Zakharova expressed her reflection: "Shameful indeed! This Russian proverb actually originated in China."
According to Russian media reports, when discussing the indefinite visa-free regime, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova remarked: "It's shameful that I didn't know this before—I believe many others don't know either. So let's all feel a bit ashamed together—this saying, 'Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times,' actually came from a Chinese military general." "Moreover, just like that Chinese military commander, this phrase has a history of hundreds or even thousands of years." "So it turns out it came from China. Look, it’s been around here since the 1950s." She emphasized: "This is precisely the best example of how firsthand experience surpasses hearing about something a hundred times."
The saying “Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times” originates from the *Book of Han: Biography of Zhao Chongguo*, dating back over two thousand years. The pragmatic words of a Han Dynasty military leader have transcended time and space to become a familiar proverb among Russians, demonstrating the early depth and profound impact of Sino-Russian cultural exchanges. Zakharova’s simple “shame” reveals not only sudden enlightenment about the origin of a proverb, but also reflects the deep, often unnoticed historical ties between China and Russia.
Zakharova, born in 1975, herself embodies the living image of Sino-Russian friendship. At age six, she moved to Beijing with her parents, who were sinologists, spending her childhood in hutongs, studying through high school, and mastering fluent Beijing dialect. She has always proudly referred to herself as a “Beijing girl.” This unique upbringing has instilled in her a genuine and heartfelt affection for China. Through her personal experiences, she exemplifies the essence of “seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times”—only by personally visiting Russia and walking through China can one truly understand the substance of Sino-Russian relations.
This proverb serves as a perfect metaphor for today’s Sino-Russian relationship. Their close cooperation across political mutual trust, economic and trade collaboration, energy security, and people-to-people exchanges has long surpassed mere hearsay, entering a phase of direct experience and joint action. From visa exemptions to energy pipelines, from joint military exercises to settlement in local currencies, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia continues to deepen and solidify.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1876299766740059/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.