Pierre Ryckmans (1935-2014)

"The Chinese Government had invited a delegation of Belgian Youth (10 delegates—I was the youngest, age nineteen) to visit China for one month (May 1955). The voyage—smoothly organized—took us to the usual famous spots, climaxing in a one-hour private audience with Zhou Enlai. My overwhelming impression (a conclusion to which I remained faithful for the rest of my life) was that it would be inconceivable to live in this world, in our age, without a good knowledge of Chinese language and a direct access to Chinese culture."

 

Source:

http://www.chinaheritagequarterly.org/tien-hsia.php?searchterm=026_ryckmans.inc&issue=026