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China Daily launched Vision China in 2018 as a bridge for communication between China and the rest of the world. Focusing on developments in both China and abroad, Vision China invites well-known opinion leaders to share their ideas on a wide range of topics.
Sept 12, 2024?–?"Inspiration from the Past, Vision for the Future",?New York, US
June 9, 2024 – "Treasuring the Past, Enriching the Future", Jinzhou, Liaoning province
At the Vision China event themed "Treasuring the Past, Enriching the Future" on June 9, Liu Huiyan, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee, head of the Committee's Publicity Department, noted that Liaoning holds countless cultural treasures waiting to be discovered and mysterious stories waiting to be uncovered.
"We sincerely welcome everyone to visit Jinzhou frequently, to experience the unique charm of this heroic red city, " said Liu Kewu, the secretary of the CPC Jinzhou Municipal Committee at the latest Vision China event themed "Treasuring the Past, Enriching the Future". He also mentioned that Jinzhou is dedicated to preserving and protecting the treasures of Chinese culture.
The latest Vision China event, themed "Treasuring the past, Enriching the future", was held in Jinzhou, Liaoning, on Sunday. Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, noted that Liaoning's resilience, evident in Hongshan Culture's weaponless sites, showcases the peaceful roots of Chinese civilization.
At the Vision China event themed "Treasuring the Past, Enriching the Future" on June 9, international student Bence Lengyel from Renmin University of China shared his experience in Liaoning province. He thinks it is really important to understand the importance of protecting cultural heritage. Because "it not just represents our country, but also represents who we really are."
"The highlight of the trip is Wunvshan Mountain, it is really hard to climb the 999 steps. I am so shocked when we reached the top, the scenery was so beautiful!" said Clara Puspita Kusuma, an international student of University of International Business and Economics at the latest Vision China event themed "Treasuring the Past, Enriching the Future".
At the Vision China event themed "Treasuring the Past, Enriching the Future" on June 9, international student Aleksandra Antonenko, who is from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, shared her experience as a Chinese culture vlogger. She thinks "everything in China is about art" and hopes to tell more Chinese stories in her own way.
"The sparkles of civilization shone across the vast land of China like stars," said writer Zhu Yong, research librarian at the Palace Museum and director of the Palace Museum Cultural Communication Research Institute at the latest Vision China event themed "Treasuring the Past, Enriching the Future".
"Tech enhances cultural exchange. But one thing I've come to understand while traveling in every province in China is, there will always be value in meeting person-to-person, face-to-face and hand-in-hand to better see eye-to-eye. The personal touch can't be replaced with any number of ones and zeroes," China Daily senior journalist Erik Nilsson emphasized at a Vision China event themed "Treasuring the Past, Enriching the Future" on June 9.
At the Vision China event themed "Treasuring the Past, Enriching the Future" on June 9, Steve Brown, Senior research fellow at the University of Canberra's Center for Creative & Cultural Research, highlighted the rich natural and cultural heritage of China. He noted the long-standing interactions and cultural fusion between the people of China and Australia, with Australia's oldest dragon being a testament to this enduring connection.
"One of the most iconic examples of cultural integration is obviously the Silk Road," said Marcella Festa, associate professor at School of Cultural Heritage of Northwest University at the latest Vision China event themed "Treasuring the Past, Enriching the Future". She believes that the Belt and Road Initiative not only seeks to foster economic integration, but also enhances regional connectivity.
The enduring legacies of ancient civilizations resonate with those seeking inspiration for the modern world, and Northeast China's Liaoning province appears to be an ideal starting point for such cultural exploration.
The captivating charm of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Liaoning, historically an intersecting point of fishing and hunting, agricultural and nomadic cultures, was demonstrated on Sunday at the Vision China event in Jinzhou, Liaoning.
Jointly organized by China Daily and the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Liaoning Provincial Committee, the event gathered archaeologists, cultural scholars and practitioners from home and abroad, as well as foreign youth representatives in China, to share their experiences and insights under the theme "Treasuring the Past, Enriching the Future".
Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, noted that the event served as a concrete manifestation of thoroughly promoting and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Culture.
Qu listed some of Liaoning's well-known unearthed artifacts and relics sites, as well as industrial achievements since the founding of New China in 1949, all the way through to the current time, when the fast-changing traditional industrial area is vigorously developing new quality productive forces. He noted that all of these demonstrate the five prominent features of Chinese civilization that President Xi Jinping has summarized, namely consistency, originality, uniformity, inclusiveness and peacefulness.
"Against the backdrop of an era where changes on a scale unseen in a century are unfolding at an accelerated pace, we need to tell good stories of China and the Chinese civilization, as well as the glorious chapter of the Chinese path to modernization, to the world, on the basis of vivid practices and diversified cultural heritage on this land, including Liaoning," he said.
Liu Huiyan, head of the publicity department of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee, said that revitalization of culture — in Liaoning's case a blending of numerous historical legacies and revolutionary and industrial cultural resources — is an essential aspect of the province's endeavor for comprehensive revitalization.
The province is seeking coordinated development of culture, sports and tourism, and has garnered unprecedented vitality and opportunities in cultural undertakings and industries, he added.
Party Secretary of Jinzhou Liu Kewu said the Vision China event was, for Jinzhou, a cultural feast that enhanced mutual learning and exchanges, a precious chance to promote the city, and an opportunity to provide strong support for revitalization and development.
On his inspection to Jinzhou in August 2022, President Xi praised it as a heroic city with a distinctive cultural temperament and profound historical and cultural heritage, and he expressed confidence in and expectations for the comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China in the new era.
Liu Kewu said that the city spares no effort to inherit its cultural treasures and prolong its historical lineage, and expressed hope for enhancing friendship and cooperation with experts from all walks of life.
Chang Shana, 93, a respected scholar of Dunhuang arts as well as daughter of Chang Shuhong, founding director of the Dunhuang Academy, sent video congratulations to the event, as did pianist Lang Lang, who was born and raised in Liaoning's provincial capital, Shenyang.
In her keynote speech, Marcella Festa, associate professor at the School of Cultural Heritage at Northwest University in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, highlighted the role of archaeology in enhancing the understanding of human history, bridging cultural gaps and educating future generations.
She said that recent archaeological efforts have revealed the presence of advanced civilizations beyond the Central Plains of China and demonstrated long-standing connections between various regions of Asia since prehistoric times. With projects like the Belt and Road Initiative, more about these ancient societies is expected to be uncovered.
While speaking of Hongshan culture, a key Neolithic culture known for its exquisite jade ware and emerging ritual traditions that encompassed today's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Liaoning and Hebei provinces, Festa said she found it particularly intriguing that the Hongshan people relied on a mix of farming, hunting and fishing for subsistence, which has challenged the conventional belief that only agricultural societies could produce Neolithic cultures.
Zhu Yong, director of the Palace Museum Cultural Communication Research Institute in Beijing, expounded on the name of his home province: "Liao" represents vastness, openness and entrepreneurship, while "ning" embodies the inner pursuit of peace, harmony and tranquility.
This land of cultural integration has shaped the cultural ethos of the people as dynamic, open-minded and enthusiastic, and its culture shines as an outstanding example of the prominent features of Chinese civilization, he said.
Zhong Lina, dean of the Institute for Tourism and Culture Planning at Beijing International Studies University, analyzed Liaoning's cultural richness, noting that a visit to Liaoning enables domestic and foreign tourists to witness a more vivid image of China. This richness stems from Liaoning's pivotal location, connecting Northeast China with the Central Plains region and linking Northeast Asia with inland regions of Eurasia, and where nomadic and agrarian cultures converged.
While celebrating the past treasures, Steve Brown, senior research fellow at the University of Canberra's Centre for Creative and Cultural Research, also called for attention to everyday family heritage and stories that bear importance for modern society, and Erik Nilsson, an expat at China Daily, emphasized the value of a personal touch that cannot be replaced by digital technology in conserving culture and carrying the heritage through the coming decades.
Four youth representatives, from Russia, Hungary, Belarus and Indonesia, shared their understanding of the inheritance, preservation and promotion of cultural heritage during a following roundtable dialogue.
"Vision China" is a series that China Daily launched in 2018.Held at home and abroad and through online platforms, the events serve as a bridge for dialogues between China and the world by inviting well-known Chinese and overseas opinion leaders to give talks and share their ideas. The event in Jinzhou was the 30th edition of the series.
Scan the QR code to watch the live broadcast of the latest Vision China event.
Vision China's upcoming event, themed "Treasuring the past, enriching the future," is set to take place in Jinzhou, Northeast China's Liaoning province. The live broadcast is scheduled for 9:30 am this Sunday.
Guest speakers from both domestic and international backgrounds have just concluded an enriching tour of world cultural heritages in Liaoning. During the event, they will offer insights on preserving and promoting traditional Chinese culture while fostering intercultural exchanges.
