Mesmerized by the long-lasting knowledge of conventional Chinese culture and the nation’s contemporary change, Patrick Nijs, previous Belgian ambassador to China, selected to settle in the nation after retirement and bring his visionary green dream to life.
BRUSSELS, Might 13, 2025/ PRNewswire/– In the rugged surfaces of Dongchuan, Yunnan Province— an area called China’s “Mudslide Natural Museum”– lies a not likely sanctuary: Kabissa Organic Farm. Here, retired Belgian diplomat Patrick Nijs, previous ambassador to China (2009-2013), cultivates not simply crops however a vision of planetary consistency. Declining artificial fertilizers, pesticides, and equipment, Nijs accepts conventional Chinese farming as mankind’s last hope for planetary redemption.
Nijs holds a special difference as the only European ambassador to pick irreversible residency in China after retirement. His choice, revealed upon stepping down from his diplomatic function in 2013, comes from an extensive conviction: “What occurs to China and within China will form the world’s fate.” Predicting the country’s climb as a worldwide power, he included, “I wished to stay near to this center of modification. Bridging understanding in between China and the world is among the most important jobs of our time.”
A Pull to China
Born into a Belgian diplomatic household in Congo, Africa, Nijs created an inherent bond with nature throughout youth– barefoot experiences through jungles cultivating an extensive respect for the natural world. This early immersion in Africa’s exceptional biodiversity left an enduring mark, forming his identity as a long-lasting ecological supporter. “I felt exceptionally lucky to mature surrounded by such eco-friendly richness,” he showed. Experiencing the quick termination of types due to logging deeply bothered him, firing up a long-lasting dedication to planetary stewardship.
Throughout his secondary education in Belgium, a serendipitous encounter with the ancient Chinese work Tao Te Ching by the ancient Chinese sage Laozi ended up being a turning point. The text’s focus on consistency with nature– placing mankind not as a conqueror however as an important part of the universes– resonated with his African experiences. Here, Laozi’s approach took shape into a spiritual compass, moving Nijs towards an extensive yearning for China
” My generation was extremely thinking about China’s change under Chairman Mao Zedong,” he remembered in an interview with China Today “We attempted to comprehend what these huge modifications suggested for the worldwide advancement.”
This intellectual interest and philosophical kinship moved Nijs into diplomatic service in China: initially as Belgium’s consul general in Shanghai (1997 ), and later on as ambassador in Beijing (2009 ).
When asked to specify his cultural identity, he stated: “I am a worldwide resident– a mosaic of Chinese, European, and African impacts. My roots now anchor in China, progressing into an ‘global Chinese Buddha-being’.”
Taoist approach exceptionally structures Nijs’ worldview. “Eastern believed combines body, mind, and universe– human beings are not different entities however a vibrational part of deep space,” he discussed. This holistic paradigm, he argued, focuses on cooperative coexistence: “It’s a mix of yin and yang, manly and womanly energy, which is much softer and a lot more extensive and where guy really needs to discover its ideal location in deep space.”
Influenced by asian approach, Nijs thinks we need to discover a sort of reconciliation in between guy and nature, stating, “There was no other method if you wished to produce pleased individuals and healthy individuals.” In his view, if individuals wish to agree with their environments and more than happy, asian approach holds the secret. “The Taoism is the engine that keeps me alive and feeds me. And this is why I need to return to the countryside whenever it’s possible, to be near to nature.”
A Chinese Farming Dream
Chinese approach has actually likewise formed Nijs’ day-to-day regimen. Nijs increases with the sun, and practices both sitting and standing meditation motivated by the mentors of Zen and Taoism as he deals with the dawn. Being close to nature, he thinks, fills him with energy and links him to deep space. After meditation, he research studies and practices composing Chinese characters, interested by their etymology. To him, these characters expose much about Chinese psychology and idea.
Before breakfast, Nijs takes an early morning walk through his permaculture farm of about 2 hectares which he runs together with his Chinese partner Deng Minyan. ” Our fields resemble an edible forest,” he discussed. ” They’re made up of several layers– veggies, trees, shrubs– all part of a living community that produces food.” In the early hours, Nijs just observes, utilizing his senses to comprehend the farm’s rhythms and the development of brand-new plants. After breakfast, he frequently operates in the fields up until sunset.
Though an immigrant, Nijs is deeply dedicated to protecting conventional Chinese farming techniques. ” Conventional Chinese farming is vanishing, which concerns me,” he informed China Today. Nowadays, just senior farmers maintain this understanding, which Nijs significantly worths. ” They till the land utilizing easy methods, preventing those damaging devices that destroy the soil’s structure.” He discovers the conventional practice of intercropping– growing various plants together– especially remarkable. ” This biodiversity is extremely near to permaculture’s concepts.”
Nijs enjoys being a farmer in China because, to him, Chinese farmers embody the essence of farming. ” I love Chinese farmers– they’re incredibly easy individuals. You do not require numerous words; simply sitting together feels great.”
Green China, Green World
Nijs is deeply worried about the looming dangers of environment modification and biodiversity loss, which he thinks are speeding up the termination of Humankind. In his view, cooperation in between China and Europe will be crucial to resolving this crisis.
” We deal with enormous difficulties. Yet today, individuals are so sidetracked by geopolitics that they neglect the degeneration of our worldwide environments.”
Europe’s custom of multilateralism, he argued, uses a course forward. ” Our history has actually taught us the destruction of war and manifest destiny. Now, we need to sign up with forces with China to bring back multilateralism and guide the world in the ideal instructions.”
To reinforce worldwide efforts in eco-friendly conservation and green advancement, Nijs co-founded the Wutong-Acacia International Online forum, intending to ” bridge Europe and China in identified, ingenious action to avoid the collapse of our world’s environments.”
The online forum brings policymakers, professionals, and magnate to Moganshan (Mount Mogan), a natural sanctuary in Huzhou of Zhejiang Province, to advance the circular economy. ” We prevent politics, choosing rather for symbolic resonance. The Wutong, a Chinese tree, draws in and safeguards the phoenix– a legendary bird born-again from ashes. It’s an effective symbol of renewal. The Acacia, from Greek folklore, signifies understanding and durability. It’s a leader types, the very first to restore forests, compromising itself to bring back biodiversity.”
At the inaugural online forum in December 2023, individuals embraced the Moganshan Statement, verifying: ” Our objective is to promote green development. As a worldwide power, China’s function is critical– without its involvement, reliable options stay a mirage. We aim to bring a green China to the world and a green world to China, an important action towards a shared future for mankind.”
Nijs applauded China’s green advancement accomplishments, noting its consistent development under the eco-friendly civilization structure. “ China might exceed its own targets for carbon peak and neutrality,” he stated, highlighting the nation’s strides in community remediation, growth of national forests, contamination control, and waste management. ” Throughout China, trash sorting and recycling efforts show up, embedding reuse into the circular economy. In green energy and transport, China now leads worldwide.”
“ China is becoming a pilot in green shift, while Europe stays a leader. Our job is to line up efforts throughout both areas,” he continued, highlighting Sino-European cooperation to support sustainable advancement in Africa
” We need to check out every possible channel to unify Europe and China— acting, innovating, and producing together to protect our survival on this world.”
SOURCE China Today