On November 3, the 3rd International Communication Tongji Forum, jointly hosted by the China Public Relations Association and Tongji University, opened at its Siping Campus. Focusing on the theme of “Mutual Empowerment of Higher-Level Opening-Up and More Effective International Communication,” the forum brought together experts and scholars of international communication to exchange views on the latest development of communication theories and practice and on ways to further enhance international communication capacity. Prior to the forum, Fang Shou'en, Secretary of the CPC Tongji University Committee, met with leaders of the China Public Relations Association to discuss the university’s development and how to better advance international communication capacity.
The forum was attended by distinguished guests including Zhao Qizheng, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and former Director of the State Council Information Office; Guo Weimin, President of the China Public Relations Association and former Deputy Director of the State Council Information Office; Zhang Xiaoying, Vice President of the China Public Relations Association and former President and Editor-in-Chief of Economic Daily; Ding Wei, former Vice Minister of Culture; Xia Jixuan, Vice President and Academic Committee Director of the China Public Relations Association and former Deputy Director of China Radio International; Dong Guanpeng, Vice President of the China Public Relations Association and Dean of the National Public Relations and Strategic Research Institute at Communication University of China; Chen Yiqun, Director of the Shanghai Municipal Government Information Office; LYU Peiming, Executive Vice President of Tongji University; and Wu Guangming, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Tongji University Committee, among others.
In his opening remarks, Guo Weimin emphasized that over the past 40 years, China’s international communication cause have steadily developed and played a significant role in creating a sound external environment and promoting international exchange and cooperation. The mutual empowerment of opening-up and international communication has continually improved China’s comprehensive national strength and image. The China Public Relations Association will leverage its strengths to build platforms for exchange and cooperation, working with experts and scholars from various fields both at home and abroad, to continuously advance international communication capacity, contributing to high-level opening-up and to building a modern socialist country in all respects and a community with a shared future for mankind.
Zhang Xiaoying, in her role as moderator, stated that this forum not only invited experts of international communication but also economists, media professionals, and representatives from globally renowned Chinese enterprises, to explore the roles they play in the international communication process and to better integrate theoretical research with practice in building external discourse systems.
In his speech, LYU Peiming emphasized that Tongji University, in line with national strategies, attaches great importance to constructing outward discourse systems and international communication capacities. Internationalization is a distinctive feature of Tongji, which will continue to leverage its traditional advantages in international exchange and cooperation, and further transform foreign language disciplines, sharing our thoughts on building a discourse system with Chinese characteristics and a more effective international communication system.
Chen Yiqun, in her remarks, noted that the forum, held close to the opening of the 7th China International Import Expo, was timely, with the theme of opening-up and international communication. Shanghai’s high-level events provide excellent platforms and resources for international communication. She expressed anticipation for future cooperation with Tongji and other universities and think tanks to build a comprehensive entity for international communication to spread the voices of the government and media, making China’s voice go global.
During the keynote session, Zhao Qizheng delivered a speech titled “International Communication and Public Relations provide Great Opportunities” in which he elaborated on the importance of public relations in strengthening international communication. He emphasized the need to enhance discourse capacity and create a sound global opinion environment through maintaining public relations and public diplomacy. He also stressed that universities should provide general education in public relations, public diplomacy, and international communication, so that everyone can contribute to this cause.
Ding Wei, in his speech titled “Adhering to Reform and Opening-Up, Enhancing the Global Influence of Chinese Culture,” discussed the recent responses from the 7th General Assembly of the International Confucian Association. He highlighted the unique role of culture in international communication, noting that China’s thoughts on culture hold significant value for the world today. He argued that adhering to open and inclusive cultural exchanges can boost China’s international communication.
Chen Wenling, chief economist of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, in her speech titled Taking Effective Measures to Strengthen International Communication and Advocate for a Better International Environment for China, stated that we need to mobilize resources and forces from all aspects and use all available platforms, channels, means and methods to strengthen international communication, build a persuasive and influential three-dimensional external publicity system, and enhance the ability to create issues, topics and arguments.
Gu Xueming, dean of the Institute of Openness and Innovation Development of Shenzhen University, in his speech titled Constructing a Higher-level Pattern of Opening-up and a More Effective International Communication System, noted that we should promote more autonomous, systematic, leading and safe opening-up, build a more just and reasonable international communication order, and let the voices of China and the world form a harmonious resonance.
Gao Rongkun, dean of the China Institute for Free Trade Strategy of East China Normal University and former director general of Shanghai Customs, in his speech titled Promoting a New Economic Globalization with a New Free Trade Strategy, emphasized that customs is an important force in promoting trade facilitation and economic globalization. Implementing China's free trade strategy and contributing China's strength and solutions to the new economic globalization makes Shanghai the best case of mutual empowerment of international communication and opening-up.
Wu Yun, dean of the School of Foreign Studies of Tongji University, in her speech titled Historical Reflection and Contemporary Development of China's Outward Discourse System on Science and Technology, said that scientific and technological strength has become the key to competition among major countries. We urgently need to build a foreign discourse system on science and technology and simultaneously enhance the hard power of national scientific and technological innovation and the soft power of scientific and technological discourse.
Wu Guangming presided over the special exchange.
In the special exchange session in the afternoon, centering on Topic 1 Constructing a Multi-channel and Three-dimensional External Communication Pattern and Topic 2 Multi-dimensional Empowerment of International Communication System Construction, Wang Xiaohui, Party secretary and editor-in-chief of China Internet News Center (China.org.cn), Dong Guanpeng, Sun Ming, vice president of the Institute of Contemporary China and the World, Zhang Zhian, professor of the School of Journalism at Fudan University and vice dean of the All-media Institute for Global Communication of Fudan University, Zhang Yijun, first vice chairman of the China Audio-video and Digital Publishing Association, the executive director of the Party Work Department and executive general manager of the Brand and Culture Department of China Communications Construction Group, Chen Yinan, researcher of the School of Media and Communication of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and director of the Documentary Center, Sun Bowen, executive secretary-general of Ctrip Research Institute of Ctrip Group, and Qian Zhu, president and chief editor of Art and Design magazine successively gave reports. They shared their research and practical achievements and suggestions. The contents covered widely concerned topics such as innovation in external discourse, overseas communication of Chinese enterprises, think tank construction, urban international communication, international communication of Chinese game culture, international dissemination of documentaries, innovation of online tourism platforms, and telling stories of Chinese-style modernization. The special exchange was presided over by Wu Guangming.
When Xia Jixuan delivered a summary of the forum, he stressed that this forum focused on opening-up, international communication and bridge construction, reflecting the characteristic of crossing borders. The three themes support and empower each other. Drawing on the successful experience of bridge construction and telling the story of China's bridge-building that promotes win-win cooperation is an entry point for us to enhance the effectiveness of international communication.
Those who attended the forum activities also included Zhang Dong, second-level inspector of the International Communication Bureau of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the CPC, Zhou Ping, executive vice president of the Shanghai Public Relations Association, Liu Xiaotian, dean of the School of International Cultural Exchange of Capital Normal University, and Li Hongfei, deputy chief editor of Art and Design magazine.
As a part of the forum, the photo exhibition Connecting All Directions and the World - The Story of Chinese Bridges was unveiled in Tongwen Building, where the School of Foreign Studies of Tongji University is located, on the morning of the same day before the opening of the forum. The exhibition consists of three parts: a brief history of Chinese bridges, the bridge culture of China and its aesthetic implication, and the builders of Chinese bridges. It selects classic works of Chinese bridges in recent years, including international bridge projects in which Chinese bridge design and construction teams have participated. The third part also shows the people from Tongji University in building Chinese bridges.
At the unveiling ceremony, Dong Guanpeng and Ge Yaojun, professor of the School of Civil Engineering of Tongji University and former president of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering, delivered speeches respectively, and Wang Xiaohui presided. They said that a bridge is not only a transportation hub but also a carrier of culture and an emotional bond. The exhibition takes bridges as a medium, hoping to build more bridges of hearts for building a community with a shared future for mankind and making the story of Chinese bridges a vivid chapter in promoting exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations.