Nearly 300 participants from more than 20 countries and regions gathered in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Monday to discuss how cultures learn from one another, with topics ranging from the ancient Silk Road to the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cultural exchange.
The two-day International Forum on Mutual Learning among Civilizations 2026 brings together government officials, representatives of international organizations and scholars for nearly 40 talks and discussions.
Opening the forum, SAR Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai cited Macao's history on the Maritime Silk Road and said the city would continue to promote dialogue across cultures. He added China's Global Civilization Initiative offered a way to address persistent cultural divides.
The discussion of AI also had a regional focus. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area could become the world's first "AI Bay Area," said Li Cheng, founding director of the University of Hong Kong's Center on Contemporary China and the World, who called for closer cooperation across the region on AI research, applications and regulation.
Tuesday's program includes a session on the Maritime Silk Road and the past and future of cultural exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. A separate session will explore AI and human values.
