By Li Shouen, CCTV.com reporter

China is now the second largest economy in the world and the international community has witnessed its rising influence, but mainly from the economic standpoint. But to be a real “major power” at the center of the world stage, a nation should not only build its "hard power," but also its "soft power."

Even though China has made tremendous achievements in various fields, its global image remains mixed, or even negative in many cases. Reasons behind this are also varied: mainly from distorted reports by western mainstream media outlets, but one thing we can't neglect is, compared to its economic influence, China is still too weak to express itself in the world arena, "China is like a speaker who has already stepped onto the stage, yet standing there speechless."

Then what should China do to enhance its soft power, especially its culture influence to the outside world? A forum, Reach and Influence of Contemporary Chinese Culture, sponsored by the Academy for International Communication of Chinese Culture (AICCC), Beijing Normal University (BNU), Huilin Foundation, BNU and International Communication of Chinese Culture (a journal press), was held on Nov. 24-25 in Beijing, which had concurred with the 8th Annual Meeting of the AICCC.

(Group photo of representatives attending the 8th Annual Meeting of the AICCC and the forum of Reach and Influence of Contemporary Chinese Culture)

More than 200 participants, including some 60 experts from at home and abroad had discussed and explored ways to promote international influence of Chinese culture. Chen Li, Vice President of BNU, called on participants to research the law of development of the international influence that had been brought by excellent Chinese culture in different eras and regions, and to find out the Chinese wisdom evolved from Chinese culture, so as to provide ideological support and spiritual momentum for progress of humanity by integrating Chinese culture with other cultures around the world.

 
(Chen Li, Vice President of BNU delivering a speech)

Huang Huilin, Professor Emeritus of BNU, also Dean of AICCC and founder of Huilin Foundation, said that though China's influence has been increasing in the past years, the international influence of its culture still lags far behind, which has raised concerns for those who are engaged in promoting Chinese culture internationally, so she hopes the forum can become a platform and incubator for experts to analyze the reasons behind, to broaden their visions and to find solutions for problems that people are commonly faced with in a time of globalization. She also noted that to achieve the goal, China should improve its own strength first and must be patient, since nobody can build Rome in one day.

(Huang Huilin, Professor Emeritus of BNU, also Dean of AICCC and founder of Huilin Foundation delivering a speech)

China's world-renowned sculptor Wu Weishan, also director of the National Art Museum of China and Vice President of China Artists Association, believes the key is to promote equal international exchanges and dialogues to enhance mutual understandings, in order to create a deep and long-lasting influence. As art is a universal "language," it can function as an important bond to build a community of shared future for all society.

(Wu Weishan, director of the National Art Museum of China and Vice President of China Artists Association delivering a speech)

Michele Ferrero, an Italian sinologist, guest professor of School of European Languages, Beijing Foreign Studies University, also Director of Center of Latin Linguistic Culture, suggested China learn from the experience of Latin Language when it generated a prominent cultural influence in the history, but avoid following the road to its ruin.

(Michele Ferrero, guest professor of School of European Languages, Beijing Foreign Studies University delivering a speech)

Experts also attended four roundtable semi-forums themed on, "Cultural Influence of Contemporary Chinese Film and TV," "Reach and Influence of Chinese Literature," "Influence of Chinese Arts and Culture," "Globalization and International Cultural Influence" respectively.

(The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )

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