Today, with the wave of digitalization rushing forward, cyberspace has become an important platform for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and the connotation and extension of international exchanges are also constantly expanding.

In the rich and diverse online exchanges, how can we further strengthen international cultural exchanges, narrow the distance between hearts, and let our voices spread farther?

On June 11, the 2025 China Internet Civilization Conference International Exchange and Mutual Learning Sub-forum was held in Hefei, Anhui Province, hosted by China Cyberspace Research Institute, China Spiritual Civilization Network, and China News Network, and co-organized by China Netcom Magazine, China Southern Power Grid Digital Media Technology Co., Ltd., and International Online. Chinese and foreign guests exchanged and discussed the theme of "Practicing friendly cooperation and promoting mutual learning in civilization".

The 2025 China Internet Civilization Conference International Exchange and Mutual Learning Sub-forum. Photo by Li Taiyuan

Civilization is like water, moistening things silently

Promote the harmonious integration of different civilizations

From ancient times to the present, the inheritance and development of civilization has been like water, transforming all things and nurturing hope. With the widespread application of digital technology, people from different regions and cultural backgrounds communicate more freely, and different forms of civilization are meeting and blending at an unprecedented speed and breadth.

Liu Guoxiang, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of History and director of the China Archaeology Museum, said that as the first national archaeological professional museum in China, the China Archaeology Museum is characterized by storage display and immersive experience, and all exhibits are obtained from scientific archaeological excavations. It is not only a platform for displaying cultural relics, but also a hub for the dissemination of civilizations: more than 70 popular science lectures and more than 12,000 live audiences, allowing archaeological achievements to move from professional halls to public vision; more than 300 guests of the World Classical Science Conference visited, building a bridge for dialogue between China and foreign civilizations.

Liu Guoxiang, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of History and Director of the Chinese Archaeology Museum. Photo by Li Taiyuan

Shu Yong, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and vice president of the Kaiming Academy of the Central Democratic Progressive Party, started from the large-scale landscape sculpture "Silk Road Golden Bridge" and shared his experience in civilized exchanges and mutual learning. The Silk Road Golden Bridge is created with about 20,000 amber gold bricks that integrate the national flowers of the "Belt and Road" jointly built by the "Belt and Road" country. When it shines on international stages such as the Milan World Expo and the "Belt and Road" International Cooperation Summit Forum, overseas audiences can listen to the civilization story behind the "flower language" by scanning through their mobile phones. The inclusive and peaceful characteristics of Chinese civilization are transformed into sensible and cognizable emotional experiences.

Shu Yong, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and vice president of the Kaiming Academy of Painting of the Central Democratic Progressive Party. Photo by Li Taiyuan

David Ferguson, winner of the China Government Friendship Award and Honorary English Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Languages ​​Publishing House, said that young Chinese people are more educated, more idealistic, more tolerant and more outgoing. As a native of the Internet, they are very familiar with cyberspace. Just like the popularity of "Black Myth: Wukong" reflects the success of China's soft power, the power of young people in practicing friendly cooperation and promoting civilized exchanges is worth paying attention to.

David Ferguson, winner of the China Government Friendship Award and honorary English editor-in-chief of Foreign Languages ​​Publishing House. Photo by Li Taiyuan

Wu Qingcai, editor-in-chief of China News Network, said that the development of Internet technology has provided abundant momentum for civilization exchanges and mutual learning. For many years, China News Network has always been committed to using the Internet as a bridge to connect the world, and promoting exchanges between China and foreign civilizations and mutual understanding between the people. We invite famous Chinese and foreign celebrities to conduct dialogues on topics of concern to China overseas, and expand the wide-angle of mutual learning and mutual learning in the comparison of civilizations; innovate the production methods of international communication in the era of artificial intelligence, and enrich the diverse perspectives of civilized exchanges in technological innovation; at the same time, we actively explore the "news " model, actively build a cultural exchange platform and a public diplomatic platform, and extend the perception of China in making friends.

Wu Qingcai, editor-in-chief of China News Network. Photo by Li Taiyuan

Be harmonious but different, beauties and beauty

Build a bridge of understanding and friendship

World civilization has come to this day through inheritance, communication and interaction, forming a colorful and symbiotic "garden". How to use the Internet to work together to build a community of shared future in cyberspace with "harmony but difference, beauty and beauty" is a new topic for the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations.

Yu Yunquan, deputy director of the China Foreign Languages ​​Bureau and director of the Institute of Contemporary China and World, said that in the era of artificial intelligence, artificial intelligence technology has been widely used in artistic creation and daily life, allowing barrier-free international dialogue to be successfully realized and civilized communication is more convenient. At the same time, symbols that represent digital civilization and culture need to be refined so that foreign friends can understand the charm of Chinese civilization. In addition, young people are the new force of the Internet. How to play the role of international youth in the construction of online civilization is the direction we should think together.

Yu Yunquan, Deputy Director of the China Foreign Languages ​​Bureau and Director of the Institute of Contemporary China and World. Photo by Li Taiyuan

Since the beginning of this year, Chinese and foreign netizens have "paid cat tax", "relatively reciprocate" and "learning to cook Chinese cuisine" on Xiaohongshu, and have seen each other's real life pictures on the other side of the ocean. Zhang Yuan, executive editor-in-chief of Xiaohongshu, shared that when more than one million netizens gathered in the live broadcast room of the "Global Village Concert", "The World of the World is a concrete reflection." In a world that desires connection, these seemingly daily and ordinary sharing are actually the most precious footnotes of this era: In today's face of challenges in globalization, everyone uses sincerity and curiosity to build a bridge of understanding and friendship.

Zhang Yuan, executive editor-in-chief of Xiaohongshu. Photo by Li Taiyuan

Colleges and universities are the main bases for talent training, an important base for cultural exchanges and an important high ground for spiritual civilization construction. Jia Feng, member of the Party Committee and Minister of Propaganda of Hefei University, said that Hefei University integrates locality and internationality and carries out exchanges and cooperation with universities in more than 20 countries and regions. In recent years, the school has adapted to the situation of online civilization exchanges and mutual learning, and has actively played a role in serving the overall situation of openness, gathering high-quality resources, displaying Anhui's image, and telling Anhui's stories well.

Jia Feng, member of the Party Committee and Minister of Propaganda of Hefei University. Photo by Li Taiyuan

People are in harmony, and the road is in harmony

Tell the story of mutual learning between civilizations in the new era

The friendship between a country lies in the people's relationship, and the relationship between a people lies in the mutual understanding of the heart. The mutual understanding between the people is the most basic, solid and lasting interconnection. It is of great significance to use new technologies and new means to tell the story of mutual learning between civilizations in cyberspace and use high-quality online content to attract the attention of netizens around the world.

Zhou Qing'an, dean of the School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University, said that in the information age, the media plays a unique role in promoting mutual understanding among the people and walking along the road. A short video, an in-depth report, and an online conversation can promote mutual understanding between different civilizations and give birth to cross-border friendship and cooperation. In the face of more challenges and uncertainty, the construction of online civilization requires media from all over the world to work together to create new common issues in the process of exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations.

Zhou Qing'an, Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University. Photo by Li Taiyuan

Frederick Bjorklond, foreign vice principal of Hefei Ansheng School, has a deep understanding of talent cultivation in technological change. He believes that online civilized communication is based on curiosity, empathy and mutual respect. The school cultivates future-oriented learners through innovation, a global perspective and a deep cultural foundation. Students are rooted in the local area and can collaborate with their peers overseas. "The highest purpose of technology is not only to improve efficiency, but also to promote connectivity."

Frederick Bjorklond, foreign vice principal of Hefei Ansheng School. Photo by Li Taiyuan

The Lingjiatan site located in Hanshan County, Ma'anshan City, Anhui Province is a representative site in the first stage of the "Ancient Kingdom Era" of Chinese civilization. Sun Liangfeng, director of the Lingjiatan Ruins Museum in Anhui, introduced that the Lingjiatan Jade Culture Tour Exhibition has traveled to more than 20 cities across the country. The Lingjiatan Cultural Jade Exhibition, which opened in the Wenhua Hall of the Palace Museum last year, has triggered a cultural boom. In addition, the Lingjiatan Cultural IP has also successfully landed in the Hong Kong International Authorized Exhibition, attracting world attention. "Lingjiatan is not only a treasure of Chinese culture, but also a cultural bridge connecting ancient and modern times, China and abroad."

Sun Liangfeng, director of the Lingjiatan Ruins Museum in Anhui. Photo by Li Taiyuan

Cross-border dialogue, youth power

Close the distance between the heart