BEIJING, Jun 18 : Yoga, the ancient Indian spiritual and physical wellness practice, together with China's acupuncture and martial arts, embody the shared civilisational connect of the Dance of Dragon and Elephant, a senior Chinese official said.
"In recent years, Yoga has become very popular in China. Likewise, Chinese acupuncture and martial arts are well known in India", Luo Zhaohui, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), said, releasing the book titled "My Five to Thrive", written by former UN diplomat Siddharth Chatterjee, on the techniques of breathing and Yoga at a function here on Wednesday.
The civilisations of China and India now shine together symbolising the "Dance of the Dragon and the Elephant," Luo, former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, who also worked as China's Ambassador to India, said.
Chatterjee practised controlled breathing and meditation. "Through physical movement and his own unique practice, he sought to purify his mind and find inner freedom. This reflects the Indian philosophical spirit of the 'Unity of Brahman and Atman,' and it also resonates with the Chinese ideal of the "Unity of Heaven and Humanity," Luo said.
Luo's comments came ahead of International Yoga Day, which every year is celebrated enthusiastically in China.
The Day is celebrated around the world on June 21 every year, ever since it was adopted by the United Nations in 2014.
The Indian Embassy in Beijing is holding a big Yoga Day event on Friday, followed by the other Indian missions in China.
Luo said as UN Resident Coordinator in China, Chatterjee worked closely with the Chinese government, academia, and the media.
"He frequently attended forums and gave interviews. He spoke highly of China's rural revitalisation and sustainable development achievements, and became a true TV star and popular commentator," Luo said.
Chatterjee, in his speech, said breathing is a quintessential part of human life, and breathing techniques help for better living.
"Every second of our lives is accompanied by a breath. We draw our first breath at birth and release our final breath when we leave this world. Between those two moments unfolds the entire story of our lives", he said.
"Every emotion we experience is reflected in our breathing. When we are anxious, our breath becomes shallow. Breath is the silent bridge between body and mind, between the outer world and our inner selves", he said, adding that his book begins with a "simple proposition: by learning to breathe better, we can learn to live better".
Chatterjee was an alumnus of India's National Defence Academy Pune, served in the Indian Army and was decorated for gallantry in 1995.
He later joined the UN and served in leadership positions with UNICEF in Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Indonesia and UN Peacekeeping in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He retired as UN Coordinator for China last year. During his tenure in China, he became famous highlighting his high-intensity fitness regime and yoga exercises.
Chatterjee is also a visiting Professor at Schwarzman College and Tsinghua University in China. (PTI)
