangzhou; it was known as 'Xingzai'," Wen explained.

The program provided an insightful exploration of Marco Polo's legacy, shedding light on his contributions to the exchange of ideas, culture, and language between East and West.

CMG program explores Marco Polo's legacy from "Mr. Million" to porcelain in Europe

CMG program explores Marco Polo's legacy from "Mr. Million" to porcelain in Europe

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China sends 11th group of medical experts to Ethiopia

2025-05-17 22:01 Last Updated At:22:37

A Chinese medical team left China on Saturday heading for Ethiopia, where they will offer technological assistance and support to talent development in the country's healthcare sector over the next 12 months.

The 14-member team includes experts in clinical medicine, medical technology, hospital administration, and logistical support.

Mainly selected from the First Hospital Affiliated to the Army Medical University (AMU) in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, the team members possess extensive experience in medical practice and management.

During the mission, the experts will help the country's military hospitals to enhance medical service capacity, promote the application of new technologies, strengthen hospital operations, train professional personnel, and support the establishment of healthcare management systems, thereby contributing to the improvement of local medical services.

"I feel deeply honored by this mission, and I'm fully aware of the responsibility it carries. We are committed to carrying forward the spirit of China's overseas medical teams, which features tenacity, dedication, commitment to saving lives, and love that knows no borders, and will apply our skills for the benefit of the Ethiopian military and civilians," said team member Guo Hao from the AMU.

Since 2015, the AMU hospital has dispatched 11 batches totaling more than 100 medical experts to Ethiopia.

Their efforts gave strong support to achieving notable progress in medical facility construction, and technological and talent development in the country's healthcare sector.

China sends 11th group of medical experts to Ethiopia

China sends 11th group of medical experts to Ethiopia

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