On the morning of September 19, the 2024 Beijing Culture Forum opened in Beijing. Li Shulei, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Yin Li, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, attended the event and delivered speeches.

Other attendees included Hu Heping, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee in charge of daily work; Shen Haixiong, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and President and Editor-in-Chief of China Media Group (CMG); Cao Shumin, Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA); Xie Chuntao, Vice President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) in charge of daily work; Tuo Zhen, President of People’s Daily; Fu Hua, President of Xinhua News Agency; Gao Xiang, President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Li Yi, Secretary of Party Leadership Group, Vice Chairman, and Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles; Zhang Hongsen, Secretary of Party Leadership Group, Vice Chairman, and Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Writers Association; Li Xiuling, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress; Wei Xiaodong, Chairman of the CPPCC Beijing Municipal Committee; and Liu Wei, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee.

Both domestic and international guests agreed that President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter to the forum last year fully demonstrated the open and inclusive cultural spirit of the Chinese nation. It expressed China’s strong desire to strengthen cultural exchanges with countries around the world and to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture marks a significant milestone in China’s cultural development, contributing Chinese wisdom to the advancement of global culture and civilization.

The attendees called for greater efforts to inherit culture by cherishing the historical and cultural traditions of their nations. They emphasized the need for comprehensive and systematic protection of cultural heritage and exploration of its multiple values, so as to incorporate the genes and symbols of civilization into modern life and everyday spaces. Cultural prosperity should be further promoted by respecting laws of arts development, allowing writers and artists to play out their diverse ingenuity, and fostering vibrant cultural innovation through the abundant opportunities offered by the Internet. This will result in more outstanding works that benefit society and inspire the people. Furthermore, we should deepen mutual understanding among civilizations by advancing the Global Civilization Initiative and engaging in extensive people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation, thereby fostering greater understanding and friendship among the peoples of different countries.

The 2024 Beijing Culture Forum, themed “Deepening Cultural Exchange to Achieve Common Progress”, is co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality. At the opening ceremony, Inlavanh Keobounphanh, Vice President of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Central Committee, and Irina Bokova, Former Director-General of UNESCO, delivered speeches. Du Zhanyuan, President of China International Communications Group (CICG), released the Report on Sino-Foreign Cultural Exchanges (2023), while Liu Wei presented the Top Ten Events in Developing Beijing as the National Cultural Center in 2023.

(Written by Qi Mengzhu and Fan Junsheng)