7. In 2006, Chinese President Hu Jintao reiterated, in a systematic way, the policy and stand of constructing a harmonious world when delivering an important speech at the Yale University of the United States. In recent years, China has closely focused on this concept in cultural publicity towards the outside world. It has adopted vivid and lively modes of culture and art to promote to the world China’s stand on the harmonious world, the ideology of unity of man and nature, and the ideas of the traditional Chinese culture that “harmony is most precious”, “the strong should not oppress the weak”, “the rich should not bully the poor”, “harmonious but different”, and “Don’t treat others the way you don’t want to be treated”. It promotes the Chinese policies and stands of building a good neighborly relationship, enriching the neighbors and maintaining partnership with neighbors, and deepening political relation of equality and mutual trust, economic relation of cooperation and mutual win, and cultural relation of exchanging with developing countries. In this way, it set up the image of China for peace, development and cooperation.

President Hu Jintao Inspected the Chinese Culture Center in Mauritius

8. In 2009, Party and State leaders Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Liu Yunshan and Liu Yandong have attached great importance to cultural exchanges with the outside world. So far this year, they have made over 60 instructions on cultural exchanges with foreign countries, relating to the cultivation of state image, deepening management according to law, strategic planning, cultural diplomacy, cultural security, cultural trade, culture center construction, culturally going global, integration of resources, coordination, construction of the Spring Festival brand, and cultural exchange with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

The leading comrades of the Central Committee expect us to firmly grasp the overall interest and situation at home and abroad in the macro perspectives, study cultural exchanges with the outside world as a long-term strategic task to enhance the soft power and foster a good image of the country, promote the Chinese culture to go global and, under the condition of maintaining national cultural security, introduce outstanding cultural achievements of the world. In the micro perspective, they ask us to more flexibly utilize the advantages of the systems and mechanisms, make overall arrangement and coordination, pool resources for accomplishing large undertakings, and promote the Chinese culture in an all-round way, wide coverage, and multi-layer through a commercialized mode.

In addition to stressing cultural exchanges with the outside world, the central leaders have personally attended a series of major cultural diplomatic activities. President Hu Jintao was present at the evening party celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. He personally inscribed greetings to the National Symphony Orchestra of the United States for its visit to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Premier Wen Jiabao and State Councilor Liu Yandong respectively attended the performances for the inauguration of the China-DPRK Friendly Year and the Asia Art Festival, Xi Jinping is also very concerned with the construction of culture centers in overseas areas. They separately inspected the Chinese Culture Center in Mauritius, Berlin, Seoul and Malta.

Editor: Wen Yi and Yan Fei