Strengthen the Concept of Engaging in Dialogue with the World through Culture

In his important article “Accelerating the Building of a Culturally Strong Country,” General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasizes strengthening the concept of engaging in dialogue with the world through culture and extensively carrying out diverse forms of international people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation. It is necessary to more proactively learn from and draw upon all outstanding achievements of human civilization and create a batch of cultural achievements that fuse the ancient and the modern and connect China and the foreign. This is an important strategic deployment for continuously enhancing national cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture amid the accelerated evolution of changes unseen in a century, providing a scientific theoretical guide and practical methodological pathway for conducting world cultural exchanges and accelerating the building of a culturally strong country.

习近平总书记在《加快建设文化强国》重要文章中强调，强化用文化同世界对话的理念，广泛开展形式多样的国际人文交流合作。更加积极主动地学习借鉴人类一切优秀文明成果，创造一批熔铸古今、汇通中外的文化成果。这是世界百年未有之大变局加速演进过程中不断提高国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力的重要战略部署，为开展世界文化交流、加快建设文化强国提供了科学的理论指南和切实的方法路径。

Dialogue is an act of interaction and engagement between subjects; its fundamental purpose is to eliminate differences and conflicts between each other, enhance mutual understanding and identification, and promote self-improvement and development. Engaging in dialogue with the world through culture aims, through effective communication and friendly exchange, to strengthen the close connection between Chinese culture and world cultures, jointly safeguard the existing achievements of human civilization, work together to create new forms of human civilization, and at the same time enhance the global vision and practical resilience of Chinese culture.

对话，是主体与主体之间的交往和互动行为，根本目的在于消弭彼此之间的分歧与冲突，增进相互理解与认同，促进自我完善与发展。用文化同世界对话，旨在通过有效沟通和友好交流，强化中华文化与世界文化的紧密联系，共同守护人类文明既有成果，携手创造人类文明新形态，同时增强中华文化的全球视野和现实韧性。

To engage in dialogue with the world through culture, it is necessary to uphold the subjectivity of Chinese culture and strengthen cultural confidence. Cultural subjectivity embodies the unique spiritual core of a nation’s or country’s culture, constitutes the essential characteristics of culture, and determines the direction of cultural development. For any culture to stand firm and go far, to have leading power, cohesive power, shaping power, and radiating power, it must possess its own subjectivity.

用文化同世界对话，必须坚守中华文化主体性，坚定文化自信。文化主体性体现一个民族或国家文化的独特精神内核，构成文化的本质特征，决定文化的发展方向。任何文化要立得住、行得远，要有引领力、凝聚力、塑造力、辐射力，就必须有自己的主体性。

The subjectivity of Chinese culture was established by the Communist Party of China leading the Chinese people on Chinese soil; it was established on the basis of creatively transforming and innovatively developing fine traditional Chinese culture, inheriting revolutionary culture, and developing advanced socialist culture, while drawing upon and absorbing all outstanding achievements of human civilization; it was established through integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture. Only by upholding the subjectivity of Chinese culture and strengthening cultural confidence can we, in international cultural exchanges, deeply grasp our own core values, maintain cultural composure, avoid falling into self-doubt and self-denial, and not be swayed by external forces; only then can Chinese culture have a foundation, a fulcrum, and the confidence for sustainable development, constructing a cultural discourse system, communication system, and value system with Chinese characteristics, and enhancing its recognizability and competitiveness; only then can we, on the basis of promoting fine traditional Chinese culture, integrate the ancient and the modern and connect China and the West, allowing fine traditional Chinese culture to radiate new contemporary brilliance; only then can we, through a mature set of theories and methods, discard the dross and select the essential, discard the false and retain the true, enhance the right to speak in cultural development through exchange, and grasp the initiative in cultural development through mutual learning.

中华文化主体性是中国共产党带领中国人民在中国大地上建立起来的；是在创造性转化、创新性发展中华优秀传统文化，继承革命文化，发展社会主义先进文化的基础上，借鉴吸收人类一切优秀文明成果的基础上建立起来的；是通过把马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际、同中华优秀传统文化相结合建立起来的。只有坚守中华文化主体性，坚定文化自信，才能在国际文化交流中深刻把握自身的核心价值，保持文化定力，不陷入自我怀疑和自我否定，也不被外部力量左右；才能让中华文化永续发展有根基、有支点、有底气，构建起有中国特色的文化话语体系、传播体系和价值体系，增强辨识度和竞争力；才能在弘扬中华优秀传统文化的基础上融通古今、贯通中西，让中华优秀传统文化焕发新的时代光彩；才能通过一套成熟的理论与方法去芜存菁、去伪存真，在交流中提升文化发展的话语权，在互鉴中掌握文化发展的主动权。

Upholding the subjectivity of Chinese culture aims to oppose the erroneous behavior of blindly esteeming foreign cultures and fundamentally negating national traditional culture, while also overcoming erroneous tendencies such as conservatism, closed-mindedness, national nihilism, and historical nihilism. It is necessary to properly handle the dialectical relationship between upholding cultural subjectivity and absorbing foreign cultures, achieving “taking ourselves as the mainstay while being inclusive and eclectic,” and continuously innovating and developing socialist culture with Chinese characteristics for the New Era.

坚守中华文化主体性，旨在反对一味推崇外来文化、根本否定民族传统文化的错误行为，同时也必须克服守旧主义、封闭主义、民族虚无主义和历史虚无主义等错误倾向。要处理好坚守文化主体性与吸收外来文化的辩证关系，做到“以我为主，兼收并蓄”，不断创新和发展新时代中国特色社会主义文化。

To engage in dialogue with the world through culture, it is necessary to focus on improving the effectiveness of cross-cultural communication. Through effective cross-cultural communication, misunderstandings can be reduced, cooperation enhanced, and harmonious coexistence between different cultures promoted. Currently, the international dissemination of Chinese culture, affected by factors such as cultural differences, language barriers, and communication models, still faces considerable challenges in terms of communication channels, communication effects, and communication influence. Therefore, in the process of engaging in dialogue with the world through culture, it is necessary to actively explore effective cross-cultural communication strategies, proactively carry out international cultural exchanges, broaden the international dissemination channels of Chinese culture, and skillfully use new perspectives, new methods, and new discourses to tell China’s story well.

用文化同世界对话，必须着力提高跨文化沟通的有效性。通过有效的跨文化沟通，可以减少误解、增强合作，促进不同文化之间和谐共处。当前中华文化的国际传播，受文化差异、语言障碍和传播模式等因素的影响，在传播渠道、传播效果和传播影响力等方面仍然面临不小的挑战。因此，在用文化同世界对话的过程中，必须积极探索有效的跨文化沟通策略，主动开展国际文化交流，拓宽中国文化国际传播渠道，善用新的角度、新的方法、新的话语讲好中国故事。

We must continuously introduce to the world outstanding cultural products with Chinese characteristics that embody the Chinese spirit and contain Chinese wisdom, enhancing the value connotation, fashion appeal, and technological content of cultural products, with particular attention to highlighting the strong original creativity and extraordinary charm of Chinese culture in everyday narratives and small-perspective narratives, so that the world can better understand China. We must abandon outdated models such as “indoctrination,” focus on carrying out soft communication, and on the basis of “knowing oneself,” achieve “knowing the other,” using more channels and methods that foreign people can hear, understand, and accept, to spread China’s voice well. We must strive to find and explore common topics, express shared emotions, not only tell “my story” well but also tell “our story” well, making works not only “Chinese” but also “global,” achieving resonance and deep empathy, promoting Chinese culture to “go global” while pursuing “going deep,” not only being satisfied that overseas friends have “watched” and “listened,” but also striving to make them “understand” and “love.”

我们要持续不断地向世界推出具有中国特色、体现中国精神、蕴藏中国智慧的优秀文化产品，提升文化产品的价值内涵、时尚趣味与科技含量，特别注重在日常叙事、小切口叙事中突出中国文化的强大原创力和非凡魅力，让世界更好地了解中国。要抛弃“灌输”等陈旧模式，注重开展柔性传播，在“知己”的基础上做到“知彼”，多用外国民众听得到、听得懂、听得进的途径和方式，传播好中国声音。要努力寻找和挖掘共同的话题，抒发共通的情感，不仅讲好“我的故事”，也讲好“我们的故事”，让作品不仅是“中国的”，也是“世界的”，实现同频共振、深度共情，推动中国文化“走出去”的同时追求“走进去”，不只是满足于海外友人“看了”“听了”，还要努力让他们“懂了”“爱了”。

Basing ourselves on the times and continuously innovating concepts, ideas, and methods is a practical way to improve the effectiveness of cross-cultural communication. Therefore, cross-cultural communication should pay attention to the contemporary context of the times, especially the new changes and new phenomena brought about by digital media to international cultural exchanges. The long-standing, extensive, and profound resources of fine traditional Chinese culture urgently need to be displayed online and activated for use through digital media, go abroad through modern industrial systems and brand operations, attract the attention of young audiences globally, enable these cultural carriers embodying the national spirit to radiate modern charm that transcends regions, and fully demonstrate the individuality and value of Chinese culture.

立足时代、不断创新观念理念和方式方法，是提高跨文化沟通有效性的一个切实途径。因此，跨文化沟通要注重当下的时代语境，特别是数字化媒介给国际文化交流带来的新变化和新气象。源远流长、博大精深的中华优秀传统文化资源，亟须通过数字化媒介进行线上展示和活化利用，借助现代产业体系和品牌化运作走出国门，吸引全球范围内年轻受众的目光，使这些承载着民族精神的文化载体焕发跨越地域的现代魅力，充分展现中国文化的个性与价值。

Promoting mutual understanding and respect between different cultures is the necessary path to improving the effectiveness of cross-cultural communication. The current state of cultural development in each country is closely related to its own geographical location, resource endowments, historical origins, etc., so cultural exchanges and dialogues must be adapted to local conditions and implemented with precise measures. Only by understanding the cultural characteristics and development trends of different countries and regions, “singing the song according to the mountain you are on,” and continuously improving the targeting of cross-cultural exchanges, can mutual understanding and respect between different cultures be enhanced, and can we better move forward hand in hand and walk side by side.

促进不同文化之间的相互理解和尊重，是提高跨文化沟通有效性的必由之路。每个国家的文化发展现状，都跟自身的地理位置、资源禀赋、历史渊源等密切相关，所以在文化交流和对话时必须因地制宜、精准施策。只有了解不同国家和地区的文化特点及发展动态，“到什么山唱什么歌”，不断提升跨文化交流的针对性，才能增进不同文化之间的相互理解和尊重，更好地携手前进、并肩同行。

Emphasizing strategic planning and strategic patience is an important prerequisite for improving the effectiveness of cross-cultural communication. Cross-cultural exchange is not a flash in the pan in one time or place, nor is it an occasional whim; rather, it requires adhering to “long-termism,” truly recognizing that “sharpening the axe will not delay the cutting of firewood,” producing outstanding works with heart and soul, moving and attracting people with classic IPs, cultivating outstanding talents for international cultural exchanges throughout the entire cycle, nurturing loyal audiences, enhancing user stickiness, and fully displaying a credible, lovable, and respectable image of China in the market context and cultural atmosphere.

注重战略谋划和战略耐心，是提高跨文化沟通有效性的重要前提。跨文化交流，不是一时一地的昙花一现，也不是心血来潮般的偶尔为之，而是要坚持“长期主义”，切实认识到“磨刀不误砍柴工”，用心用情推出优秀作品，以经典IP打动人、吸引人，全周期培养国际文化交流优秀人才，培育忠实受众，增强用户黏性，在市场语境和文化氛围中尽情展现可信、可爱、可敬的中国形象。

In summary, engaging in dialogue with the world through culture means strengthening cultural mutual learning on the basis of cultural autonomy. Through mutual learning and equal dialogue between Chinese and foreign cultures, it depicts a beautiful picture of world cultures coexisting in diversity, harmoniously co-existing, developing, and prospering, where “each appreciates its own beauty, appreciates the beauty of others, shares beauty in unity, and achieves great harmony under heaven.” [1]1 A classical Chinese ideal of harmony, from the Confucian classic *Book of Rites* (《礼记》), describing a world where diverse cultures and peoples coexist peacefully and share common values. By engaging in dialogue with the world through culture, Chinese culture will achieve sustainable development in promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

总之，用文化同世界对话，意味着在文化自主的基础上加强文化互鉴，通过中外文化的相互学习和平等对话，描绘出“各美其美，美人之美，美美与共，天下大同”的世界文化多元并存、和谐共生、发展繁荣的美好图景。用文化同世界对话，中华文化将在推动构建人类命运共同体中实现永续发展。

(Author: Lian Ziqiang, specially-appointed researcher of the Fujian Provincial Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and Associate Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Huaqiao University)

（作者：连子强，系福建省习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想研究中心特约研究员、华侨大学新闻与传播学院副教授）

Online Editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧