Experts home and abroad gather at "One Belt and One Road" conference

On the morning of August 24, the "One Belt and One Road" Culture Roundtable Conference, organized by China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and Lanzhou University, was opened in Lanzhou.

Nearly 100 experts and scholars from 21 countries, including China, US, Japan, India, Britain and Germany, gathered to discuss the role of non-governmental organizations and universities in promoting exchange and cooperation among countries in the "One Belt and One Road" area, and seek for possible measures to build consensus for peaceful development, mutual communication and learning, and mutual beneficial cooperation.

On the morning of August 24, the "One Belt and One Road" Culture Roundtable Conference, organized by China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and Lanzhou University, was opened in Lanzhou.[Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Du Yubo, deputy minister of education, stressed that "In the process of promoting the construction of 'One Belt and One Road', it is required to better promote educational exchanges among countries along the Silk Road, especially exchange and cooperation in higher education, so as to play the higher education institution's role in cultural exchange and enhancing mutual trust."

Qi Mingqiu, vice-chairman of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation said, "CSCLF hopes to take the roundtable conference as a platform, to establish an equal dialogue mechanism in the revival of the Silk Road, coordinate with academic institutions as well as NGOs and media to promote an equal exchange of diversified civilizations."

Xian Hui, vice governor of Northwest China's Gansu province said, "Gansu is the birthplace of Chinese civilization and farming culture, as well as a very important channel connecting China’s inland areas and central and west Asia. Gansu provincial government has established the overall strategy, aiming at building Gansu province into a prime part of the 'Silk Road Economic Belt'. If so, it is expected that Lanzhou University will play an active role in enhancing the exchange and cooperation with 'One Belt and One Road' countries and regions along the Silk Road, and strive to provide favorable intellectual support and skills guarantee for 'One Belt and One Road' construction."

Wang Cheng, president of Lanzhou University, said, "In the process of the Silk Road economic belt revitalization, various exchanges and cooperation in the fields of education, culture, science and technology will certainly play a leading role. Lanzhou University, as a major university that is located in the Silk Road economic belt, has put effort into the research on the Silk Road culture, and will integrate more power in the future to conduct research and serve it in a broader view and more diverse pragmatic cooperation."

During the keynote forum after the opening ceremony, experts and scholars at home and abroad shared their thoughts and opinions, as well as various lectures including "Background and the Essence of China's 'One Belt and One Road'" given by Diao Junshu from the Department of International Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and "Trans-Eurasia Development Belt" given by Vladimir Yakunin, President of Russian Railways. Those lectures discussed the specific path to conduct cooperation in the fields of culture, regions and universities in a more pragmatic manner, and seek paths to promote the Silk Road philosophy of "peaceful cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win results".

It is known that the "One Belt and One Road" Cultural Roundtable Conference held in Lanzhou University lasted for two days. Apart for the main conference, there were also three sub-forums, namely, "cultural exchange","regional cooperation", and "cooperation with colleges and universities".