Inheriting excellent culture and promoting mutual learning among civilizations

Inheriting excellent culture and promoting mutual learning among civilizations

-Voice from the 2023 Beijing Cultural Forum

Guangming Daily reporter Han Yeting Xie Yunkai

On September 14th, 2023 Beijing Cultural Forum opened. Around the permanent theme of "inheriting, innovating and learning from each other" and the annual theme of "inheriting excellent culture and promoting exchanges and cooperation", more than 600 guests at home and abroad gathered together to learn the beauty of Chinese culture and exchange experiences in learning from each other’s civilizations.

2023 Beijing Forum on Culture. Xinhua News Agency reporter Yan Huanzong photo

"The towering trees must have their roots; The water of Huaishan must have its source. " Chinese civilization is the only great civilization in the world that has been continuously developed in the form of a country. Abundant document carriers, such as Oracle bones, inscriptions, bamboo slips, silk scripts, engraving and movable type printing, have recorded the splendid history and culture of China. The Great Wall, the Grand Canal, the Royal Palace, classical gardens, Confucian temples and academies are dotted with cultural heritages, which form a profound context of Chinese history and culture. Twenty-four solar terms, five elements of yin and yang, folk festivals, piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, tea culture, Chinese medicine, Chinese food, national music and local operas all reflect the people of China’s understanding of cosmic life and their perception of wonderful life.

The ancient capital culture with a long history is the root and background of the capital culture. Yin Yong, Mayor of Beijing, said that in recent years, Beijing has paid attention to the protection and utilization of historical and cultural resources around the masses. A number of hutongs, such as Caochang Hutong and Maoer Hutong, have been restored according to the original mechanism, recreating the lost artistic conception of old Beijing Hutong, and people living in quadrangles have enjoyed the convenience of modern life. At the same time, Beijing has vigorously promoted the construction of "performing arts capital", repaired and reopened a number of halls such as Huguang Hall and Anhui Hall, and carried out a series of activities of "There is a play in the hall"; Accelerate the construction and operation of "one group, one performance", relying on cultural landmarks such as Chang ‘an Grand Theatre, Mei Lanfang Grand Theatre and Zhengyi Temple Theater, and continue to polish the cultural business card of "Watching Beijing with Great Drama", forming a high-quality opera performance with Beijing characteristics and China style.

"Chinese culture has inherent stability and durability, and it has the flexibility and application of keeping pace with the times." Writer Wang Meng pointed out that learning to inherit traditional culture requires activating classics and theories and integrating traditional culture into people’s daily lives.

Beijing is the world’s first "Double Olympic City". As the general director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the two Olympic Games, Zhang Yimou said that the opening and closing ceremonies of the two Olympic Games organically combined culture, technology and creativity, highlighting the achievements of creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese excellent traditional culture. Zhang Yimou and his team insist on drawing inspiration and strength from Chinese excellent traditional culture, and at the same time, they have deeply refined Chinese excellent traditional culture and the spiritual identity of Chinese civilization.

From ancient times to the present, the "Silk Road" has always been a bridge between Chinese and foreign cultural exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations. Egyptian Minister of Culture Nafi Cirany expressed his hope to take the opportunity of the Beijing Cultural Forum to further strengthen the dialogue and exchanges between the people of Egypt and China and enhance the friendship and cultural exchanges between the people of all countries.

"Today’s forum provides an opportunity to emphasize the importance of cultural heritage. Cultural heritage is people’s spiritual treasure house. Through mutual understanding, equal exchanges and cooperation among countries, it will become the inspiration and starting point for creating the achievements of modern civilization. " Chrestos Dimas, Deputy Minister of Greek Culture, said.

"China and Portugal are located at the east and west ends of Eurasia, and the distance of thousands of kilometers has not hindered the cooperation and exchanges between the two countries." Francisco Gonsavis, deputy mayor of the Portuguese city of Aoelas, said that the Beijing Cultural Forum will be a milestone in the further cooperation between China and Portugal in the fields of culture and tourism.

Tamara Rastova Siamashvili, President of the UNESCO Executive Board, said that she was deeply impressed by China’s unprecedented investment in culture and other fields. She believes that the Beijing Cultural Forum will help strengthen cooperation and promote the formation of new consensus.

Guangming Daily (September 15, 2023, 07 edition)

Source: Guangming Net-Guangming Daily