The 2024 Global Forum on Hehe Culture is held in Taizhou, eastern China's Zhejiang province, on Nov. 2, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]

The 2024 Global Forum on Hehe Culture convened Saturday in Taizhou, an eastern Chinese city in Zhejiang province, where this philosophy originated.

The forum, themed "Hehe Culture and New Model for Human Progress," brought together participants from home and abroad, including politicians, think tank experts, and youth leaders.

The ancient Chinese concept of Hehe Culture represents dual meanings of harmony: The first "He" symbolizes peace and balance, while the second represents unity and cooperation, according to "Keywords to Understand Hehe Culture," a book released at a previous session of the Global Forum on Hehe Culture.

Zhu Yongxin, vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and executive vice chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the forum.

In his address, Zhu emphasized the importance of promoting Chinese culture while maintaining a people-centered approach. He called for strengthening cultural confidence, deepening cultural exchanges and promoting the progress of civilizations. He also advocated adhering to the philosophy of harmony and unity, and promoting the building of a global community of shared future.

Wang Wenxu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said in a speech that while Hehe Culture originates in China, it belongs to the world. Amid the ongoing transformations unseen in a century, Hehe should serve as an approach to addressing issues such as development imbalances, governance challenges, and geopolitical conflicts.

"We must look to Hehe as a philosophy facilitating inclusive cultural exchange, a way of pursuing mutual benefits for all countries and parties, and a solution to global security and governance challenges," she highlighted.

Essam Sharaf, former prime minister of Egypt and winner of the inaugural Orchid Awards, delivered a speech at the forum. He expounded on the concept of a global community of shared future, saying that "[it] means all countries have equal sovereignty - none can intervene in the internal affairs of others; that countries should jointly manage global affairs democratically, rather than through the dictates of the most powerful states; that countries should engage in 'win-win cooperation' to 'build a world of common prosperity.'"

"Hehe Culture can play an important role in guiding the efforts aiming at building a community of a shared future where everyone can enjoy a prosperous future," he added.

Yu Tao, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), also shared his insights in a speech. He said Hehe Culture is one of the valuable assets of Chinese wisdom and a shared achievement of global civilization. With its enduring relevance, Hehe Culture has gained renewed vitality. It fosters strength for safeguarding peace and stability, advancing cooperation and promoting mutual learning among civilizations.

"Looking to the future, we should advocate peaceful coexistence to develop a new global security perspective grounded in mutual respect and dialogue, promote win-win cooperation to build open, inclusive, and universally beneficial dynamics for global development, and encourage diversity and harmony to create a vibrant, mutually enriching global civilization," Yu said.

Li Yueqi, secretary of the CPC Taizhou Municipal Committee, echoed the idea that Hehe Culture is a brilliant gem within the tapestry of traditional Chinese culture. It is woven into the daily lives of Taizhou people and permeates all aspects of the city's development, serving as an important foundation of its cultural identity.

In his speech, Li expressed hope that the forum would foster deeper and broader cooperation and exchange regarding Hehe Culture.

The event featured five parallel sessions that addressed sister city partnerships, Sinology studies, youth programs, academic research, and family traditions.

Forum organizers named new cultural ambassadors and launched an initiative to strengthen ties among sister cities. Officials also unveiled a new collection of poems titled "Cold Hill's Poetry."

In addition, participants toured local historic sites showcasing Hehe Culture heritage.

The forum, established in 2021, has emerged as a significant platform for international cultural dialogue.

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