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Chairman Wang Jianlin Gives A Speech on Globalization of Chinese Culture

10.12.2016
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\Wanda Group Chairman Wang Jianlin gave a speech on “Globalization of Chinese Culture” at China Entrepreneur Annual Meeting on December 10, 2016 in Beijing. The following is the transcript of his speech. For Q&A part, please click: Q&A

Wang Jianlin: the main topic that I will be speaking about is the globalization of Chinese culture, focusing on three main points.

The first main point: Why does Chinese culture need to be more international? The first main point has three parts:

First, only soft power is capable of winning over the hearts of people. Everybody knows that a leading economist from the West has divided the concept of a country’s power in to soft power, and hard power, with hard power being a country’s economic foundation, military might etc... Soft power is culture, education, and many other aspects such as sports etc. When considering all of the different aspects of soft power, Culture is the most essential part. Hard power will never be able to truly influence and win over the hearts of people; this can only be done through soft power. Hard power is only good for winning wars, and will never be capable of truly winning the respect of people.

I want to give you two examples: when we were at the beginning of the flourishing Tang Dynasty, the use of soldiers was rarely required; however, people came from all over the world, and at the time, X'ian was the most prosperous city in the entire world. So what attracted the world to the Tang dynasty? During the Tang dynasty, our culture was the most advanced, and we possessed numerous inventions and commodities for exchange, such as silk. The only way to truly influence people is through the finest things that make up culture.
   
Secondly, in regards to increasing the influence of China, we need to start from the misguided isolationist policies of Emperor Qianlong which were implemented three hundred years ago. From that time until today, it has approximately been three hundred years. And during those three hundred years, China’s power and influence slowly declined while many of the Western countries rose to prominence. The lifestyles and culture from dominant Western powers has had a far-reaching influence on China, often creating a certain sense of awe and worship of things that are foreign. No matter what award is bestowed, whether it is a movie or music award, or even an award in literature, whatever is foreign is somehow better. Whatever Chinese people do, there is a lack of confidence.
   
Now, Chinese people are talking about a great national rejuvenation, with the most important emphasis being placed on the area of culture: to go from influencing China to “China’s Influence”. Merely depending on economic influence is not enough. globalization requires the successful combination of soft and hard power. Only then, can we truly experience a rejuvenation of Chinese culture.
   
Third: the only way to cultural self-confidence. Chinese culture must become more international, this is at the essence of increasing our cultural self-confidence. Chinese culture must be compared and appreciated through interacting with other cultures, there is a philosophical term for this, “the Origin of Spirit.” Absorb the good and separate the wheat from the chaff, constantly improving ourselves. Only then, can we truly rebuild our cultural and national sense of pride. I remember a saying by Mao Zedong, “differentiation comes through contrast, and without differentiation there is no progress,” this is the logic behind interaction.
 
The second main...

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