The Belt and Road Initiative Reconstructs International Communication Capacity

Since World War II, because of the uneven distribution of geopolitical, economic power, and cultural hegemony, the international communication order has long been dominated by the Western developed countries. Developing countries face the predicament of economic dependency and cultural colonization, and the lack of international discourse power severely limits their development. In the context of building a community with a shared future for mankind, reconstructing the international communication order is both necessary and just.

二战以来，由于地缘政治、经济实力和文化领导权的差异分布，国际传播秩序长期由西方发达国家占据主导地位，发展中国家面临经济依附、文化殖民的困境，国际话语权的缺失极大限制了这些国家的发展。在构建人类命运共同体的语境下，重构国际传播秩序是必要的且正义的。

The Belt and Road Initiative is an unprecedented infrastructure project and a major domestic and international economic strategy for China to actively respond to changes in the international situation. It brings new opportunities for China to reconstruct its communication capacity and pursue international discourse power, and it also serves as a new entry point for changing the international communication order and seeking peaceful development.

“一带一路”倡议是一项史无前例的基础设施项目，是中国积极应对国际形势变化的国内外经济重大策略，为中国重构传播力、追求国际话语权带来新机遇，也是改变国际传播秩序、谋求和平发展的新入口。

**Economic Foundation: The Grip of International Communication Becomes More Tangible**

经济奠基：国际传播的抓手更为可感

For a long time, China’s international communication has faced the predicament of “having reason but being unable to articulate it, and even when articulated, unable to spread it.” This is not only because the United States and other Western countries use media hegemony to control the communication agenda, but also because China itself, on the one hand, falls into the discourse trap of “the West comments and China follows with explanations,” and on the other hand, talks to itself within an unbridgeable ideological opposition. The Belt and Road Initiative brings new opportunities for China to break through this predicament.

长期以来，中国国际传播面临“有理说不出，说了传不开”的困境，这不仅是由于以美国为首的西方国家借助媒介霸权控制传播议程，还在于中国自身一方面陷入“西方动嘴评论，中国跟着解释”的话语困境，另一方面又在难以跨越的意识形态对立中自说自话。“一带一路”倡议为中国突破这种困境带来新机遇。

On the one hand, by combining large-scale infrastructure construction with industrial and environmental investment, the Belt and Road Initiative reshapes urban structures and promotes urban transformation. Many related cities establish new connections through tourism and trade, directly impacting the original economic dependency relationships. These new connections bring a new development pattern, highlighting the collective advantages of joint consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. This turns the United States and Western countries from bystanders into competitors, increases the visibility of economic issues, and enhances the autonomy of developing countries in international communication.

一方面，“一带一路”倡议通过将大型基础设施建设与工业、环境投资相结合，重塑城市结构、推动城市转型，众多相关城市通过旅游、贸易建立起新的联系，直接冲击了原有的经济依附关系。新的连接关系带来新的发展格局，共商共建共享的团体优势凸显，这就使得美西方国家从看客成为竞争者，经济议题的可见性提升，发展中国家在国际传播中的自主性得以增强。

On the other hand, with the continuous advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, China and its partners have been implementing deeper policy innovations, continuously improving transparency, expanding the scope of trade, improving debt sustainability, and mitigating environmental risks. This has steadily improved the trade, foreign investment, and living conditions of people in participating countries, allowing benefits to be widely shared and reducing global poverty. All of this provides tangible handles for China’s international communication, and also makes it difficult for the long-used “power expansion” reporting framework of the United States and Western countries to sustain itself.

另一方面，随着“一带一路”倡议的持续推进，中国与合作伙伴通过实行更深层次的政策创新，不断提高透明度、扩大贸易范畴、改善债务可持续性以及减轻环境风险，进而持续改善参与国的贸易、外资和国民生活条件，使收益得到广泛分享，全球贫困减少。这些都为中国国际传播提供了实实在在的抓手，也使得美西方国家长期使用的“权力扩张”报道框架难以为继。

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics show that since the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s total import and export volume with co-building countries has increased significantly. This indicates that the Belt and Road Initiative is not only a booster for China’s economic growth but also a new driving force for global economic growth, reflecting China’s sense of responsibility in improving global governance, and providing an intuitively tangible handle for China’s international communication.

国家统计局数据显示，自“一带一路”实施以来，中国对共建国家的进出口总额显著提升，这说明“一带一路”不仅是中国经济增长的助推器，还是推动全球经济增长的新动力，体现了改进全球治理的“中国担当”，为中国国际传播提供了直观可感的现实抓手。

**Cultural Guidance: The Foundation of International Communication Becomes Broader**

文化引路：国际传播的基础更为广泛

People-to-people and cultural exchanges are the core essence of the Silk Road spirit. Since ancient times, connectivity has been the pursuit of human society and the basic prerequisite for achieving linked development. Deep cultural exchanges require the establishment of smooth channels and platforms between countries and regions with different cultures. In 2016, the State Council issued the “13th Five-Year Plan for National Informatization” [1]1 The "13th Five-Year Plan for National Informatization" refers to China's national plan for the period 2016–2020, which for the first time explicitly proposed the construction of a Digital Silk Road as part of the Belt and Road Initiative., which for the first time proposed the priority action of building a Digital Silk Road. By strengthening network connectivity with Belt and Road co-building countries, China helps narrow the digital divide between different countries, regions, and populations, releasing the data dividend. This provides an independent platform for exchanges and mutual learning between different countries and regions, while also safeguarding the information sovereignty of co-building countries. On this basis, international exchanges show a new situation transitioning from government-led to the joint participation of multiple actors including governments, media, enterprises, social organizations, and individuals, thereby expanding the foundation of international communication.

人文交流是丝路精神的核心要义。自古以来，互联互通就是人类社会的追求，是实现联动发展的基础前提，文化交流的深入需要在文化各异的国家和地区之间建立畅通的渠道和平台。2016年，国务院印发《“十三五”国家信息化规划》，首次提出网上丝绸之路建设优先行动，中国与“一带一路”共建国家通过加强网络互联，缩小不同国家、地区和人群间的数字鸿沟，释放数据红利。这就为不同国家、地区之间的交流互鉴提供了自主平台，同时也维护了共建国家的信息主权。在此基础上，国际交流呈现出从政府主导转向政府、媒体、企业、社会组织、民间个体等多元主体共同参与的新局面，国际传播的基础得以拓展。

The Belt and Road Initiative has built a new platform for cultural exchange, integration, and development in the era of globalization. Partner countries use this platform to achieve connectivity and promote mutual learning, innovation, and development of their respective cultures at higher levels and on a larger scale. In 2017, the first co-produced animated series between China and Saudi Arabia, “Kong Xiaoxi and Hakeem” [2]2 "Kong Xiaoxi and Hakeem" is a Chinese-Saudi co-produced animated series launched in 2017, aimed at promoting cultural exchange between China and Saudi Arabia through storytelling., appeared on Saudi television screens, achieving a breakthrough from zero to one for Chinese animation in Saudi Arabia. Chinese culture entered the daily lives of ordinary Saudi people, enabling more people to understand China’s traditions and modernity. The goal of cultural exchange is people-to-people bonds, which are the social foundation and human foundation of Belt and Road construction, and the most fundamental, solid, and lasting form of connectivity. Over the past decade and more, the construction of various platform types themed around the Belt and Road—such as art festivals, expositions, trade fairs, forums, and public information services—has gradually become standardized and normalized. The brand effect of Belt and Road cultural activities has gradually strengthened, and co-building countries share cultural and artistic feasts in a series of large-scale cultural events with international influence.

“一带一路”构建了全球化时代文化交流融合发展的新平台，合作伙伴借助这个平台进行互联互通，推动彼此文化在更高层次、更大范围的交流、互鉴、创新和发展。2017年，中国与沙特阿拉伯联合制作的首部动画片《孔小西与哈基姆》登上沙特电视荧屏，实现了中国动漫在沙特从无到有的突破，中国文化走进了沙特普通民众的生活，使更多人了解到中国的传统与现代。文化交流的目标是民心相通，民心相通是“一带一路”建设的社会根基和人文基础，是最基础、最坚实、最持久的互联互通。十多年来，以“一带一路”为主题的各类艺术节、博览会、交易会、论坛、公共信息服务等平台建设逐步规范化和常态化，“一带一路”文化活动品牌效应逐渐增强，共建国家在一系列具有国际影响力的大型文化活动中共享文化艺术盛宴。

The deepening of cultural exchanges has brought a new situation for international communication. The world is no longer just East and West, but consists of many countries with different cultures and levels of development. The Belt and Road Initiative, guided by the value concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, advocates achieving complementary advantages, mutual benefit, and win-win outcomes under the fundamental orientation of openness, inclusiveness, and common development. This can inspire and lead the people of co-building countries to participate together. Cultural exchange and inter-civilization dialogue emphasize seeking common ground while reserving differences and being inclusive and tolerant; they are effective ways to eliminate misunderstandings, enhance mutual trust, and resolve disputes. This view of civilization, which emphasizes mutual learning and mutual understanding through dialogue, brings every country into the international communication system as an equal subject. The subject of storytelling gradually shifts from China to the world. When the goals of multiple subjects become unified, people-to-people bonds have the prerequisite conditions. Thus, telling China’s stories is no longer China talking to itself, but multiple subjects speaking together on the basis of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. This is an effective discursive practice to break through Western public opinion attacks.

文化交流的深入带来了国际传播的新局面，世界不只有东方和西方，而是由文化各异、发展各异的众多国家组成的。“一带一路”倡议以构建人类命运共同体为价值理念，主张在开放包容、共同发展的根本导向下，实现优势互补互利共赢，能够激励和引领共建国家的人民共同参与。文化交流和文明对话重在求同存异、兼容并包，是消除误解、增进互信、解决纷争的有效途径。这种在对话中互鉴互通的文明观将每一个国家作为平等的主体纳入国际传播体系中，讲故事的主体逐渐从中国变成世界。当多元主体的目标相统一，民心相通就具备了先决条件。由此，讲述中国故事不再是中国自说自话，而是多元主体在互利共赢基础上的共同发声，这是突破西方舆论攻击的有效话语实践。

**Media Enhancement: The Effectiveness of International Communication Becomes More Long-Lasting**

媒体增力：国际传播的成效更为长久

The Belt and Road Initiative requires large-scale information dissemination work, which provides opportunities for Chinese media to enhance their international communication capacity. Taking the project as an opportunity, Chinese media and media from co-building countries strengthen communication and cooperation, forming a media synergy that helps break through the Western media hegemony system and make their own voices heard. At the same time, Chinese media can seize the opportunities provided by the Belt and Road Initiative to increase the quantity of international news, improve the quality of reporting, and enhance their international visibility and influence. To better communicate with audiences from different countries, Chinese media should increase multilingual reporting, especially in major languages of Belt and Road co-building countries such as English, Arabic, and Russian, to expand the coverage of information.

“一带一路”倡议需要大规模的信息传播工作，这为中国媒体提升国际传播力提供了机会，中国与共建国家的媒体以项目为契机，加强沟通合作，形成媒体合力，有助于突破西方国家的媒介霸权体系，发出自己的声音。同时，中国媒体可以利用“一带一路”倡议的机遇，增加国际新闻的数量，提高报道质量，提升国际知名度和影响力。为了更好地与各国受众沟通，中国媒体要增加多语言报道，特别是使用英语、阿拉伯语、俄语等“一带一路”共建国家的主要语言，扩大信息覆盖范围。

The Belt and Road Initiative enriches new content for international communication. International or global issues have gradually become mainstream trends, and the enrichment of international topics helps enhance the international influence of the media. For example, after the concept of a “Green Belt and Road” [3]3 The "Green Belt and Road" is a concept within the Belt and Road Initiative that emphasizes environmentally sustainable infrastructure and investment, aligning with global climate goals. was proposed, related topics gained recognition from co-building countries. Topics related to green development, such as green low-carbon investment concepts, improving the quality of the ecological environment, addressing climate change synergistically, and implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, have gradually become new topics of the Belt and Road Initiative and core topics for building a community with a shared future for mankind. Mirjana Špoljarić, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, stated that poverty, violent conflict, and climate change form a “vicious cycle,” and the Belt and Road Initiative has improved infrastructure conditions in many countries and regions, mitigated the impact of climate change, and contributed to global humanitarian causes. The rich spiritual and factual materials provided by the Belt and Road Initiative place new demands on the construction of China’s international communication system, and in turn urge Chinese media to continuously improve their international communication capacity.

“一带一路”倡议丰富了国际传播的新内容，国际化或国际性议题逐渐成为主流趋势，而国际化议题的丰富有助于增强媒体的国际影响力。比如，绿色“一带一路”提出以后，相关话题得到共建国家的认可。与绿色相关的绿色低碳投资理念、推动生态环境质量改善、应对气候变化协同、落实联合国2030年可持续发展议程等，逐渐成为“一带一路”倡议的新议题，也成为构建人类命运共同体的核心话题。红十字国际委员会主席米里亚娜·什波利亚里奇表示，贫困、暴力冲突和气候变化之间是一个“恶性循环”，“一带一路”倡议改善了许多国家和地区的基础设施状况，减轻了气候变化的影响，为全球人道主义事业作出了贡献。“一带一路”倡议提供的丰富精神素材与事实素材，对我国国际传播体系建设提出了新要求，反过来又促使中国媒体不断提升国际传播力。

Overall, the Belt and Road Initiative provides an important platform and opportunity for the rise of China’s media power. It helps elevate China’s status in the international media field, promotes the internationalization of Chinese media, and also lays a solid foundation for China to exert greater influence in international affairs.

总的来说，“一带一路”倡议为中国的媒体力量崛起提供了重要的平台和机会，有助于提升中国在国际传媒领域的地位，推动中国媒体走向国际化，同时也为中国在国际事务中发挥更大的影响力打下坚实基础。

Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed, China has actively set the global agenda, attracting worldwide attention. The Belt and Road has opened a new way of interpreting the world through a Chinese framework, enhancing the discourse power of Chinese content on the world stage. The Belt and Road construction not only provides new opportunities for China to break through its international communication predicament, but also increases the international visibility of co-building countries. In this process, developing countries are no longer merely a vague group in international discourse but specific, vibrant economic and cultural entities. Over the past decade and more, China and Belt and Road co-building countries have been committed to transcending civilizational estrangement through civilization exchanges, transcending civilizational clashes through mutual learning, and jointly pursuing a bright future of world peace, prosperity, and development. Practice shows that the Belt and Road Initiative is an international communication practice under the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind. It reflects both national hard power, such as economic and technological strength, and soft power, such as culture and discourse power. Economic foundation, cultural guidance, and media enhancement are important opportunities for China to continuously strengthen its international communication capacity and open up the landscape of international communication through the Belt and Road Initiative.

“一带一路”倡议提出以来，中国积极制定全球议程，备受世界瞩目。“一带一路”更是开启了用中国框架解读世界的新方式，增强了中国内容在世界舞台的话语权。“一带一路”建设不仅为中国突破国际传播困境提供了新机遇，同时也提高了共建国家国际可见度。在这个过程中，发展中国家不只是国际话语中的一个模糊群体，而是一个个具体的鲜活的经济体、文化体。十多年来，中国与“一带一路”共建国家致力于以文明交流超越文明隔阂、文明互鉴超越文明冲突，共同追求世界和平繁荣发展的美好未来。实践表明，“一带一路”倡议是人类命运共同体理念下的国际传播实践，既体现了经济、科技等国家硬实力，也体现出文化、话语权等软实力，经济奠基、文化引路、媒体增力，是中国在“一带一路”倡议中不断增强国际传播力、打开国际传播格局的重要机遇。

(The author is a researcher at the Research Center for Chinese Ethnic Culture Communication, Minzu University of China.)

（作者系中央民族大学中华民族文化传播研究中心研究员）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧