Symposium held to discuss Dunhuang, jiandu culture
The Symposium on Popularizing Dunhuang Culture and Jiandu Culture and International Communication of Chinese Culture was held in Dunhuang city, northwestern China's Gansu province, on Saturday. Chang Bo, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), attended the symposium and delivered a speech.
Chang Bo, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), delivers a speech at the symposium in Dunhuang city, northwestern China's Gansu province, March 28, 2026. [Photo/CICG]
Chang said that Dunhuang culture and jiandu culture are treasures of Chinese civilization, as well as important heritages in the long course of world civilization. He said that cultural popularization and internationalization are inseparable, and called for keeping up with the times to show the world the modern relevance of Chinese culture. He also called for promoting shared values to help the world understand the deep meaning of Chinese culture, and for driving technological empowerment so that people around the world can enjoy its charm.
CICG stands ready to enhance cooperation with all parties to make new contributions to the reach and influence of Chinese civilization, Chang said.
Wang Yanqun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Jiuquan Municipal Party Committee and secretary of the Dunhuang Municipal Party Committee, said that Dunhuang, a pearl on the Silk Road, is a significant testament to the exchanges and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations, with jiandu serving as precious historical records of people interactions and ethnic integration on the Silk Road.
He noted that the symposium has provided an important platform for cultural exchanges between China and other countries. Building on this opportunity, Dunhuang city will deepen cooperation across multiple parties to promote the inheritance and innovation of Dunhuang culture and contribute to the international influence of Chinese culture, Wang said.
Jia Ning, secretary of the Party Committee of Northwest Normal University (NWNU), said that as a province rich in jiandu resources, wooden and bamboo slips for writing in ancient China, Gansu carries profound genes of Chinese culture. In recent years, NWNU has designated "jiandu studies" as a breakthrough project in its discipline development and was awarded approval for the nation's first interdisciplinary doctoral program in jiandu studies in 2024.
Leveraging its strong tradition in media education, the university has also established a comprehensive talent cultivation system spanning from undergraduate to doctoral levels, Jia added. He said that the university will continue to promote interdisciplinary integration and reinforce cooperation with institutions such as the Dunhuang Academy, jointly elevating the reach and influence of Chinese civilization.
Tang Heng, head of Popular Culture Society of China and professor at the NWNU College of Communication, said that the international communication of Dunhuang culture has entered a new stage, generally showing a proactive and vigorous trend, though there is room for improvement in specific practices.
He thus proposed that it was essential to adopt a user-centered, region- and country-specific approach to invigorate the momentum of communication at all levels, and to better present the image of contemporary Chinese culture through the achievements of reforms and development in the media industry.
Experts and scholars from China and abroad engaged in discussions, offering insights into efforts to spread Dunhuang culture globally.
During the symposium, the book translated as "Global Spread of Dunhuang Culture: History, Present Situation and Strategy" was launched.
Participants of the symposium pose for a photo in Dunhuang city, northwestern China's Gansu province, March 28, 2026. [Photo/CICG]
Funded by the National Social Science Fund of China as part of its academic society funding program and co-hosted by the Center for International Cultural Communication under CICG, the symposium brought together over 100 participants, including experts, scholars, and representatives from businesses from across China, as well as Europe and Latin America.