Xi's Culture Stories: Cultural Integration for a Brighter Future

In September 1973, the Philadelphia Orchestra visited China for the first time, becoming the first visiting American orchestra since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. The visit “broke the ice” for Sino-US cultural exchanges, which was of great significance for the normalization of China-US diplomatic ties. Over the following five decades, the orchestra has been an active “cultural ambassador” that plays a vital role in promoting the development of China-US relations. 

Culture is a major carrier of international interaction and exchanges and plays a significant role in this regard. 

More than 2,100 years ago, Zhang Qian, an envoy of the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220 A.D.), embarked on diplomatic missions to the Western Regions, facilitating cultural exchanges and commodity trade between China and Central and West Asia. 

In the early 15th century, Zheng He’s seven voyages to the Western Ocean strengthened China’s political, economic and cultural bonds with other Asian countries. 

“Civilizations have become richer and more colorful with exchanges and mutual learning.” Amid the wave of globalization, exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations serve as a major driving force for promoting the progress of human civilization and the peace and development of the world. Such cultural exchanges and integration not only enrich people’s spiritual world, but also draw a brilliant blueprint for creating a better future — a common pursuit of all mankind.