Photo: Courtesy of organizers

TheMK sports International Communication Forum on Chinese Culture was held in Beijing on Tuesday, with "cultural communication" as the core topic. Zhang Yao, a vice president of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, pointed out that different cultures have developed unique and diverse characteristics and that this diversity not only showcases the individuality of various nations but also serves as an important foundation for cultural exchanges.

"Chinese theater is one of the important platforms for the international dissemination of Chinese culture, with an emphasis on connecting the hearts of people worldwide," Hao Rong, president of the Central Academy of Drama, said at the forum.

"Art must move one's heart in order to promote in-depth exchange and extensive integration between Chinese and Western theatrical cultures and realize the positive role of Chinese culture in international communication," Hao noted.

This emphasis on the emotional and cultural impact of art reflects a broader trend in cultural exchanges that have gradually become evident in the international community. "Over the past 15 years, China has become the engine of global economic growth," Jorge Eduardo Malena, director of the Asian Affairs Committee, Argentine Council for International Relations, told the Global Times.

"I have observed an increasing number of young international people coming here to study Chinese culture, history, and language," he said. "Twenty years ago, I advocated for more exchanges to encourage young people to come here, and now, this has progressed very well."

Jorge noted that cultural and educational exchanges between China and Latin America began to increase in the 1990s. During this period, the first group of Latin American graduate students arrived in China.

Entering the 21st century, the Chinese government launched the "Going Out" policy, which led to a rapid expansion of bilateral exchanges in trade, education, culture, infrastructure, finance, and technological cooperation.

"Today, the Chinese government has designated multiple Latin American countries as strategic or comprehensive partners. It can be said that over the past decades, bilateral relations have achieved sustained growth across various fields, representing a multidimensional development relationship," Jorge said.

"Cultural institutions, such as the Confucius Institute, act as crucial platforms for sharing Chinese culture, connecting China with the world and promoting cultural exchanges. They play an important role in showcasing the uniqueness of Chinese culture, sharing China's stories, and creating a harmonious cultural environment," Li Kewei, former director at the Confucius Institute in Comoros, told the Global Times.

Li Yutong, a student at Beijing Language and Culture University and volunteer at the forum, told the Global Times that she has noticed an increasing number of foreign friends showing interest in Chinese cultural works, such as Journey to the West. 

"Cultural dissemination is not only about major events; it is also reflected in everyday interactions," she said.

Li noted that she often introduces her foreign friends to various Chinese holiday customs, such as eating zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival and admiring the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival. In 2023, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, she made mooncakes with classmates from different countries and explained the story of "Chang'e Flying to the Moon" to them.

Li said that cultural exchanges do not need to be exaggerated. Rather, it is through these authentic and natural everyday interactions that more people can feel the charm of Chinese culture.

The forum was organized by the Center for International Cultural Communication, China International Communications Group in collaboration with the Chinese Culture Institute, the China Theatre Association, and Beijing Language and Culture University.