On the Forms of Manifestation of the National in the District Center Jinghong (PRC). Comments: Garri, I.R. Is There a Chinese Nation? Critical Comments on China-Centrism [Sushchestvuet li kitaiskaia natsiia? (Kriticheskie zamechaniia po povodu kitaetsentrizma)]; Zakurdaev, A.A. A Response to Commenter [Otvet opponentu]
The article discusses the development of national identity among the people of Jinghong, the center of the Xishuangbanna Autonomous Prefecture. It focuses on the forms of manifestation of the national that are favored by the local authorities. Not only do these forms reflect the local administrative policies, especially the reconstruction of Jinghong as a regional historical and cultural center for Theravada Buddhism, but they also denote important reference points in the foreign policy of China, particularly those related to the development of intercultural dialogue with Southeast Asian countries. The article is supplemented with comments by Irina Garri.