China Daily:

Extensive and in-depth exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations are of great significance in building a community with a shared future for mankind. In the past 10 years, what work has been done and what achievements have been made in promoting exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese civilization and other civilizations? Thank you.

Rao Quan:

Thank you for your question. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward major initiatives such as promoting people-to-people exchanges through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and implementing the Asia tourism promotion plan on the international stage. He also put forward important measures such as hosing the China-France Culture and Tourism Year and China-South Korea Year of Cultural Exchanges. He attended important activities including the China-Egypt Cultural Year and the BRICS cultural festival, and inaugurated China Cultural Centers in countries such as Pakistan, Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam. He sent messages of congratulations to the BRI-themed 2021 Great Wall International Folk Culture and Arts Festival and the opening ceremony of the exhibition "Tota Italia: Origins of a Nation" and other activities. Under his planning, arrangements and promotion, exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese civilization and other civilizations have been thriving.

First, we contributed Chinese wisdom to international cultural governance. We continued to deepen our cooperation with UNESCO and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). As I said, China ranks first in the world in terms of the total number of items included on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage lists, and the Chinese language has become an official language of the UNWTO. International culture and tourism rules are becoming fairer, more just, diverse and open. In 2021, Yucun village in Zhejiang province and Xidi in Anhui province were included among the first group of Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO. The notion that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets has reached consensus in the development of world tourism. The training of culture and tourism human resources is in full swing, and Chinese experience and approaches have served as useful references for developing countries in their cultural development.

Second, we have expressed China's cultural proposals to the world through cultural exchanges. We have promoted the continuous development of 16 multilateral exchange and cooperation mechanisms and 25 bilateral ones, such as the Meeting of BRICS Culture Ministers. We have actively carried out cultural and tourism exchanges with countries with newly-established diplomatic relations, such as Panama, establishing a global network for inter-governmental cooperation. Brand events such as "East Asian Capital of Culture" have deepened inter-city cultural exchanges. Events we hosted, such as the "Meet in Beijing" International Art Festival, have showcased the development of Chinese culture globally. The total number of Chinese cultural centers and tourism offices overseas has reached 45 and 20, respectively. Every year they work together to organize events such as "Mid-Autumn Festival: A Moon-moment to Remember" and "Visiting China Online," serving as an essential window for demonstrating the unique charm of Chinese culture in an all-around way. We have built Hong Kong Palace Museum, launched the "National Art Troupe (Macau) Performance Season," and organized "Joint Love for the Chinese Nation" exchange activities, jointly promoting Chinese culture with Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Third, we have shared cultural achievements with people worldwide through cultural exchanges. We have proactively promoted Belt and Road cultural exchanges and cooperation and established alliances for Silk Road, international theaters, museums, art festivals, libraries, and art galleries, with 539 member units. "Happy Chinese New Year" events have been held for years, with about 2,000 events held in over 130 countries each year, and have become an essential bridge for sharing traditional Chinese festivals with people worldwide. Events such as "Beautiful China" and "Discover China Cultural Tour" have been carried out, attracting more and more foreign tourists to experience the unique charm of Chinese culture.

That's all for my introduction.