Inheriting Excellent Culture and Promoting Exchange and Cooperation

The 2023 Beijing Cultural Forum, co hosted by the Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, and the Beijing Municipal Government, was held in Beijing from September 14th to 15th.

During the two-day period, the forum focused on the annual theme of "Inheriting Excellent Culture and Promoting Exchange and Cooperation", and arranged 50 guest speeches and roundtable dialogues. More than 600 Chinese and foreign guests gathered together to appreciate the beauty of Chinese culture, seek cultural inheritance and innovation, and promote cultural exchange and mutual learning.

Collision of ideas and exchange of experiences

"Chinese civilization has inherent stability and persistence, as well as flexibility and applicability that keep up with the times." On the main forum, renowned writer Wang Meng shared his understanding of Chinese civilization.

The second combination is another ideological liberation. Zhen Zhanmin, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and a member of the Party Leadership Group, said that the "second combination" has made Marxism Chinese, Chinese excellent traditional culture modern, and the new culture formed through the "combination" has become a cultural form of Chinese path to modernization.

"We always regard excellent traditional Chinese culture as the source of inspiration and the root of creativity," said Zhang Yimou, the chief director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. "We will adhere to the position of Chinese culture, maintain an open and inclusive attitude, and strive to explore and promote the content of excellent traditional Chinese culture that transcends time and space, transcends the country, is full of eternal charm, and has contemporary value, shaping a trustworthy, lovely, and respectable image of China."

"The cultural exchange between Greece and China has a long history, and the close and profound exchanges between the two countries have attracted attention, making important contributions to the development of world civilization and having a profound impact." Greek Deputy Minister of Culture, Christos Dimas, said, "Cultural heritage is a treasure trove of people's spirit. Through mutual understanding, equal exchange, and cooperation among countries, it will become the inspiration and starting point for creating modern civilization achievements."

In recent years, the trend of digital culture "integrating China and foreign countries" has become increasingly prominent, and its role in the process of Chinese culture going global is becoming increasingly significant. Tencent Group's Chief Operating Officer, Ren Yuxin, introduced that digital cultural products represented by six major formats, including online film and television dramas, online games, and short videos, have become an important force for Chinese culture to go global. "These digital cultural forms are deeply loved by young people around the world, enhancing people's acceptance of Chinese cultural elements in different regions."

Cultural prosperity and technological empowerment. Wang Yiming, Vice Chairman of the China International Economic Exchange Center, stated that following the trend of the times and promoting the digital transformation of the cultural industry is an important way for the high-quality development of the cultural industry. "Using digital technology to improve content quality, technological innovation as the driving force, and integrated development as the path, we will promote the high-quality development of the cultural industry."

Civilization is colorful through communication, and enriched through mutual learning. Tamara Rastova Siamashvili, President of the Executive Board of UNESCO, said, "I believe that this Beijing Cultural Forum will promote the achievement of new consensus, explore new cooperation in the cultural field, and drive further cultural prosperity and development."

Mutual learning, progress, cooperation, and sharing

Cultural heritage is an important carrier of cultural exchange and mutual learning. "More than 170 exquisite Egyptian cultural relics will be exhibited domestically next year." On September 15, at the parallel forum of "Cultural Heritage: Systematic Protection and Active Inheritance" at the 2023 Beijing Cultural Forum, the China Cultural Relics Exchange Center and the National Library signed a "Cooperation Intention Agreement on" Egyptian Cultural Relics Exhibition ".

The agreement stipulates that both parties shall jointly organize and hold exhibitions, and cooperate in the planning, organization, and preparation of a series of activities. It is understood that the "Egyptian Cultural Relics Exhibition" plans to showcase more than 170 cultural relics, all from Egyptian museums, and plans to tour the country for one year. Among the exhibits, there are several items including the statue of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, the bust of Pharaoh Akhenaten, and the monument of Pharaoh Ramses II.

"Cultural relations are an important bond between the two countries. China and Egypt both have the oldest civilizations of humanity, advocate for equal and mutually beneficial cultures, and respect the cultures of various countries." Egyptian Minister of Culture Nafi Zillani stated that Egypt is eager to strengthen cooperation with China in various aspects of the cultural field. "We firmly believe that the two countries will have fruitful cooperation in the cultural field in the future, thereby enhancing friendship between the two peoples."

Promote the integration of culture and tourism at a wider scope, deeper level, and higher level. "This forum fully leverages the driving role of projects and builds a platform for investment and financing docking in the cultural and tourism industry. At the parallel forum on" Cultural and Tourism Integration: Creating Tourism through Culture and Promoting Culture through Tourism ", Liu Bin, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, introduced that following the approach of focusing on Beijing and looking at the whole country, the forum has extensively solicited 26 heavyweight cultural and tourism industry integration projects and strategic cooperation projects, involving an amount of approximately 4.898 billion yuan.".

"Actively promoting the 'going out' of Chinese literature and exploring international literary exchange and cooperation." At the parallel forum of 'Civilization mutual learning: mutual respect and cooperative development', the October branch of Beijing Publishing Group and the Malaysian Chinese Culture Center officially signed a contract to cooperate in promoting the 'October Writers' Residence in Kuala Lumpur' project. It is understood that both sides will use this as a platform to organize Chinese and foreign writers and translators to go to the local creative experience, exchange and visit each other, carry out rich and diverse cultural activities such as new book promotion and public lectures, and deepen writer creation and literary exchange and dissemination.

Enhance cultural exchanges and promote pragmatic cooperation. The Beijing University Ancient Books Digitalization and Intelligent Development and Utilization Project, Animation IP Game Development Authorization Project, National Cultural Big Data and Trusted Copyright Chain Strategic Cooperation Project... It is understood that this forum has facilitated the signing of 52 cultural projects, including 17 strategic cooperation projects and 35 industrial investment projects.

Cultural activities are exciting and diverse

Beijing is a historic and cultural city with a history of over 3000 years of construction and 870 years of capital. It not only carries the profound cultural heritage of the Chinese nation, but also exudes the vitality of a modern international metropolis.

The chime chimed and the drums played in unison. On the evening of the 14th, the Shougang Ski Jumping Platform on the banks of the Yongding River was brightly lit and bustling. A cultural evening party with the theme of "Cultural Light of Beijing's Appointment" was held at the Shougang Park. Music, poetry, painting, dance... The actors use various artistic forms to showcase the excellent traditional Chinese culture and their reflections on the development of civilization.

Visit the Bell and Drum Tower, Tai Temple, and Pigment Guild Hall to embark on a central journey of savoring the charm of the ancient capital; Enter the New Factory, 751 Fashion Design Square, and Beijing Olympic Tower to experience the new cultural style of the times; Boating on the Grand Canal, experiencing the ecological beauty of water city integration, and experiencing the cultural vitality of the sub center of the city

During the forum, Chinese and foreign guests visited Beijing's cultural venues and facilities in four different routes, enjoying the beauty of Beijing and savoring its charm.

Climb up the Drum Tower along the 69 steps, and have a panoramic view of the central axis of Beijing, which spans north and south and passes through ancient and modern times. "The Beijing Central Axis represents the great creation and outstanding presentation of Chinese civilization in urban planning and construction, showcasing the image of a great capital and the charm of Chinese culture." "The Beijing Central Axis is a carrier of Chinese culture and history, as well as a common wealth and memory of humanity." Guests praised it one after another.

The central axis runs through the north and south, magnificent and orderly, solemn and grand, and cultural heritage remains timeless. During the forum, special events such as "Dongcheng Culture Month", "Ancient Architecture Music Season", and "Museum Night" were held successively. "We are based on our rich cultural resources to provide citizens with high-quality cultural life," said Zhao Haiying, member of the Standing Committee of the Dongcheng District Committee and Minister of the Propaganda Department.

Before and after the forum, a variety of cultural activities such as the "Beijing Drama" exhibition season, the Beijing Benefiting Cultural Consumption Season, and the "Bookish Capital" nationwide reading were held in Beijing. The "Me and the Temple of Earth" Beijing Book Market was restarted, attracting widespread participation from the public and creating a strong, warm, and warm cultural atmosphere for the forum.