The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Foreign Affairs Committee, China International Publishing Group (CIPG), China Internet Information Center (China.org.cn) and the Center for International Communication Studies hosted a symposium on Thursday in Beijing to discuss cross-cultural communication and public diplomacy.

Zhao Qizheng, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Foreign Affairs Committee, is delivering a speech. [Yang Nan / China.org.cn]

More than 60 senior officials, experts, professors and entrepreneurs participated — sharing opinions on the change of patterns, the function of culture, and the influence on enterprises amidst cross-cultural communication.

Zhao Qizheng, chairman of CPPCC's Foreign Affairs Committee, said a nation's capacity of rhetoric should be improved to overcome cultural and language differences through public diplomacy, which subsequently allows nations to avoid misunderstandings and clearly express their ideals and intentions to other countries.

He emphasized that effective public diplomacy can meet the challenges presented by differences among nations in language, lifestyle, religion, ideology and values.

Wang Xiaohui, vice president of China Internet Information Center (China.org.cn), stressed the influence of the internet in interpersonal diplomacy. He said the internet can break the information monopoly, remove obstacles in terms of space and involve more people in diplomacy. He cited micro-blogging as a rapid and efficient way for ordinary people to share and access information.

According to Wang, the internet and emerging media can bypass the obstacles that obstruct international communication and cooperation and transfer humanity's common values across all cultures. People with differing perspectives and beliefs can recognize those yet move beyond them to unify on values such as justice, wisdom, trust and universal fraternity, Wang said.

He added that the government should seize the opportunities the internet has made available to promote interpersonal diplomacy that will bolster China's global image.