"When President Xi launched eight major steps China will take to support the joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, I was happy to see supporting people-to-people exchanges also among them because I strongly believe that it is the best way to achieve this harmony in the world, as Confucius has mentioned it many times," said Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO, in an interview with GDToday in Guangzhou on October 31.
Bokova visited Sun Yat-sen University in Guangdong from October 30 to 31. She served as Director-General of UNESCO for two consecutive terms from 2009 to 2017, becoming the first female Director-General and the first from an Eastern European country.
Bokova has visited Guangdong several times and has a specific understanding of Guangdong's development and Lingnan culture. She believes Guangdong is at the forefront of China's reform and opening up, and the Lingnan culture embodies the spirit of openness and cultural diversity and has been inherited and carried forward by overseas Chinese around the world.
Bokova insisted that the media also have a huge responsibility in promoting cultural dialogue and diversity and congratulated GDToday's work in conveying multilingual stories about China, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and Guangdong.
Irina Bovoka sends congratulations to GDToday.
China has an open mentality in cultural exchanges
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Bokova told GDToday that during her visit to China, she participated in the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. It reminded her of President Xi's visit to the UNESCO headquarter in March 2014.
Bokova believed the BRI is also about cultural exchanges. "If you look at the history of the Silk Road, it is amazing how, in those times, scientific discoveries were made, intellectual scholarships were nurtured through these exchanges. So, I would say it deeply resonates with what UNESCO stands for."
Bokova told GDToday that through this visit and exchange, she fully felt China's ambition and open attitude toward sustainable development, cultural cooperation, and education.
Media can attract more young people to cross-cultural dialogue
During her 2-day visit, Bokova enjoyed a folk music performance by students from the School of Arts at Sun Yat-sen University, which made her feel the colorful cultural atmosphere and artistic experience of Lingnan Culture.
Bokova mentioned the Qiaopi History and Culture Exhibition in Thailand this July. In 2013, ten years ago, Qiaopi, referring to letters and remittance receipts resulting from communications between Chinese emigrants overseas and their families in China, especially in Guangdong province, was listed in UNESCO's "Memory of the World" Register, and she participated in the reviewing work.
Bokova believed that Qiaopi, as a special representation of Lingnan Culture, embodied the patriotic feelings of overseas Chinese people, demonstrated the integrity and credibility of the Chinese nation, and witnessed China's economic and social development. Therefore, she also sent a congratulatory video for this exhibition.
Bokova believes that Chinese culture has a long history and powerful influence. Through the active participation of overseas Chinese, Chinese culture and Lingnan culture have also been widely spread. It reflects China's openness, inclusiveness, and cultural diversity and effectively promotes the exchange and mutual learning between East and West.
Bokova pointed out that "media like GDToday also has a huge responsibility in that area because this is the link with the public."
Bokova stated that media is a great educational tool and plays a hugely important role in presenting your own culture and the culture of others. Moreover, she indicated that media could appeal to the public, especially to young people, that nowadays, this intercultural dialogue and respect for each other is vital in a globalized world.
Reported by Nan & Deng Yingheng
Edited by Wing & Jerry
