Written by Gan Quan / Translated by Mo Tingting

S ince the proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative,China and countries along the Belt and Road have carried out people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of fields, with rich content and forms.Against this background, themed “Lead Digital Life by Cultural Integration and Innovation,” China-ASEAN Information Harbor Network-Based Cultural Development Forum was held in Nanning, Guangxi, China, which focuses on China-ASEAN exchanges and cooperation on network cultural sharing, so as to explore the paths of network cultural exchanges, development trend analysis, prospects for cooperation between China and ASEAN from different perspectives and areas.

Guangxi has established a platform for China-ASEAN network-based people-to-people exchanges

In recent years, China’s Internet cultural industry has played an increasingly important role in both developing digital economy and building a community of shared future in cyberspace.ASEAN enjoys a deep-rooted relationship in region, culture, history, religion, economy and other aspects with China, becoming the preferred choice for Chinese network-based cultural enterprises to make exchanges.Moreover, Guangxi serves as the bridge for network-based people-to-people exchanges with the ten ASEAN countries.

“We need to better give play to Guangxi’s geographical advantages.As an important gateway for the 10 ASEAN countries, an open front connecting Southeast Asia and a unique window displaying Chinese culture and ethnic customs, Guangxi has built a new pattern of China-ASEAN regional cultural exchanges and cooperation, and actively carried out all-round, multi-level and full-coverage cultural exchanges with foreign countries, achieving good results,” said Chen Qirong, a member of CPPCC and director of Internet Literature Committee of China Writers Association.

According to Huang Yu, director general of Guangxi Bureau of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television,Guangxi has fostered rich network cultural products.Via the CAEXPO, Guangxi has actively integrated itself into the Belt and Road construction, taken the initiative to participate in the construction of China-ASEAN Information Harbor and New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, and conducted exchanges and cooperation activities in various aspects with countries in this region.In recent years, Guangxi has held contests of network literature, network cartoon series,original Internet audio-visual program for elected and other activities, focused on important and realistic subjects, and continuously introduced high-quality original network cultural products with the fusion of science and technology,and supported excellent network literature, network game,network animation works to enter ASEAN countries, and injected new impetus into the development of well-known regional digital brands among countries.

Guangxi has provided advanced technical support.Guangxi has continuously strengthened the construction of network platform, provided good technical safeguard for the promotion of regional cultural exchanges and cooperation.At present, the first phase project of China-ASEAN Network Audio-Visual Industry Base has been completed on schedule;“Beibu Gulf Online”, a multilingual new media platform oriented towards ASEAN, has been more and more mature;the construction of network broadcasting and TV stations for ASEAN has been further advanced; and the plan to open“Gorgeous Broadcast” in Malaysia, the Philippines and other ASEAN countries is starting.As of the end of August 2018, Guangxi has 22 Internet publishing units, 23 Internet audio-visual program service institutions, with 3.72 million user of IPTV platform.Through innovation forms, various channels, these platforms have improved their propagation and inf l uence, radiated to some ASEAN countries, provided network-based people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and ASEAN nations with more sufficient technical support.

Guangxi has provided a good platform for network-based people-to-people exchanges.Guangxi has successfully held China-ASEAN Information Harbor Forum for two sessions,CAEXPO Cartoon Game Exhibition, China-ASEAN Micro Film Contest, China-ASEAN Network Audiovisual Industry Cooperation Development Forum, China-ASEAN Cultural Network Film Exhibition and other series of network communication activities, planned and implemented a number of major digital publishing projects such as China-ASEAN Cultural Harbor, promoted the integration and development of diverse culture between China and ASEAN,and further enhanced cultural exchanges and mutual trust.Furthermore, Guangxi will take the building China-ASEAN Information Harbor as an opportunity, to build a sound China-ASEAN Network Audio-Visual Industry Base, a public service platform for cultural cooperation and cultural creative industry agglomeration among regional countries,and promote the rapid and healthy development of network cultural enterprises between China and ASEAN.

“Over the past three years since the establishment of the agenda for the development of China-ASEAN Information Harbor Network Humanities, promoting the network-based people-to-people exchanges has become an important part of China-ASEAN exchanges.In 2018, China-ASEAN Information Harbor Network Humanities Development Forum, to be held as an independent forum, will provide a more high-quality and convenient platform for China-ASEAN network-based people-to-people exchanges,which is bound to further promote the communication and cooperation between Guangxi, China and ASEAN countries,” said Huang Yu.

China-ASEAN community of shared future would be more dynamic by seizing opportunity of networkbased people-to-people exchanges

China and ASEAN countries are similar in geography,customs and culture.To promote cultural exchanges,China-ASEAN Cultural Cooperation Action Planwas jointly formulated by China and ASEAN.In the new era, with the continuous improvement and upgrading of China-ASEAN strategic partnership, the building of China-ASEAN community of shared future and the 21stCentury Maritime Silk Road, China-ASEAN network-based peopleto-people exchanges and development have been given new connotations and opportunities.

“Network-based people-to-people exchanges are the bridge and link to promote people-to-people exchanges along the Belt and Road.In the information age, strengthening indepth exchanges and cooperation in the area of China-ASEAN network-based humanities and promoting “Internet+ people-to-people exchanges” will surely vigorously promote the integration and development of diversified culture between China and ASEAN countries and provide strong cultural support for the building of China-ASEAN community of shared future.Huang Junhua, Vice-Chairman of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said that 2019 will be the “China-ASEAN Year of Media Exchange”, and bilateral people-to-people exchanges will embrace better development opportunities.

In view of how can China and ASEAN seize the opportunities and jointly promote network-based peopleto-people exchanges and cooperation, Fan Weiping,Deputy Director of State Administration of Radio Film and Television of China, proposed three initiatives of his own:

Firstly, both sides should jointly promote the prosperity and development of network culture.As Asia is a region full of cultural diversity, both China and ASEAN should actively explore and make use of their profound historical and cultural resources, carry out various forms of network audio-visual content cooperation, and jointly produce audiovisual content products that reflect the friendship of both sides.At present, iQIYI, Youku, Tencent video and other Chinese mainstream online audio and video platforms have introduced and broadcast a large number of outstanding overseas video every year.Under this background, China would like to carry forward cooperation with ASEAN on audio-visual products of splendid civilizations and promote cultural exchanges, mutual learning and common prosperity between the two sides.

Secondly, both sides should jointly promote the building of an international governance system for network culture.Cyberspace is the common space of human beings, and China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to actively develop an international governance system for network culture, improve the level of management and governance of network usage, regulate and guide the production and dissemination of network audio-visual products, promote the protection of network cultural copyright, promote the healthy development of network cultural industry, and make the Internet a new driving force of China-ASEAN cultural cooperation.

Thirdly, both sides should jointly carry out network information technology and industrial cooperation.At present, China and ASEAN are all in rapid development of informatization, big data, artif i cial intelligence, virtual reality and other cutting-edge technology.China stands ready to work together with ASEAN countries to strengthen network information infrastructure construction, promote network information technology, development and application of network cultural industry business cooperation, strengthen personnel training, and share the Internet development opportunities.

“I am confident that with the deepening of people-topeople exchanges and cooperation on the Internet, China-ASEAN community of shared future will be more vibrant and China-ASEAN friendship will open a new and splendid chapter,” said Fan Weiping.