A young Chinese gynecologist who volunteered in West Africa has witnessed how the Belt and Road Initiative has promoted women's health in some of the world's most impoverished countries.

Tian Qi, a doctor from Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital, traveled to Sierra Leone in July with several of his colleagues to treat cervical cancer.

The trip was sponsored by the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, which was set up by the Chinese government and the United Nations Population Fund.

One of the fund's aims is to curb preventable maternal deaths in the global south, where thousands of BRI projects have benefited tens of millions of people.

In Sierra Leone, cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer among women, Tian said at a Vision China event on Friday in Taicang, Jiangsu province. The theme of the event was "Youth Generation: Powering the Future of the Belt and Road".

He said that more than 500 women in the country are diagnosed with the disease each year and about 70 percent of the patients die within a year of their diagnoses.

However, Tian stressed that the seemingly fatal condition — overwhelmingly caused by HPV, or human papillomavirus — can be easily prevented via a mix of vaccination campaigns and early screening.

"No women should die from cervical cancer," he said.

Tian, who received training in the United States and Germany, said he had confronted many unexpected challenges performing his duty in the poorly resourced West African country.

"The power went off frequently, even during surgical procedures, and doctors sometimes needed to use flashlights to complete surgeries," he said.

At the hospital where he volunteered, the colposcope — the device used to examine the cervix, vagina and vulva for signs of disease — had been broken long before he arrived.

To fix the problems, Tian and his colleagues repaired the device and opened a screening clinic — which is free of charge — and trained local nurses and midwives to perform screening checkups.

"But in the beginning, no one heard about this clinic and very few patients came for screening," he said.

To reach the younger generation, Tian said, they resorted to TikTok, Instagram and other popular social media services. They also reached out to some local internet influencers to bolster publicity, which turned out to be a successful strategy.

"The clinic quickly filled up with patients," he said.

To make the exchanges sustainable, the visiting Chinese doctors proposed to create the Online Support System, which allows local health practitioners to consult with their Chinese counterparts on the internet.

"Through these experiences, I've come to realize that the BRI from China will enable a new generation of young doctors to engage in the cause of improving women's health in Africa with their expertise and cutting-edge technologies," he said.

How to tap the potential of youth and make their talent flourish? Yasir Masood, a Pakistani researcher, journalist and strategic analyst of the Belt and Road Initiative, has emphasized the constructive role media organizations play in fostering understanding, engagement and collaboration among the young generation.

In 2013, Masood went on an official trip to Beijing as a visiting scholar.

He immersed himself in Chinese culture and resolved to align his life with China.

Astonished at the ancient civilization and its values, he described the journey as an adventure that "redefined his life from scratch" and decided to work on Chinese affairs.

Seeing that many people were held back from traveling abroad due to lack of opportunities, Masood proposed that media organizations could take an active part in informing the youth, developing their interests and unleashing their creative potential.

As the old saying goes: Seeking common ground while reserving differences.

Masood proposed to develop cross-cultural understanding, tolerance and collaboration within the framework of the BRI upon its ultimate goal of inclusive globalization, which could bring about new perspectives to the table and nurture long-lasting friendships and partnerships.

He quoted China Daily, the largest English language newspaper in China, as an example by saying that the paper effectively disseminated information to young people on the opportunities and benefits of the BRI.

"Youth are the engine that propels any civilization forward," he added.

Seeing the strong interaction between cultivation of the youth and use of their innovation, Masood suggested empowering youth by implementing education reform, which included ensuring their access to education, increasing vocational training and encouraging entrepreneurship.

"Young people need to be given the tools they need to become engaged participants in the development of the BRI as a result of our actions," he said.

In addition to necessary information, knowledge and skills, a qualified participant needs to be mentally well-equipped.

Every era has its own responsibilities. In an age featuring deepening digitalization and intensifying global concerns, Masood called on the young generation, frequently referred to as "digital natives", to make full use of their technological expertise and out-of-the-box thinking to find the way out of the environmental dilemma and lead the way to sustainable development.

This required not only personal endeavor, but also the investment of the government and stakeholders.

Besides material support and preferential policy on infrastructure construction and innovation programs, Masood considered it vital to provide places for free debate and youth involvement in decision-making.

He named a variety of channels catering to the interests of the youth, such as publications and social media platforms, which are the main fronts of media, as well as seminars and workshops, which can be held with the collaborative effort of media and educational institutions.

"Our youth are the future's torchbearers, and their empowerment is essential to the Belt and Road Initiative's success," he said.

Li Menghan contributed to this story.

French IT graduate finds his way to preserve, invigorate China's heritage

Alexandre Guery, a 27-year-old tech blogger from France, shared his stories of traveling with global youth in China, during which he recognized the pivotal role of technology in preserving and invigorating cultural heritage.

Being a participant of "Youth Power", organized by China Daily and focusing on the interests and ideas of Generation Z (those born after 1995 and into the 2000s), Guery acquired the opportunity to gather with young people from all around the world, go on trips to different places in China and have in-depth dialogues on global issues.

During his two-year stay, the city of Zhengzhou, Henan province, with its museum housing invaluable artifacts and ancient relics, left a deep impression on Guery. This glimpse into China's long history made Guery think about how to preserve the ancient civilization and promote these priceless treasures.

As a master's graduate in information technology from ESIEA, Guery was keen on advanced technology and proposed it as a feasible solution in the digital age, since it could not only assist in the exterior maintenance and restoration work of historical sites and artifacts, but also inject momentum into traditional arts, crafts and culture.

Guery introduced the Shanghai-based developer's Genshin Impact as an example of successful innovation and described it as "a bridge to share Chinese culture".

"In Genshin Impact's virtual world, I saw many foreigners, from Europe, Asia or America, discovering Chinese culture for the first time," said Guery.

The Chinese-made open-world role-playing game Genshin Impact was listed among the top downloads upon release in 2020. The success of the game can be partly attributed to the fascinating Chinese culture it embraces, such as shadow puppetry, Beijing Opera and celadon wares, and partly attributed to its global vision, as it also integrates elements of European, African and various other cultures in scene construction and character design.

"This fusion shows how modern technology and creative minds can create tools that connect cultures and have a significant impact faster than ever before," he said.

Li Menghan contributed to this story.

Youth empowerment and the potential contributions of young professionals to the Belt and Road Initiative were highlighted at the Vision China event on Friday in Taicang, Jiangsu province.

Under the theme "Youth Generation: Powering the future of the Belt and Road", Vision China sought to highlight the crucial role that young businesspeople, doctors, scholars, media professionals and athletes from Belt and Road countries can play in shaping the initiative's future trajectory.

The event, hosted jointly by China Daily, the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Jiangsu Provincial Committee and Suzhou Municipal People's Government, aimed to inspire collective action and collaboration among the youth.

The attendees, representing different nations involved in the BRI, explored avenues for generating innovative ideas and fostering cross-cultural understanding.

Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said that over the past decade, the achievements of Belt and Road construction are evident, making it the most popular international public good and the largest platform for international cooperation.

"Any vibrant civilization is fluid and open. The diverse contemporary world has been formed through the exchanges and mutual learning of human civilizations," Qu said.

"China Daily has been striving to encourage the global Generation Z to enhance mutual understanding, deepen friendship, and grow together," he said. "We hope that the global youth in the new era will unleash their power, demonstrate their vitality, and gather their strength."

Zhang Aijun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee and head of the provincial publicity department, encouraged the younger generation to actively engage in international communication and tell China's stories in a diverse and youthful way that resonates with people from various countries.

He said that Jiangsu province will strive to be in the forefront of China's international communication efforts and become a vivid narrator of China's modernization story.

As the initiative celebrates its 10th anniversary, with its focus on nurturing talent, facilitating knowledge exchanges and fostering international cooperation, Vision China provides another platform for the promotion of the BRI.

Wang Xiaoming, deputy director-general of the Institute of West Asian and African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the youth are the hope of any nation, and their communication with each other is essential for the future of the world.

Wahed Ahmadzai, from Afghanistan, said that young people are connectors, bridging the gap between China and the rest of the world, leaders inclined to build communities and spearhead impactful projects, and conduits for cross-border cooperation.

"Their role forms the foundation that will bring China's vision and the world's vision to fruition," said Ahmadzai, the founder of NHUB, one of the first foreign enterprises registered in the Beijing Chaoyang Free Trade Zone.

Yasir Masood, an international relations analyst, academic, journalist and Belt and Road scholar from Pakistan, said that it is vital to build a culture inside the BRI framework that is inclusive and diverse.

He said that the youth need to be empowered to confront global concerns such as climate change and sustainable development, and must feel responsibility and keep themselves engaged in shaping the policies and projects of the BRI.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the BRI and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, China Daily has planned a series of exchange activities, including the global finals of the Belt and Road Youth English Speech Contest and the awards ceremony of the "21st Century Cup" English Speaking Competition.

China Daily has organized five annual "Belt and Road" Youth English Speech Contests, attracting tens of thousands of participants from 51 countries and regions. The contest takes perspectives of the youth to tell the world true, comprehensive, and multidimensional stories about China and the world.

On Friday, the launch ceremony of the 2023 "Hi Jiangsu" foreign media visiting event was also held in Taicang, which invited foreign media professionals to visit the province and witness its latest achievements in modernization.

Wang Xiangyuan, Party secretary of Taicang, said that young people are the driving force for building the Belt and Road and promoting international friendship, adding that the Belt and Road Youth English Speech Contest provides a platform for young friends from various countries to explore Chinese culture, showcase their talents and exchange experiences.

On Monday, the establishment of the Belt and Road Languages and Cultures Network will also be announced in Beijing. It will fill the gap in cooperation mechanisms for language education in the BRI countries, laying a solid foundation for promoting language exchanges and cultural communication.

Alan Macfarlane, professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge and fellow of the British Academy, said at Vision China that China has preserved better than almost anywhere else in the world the cultural heritage of minority ethnic groups.

He noted that what is important to save is their (living people's) whole life, so their songs, their music, their agricultural systems, their dances, their family life, all that, if possible, should be recorded.

In an era of globalization, cultural heritage helps us to remember our cultural diversity, and its understanding develops mutual respect and renewed dialogue among different cultures, a former UN senior economist said at Vision China.

Mehri Madarshahi, also a member of the UNESCO International Center for Creativity and Sustainable Development (ICCSD) Advisory Committee, added that exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations must not be built on the exclusive praise or belittling of one particular civilization.

Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre, sent his greetings to the latest Vision China event through a video message, in which he noted that China has long advocated for harmonious coexistence between people and nature.

Since joining the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1985, China has been playing a leading role in the implementation of the convention and actively sharing its rich experience and expertise in the field of heritage conservation, he noted.

Lazare Eloundou Assomo

Director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre

In 1972, the World Heritage Convention was born in the spirit of international cooperation and solidarity. It is a unique international treaty linking for the first time the concept of nature conservation and the preservation of cultural properties, recognizing the way people interact with nature and the fundamental need to preserve balance between the two.

China has long advocated for the harmonious coexistence of people and nature. Since certifying the World Heritage Convention in 1985, China has been playing a leading role in the implementation of the convention, actively sharing its rich experience and expertise in the field of heritage conservation with other state parties and heritage stakeholders.

Heritage conservation is not only about preserving the past. It is a dynamic process for developing and testing new approaches and ideas to address global challenges and bring people together. As the World Heritage Convention enters its next 50 years, many people are asking if it is still relevant today. My answer is undoubted "yes". By constantly working to save the shared heritage of humanity and recognize the value of its diversity, we are promoting inclusive approaches and making critical contributions to the key mandate of UNESCO. Our journey will continue for years to come.

Guo Dashun

Standing director of the Chinese Institute of Archaeology, former deputy director of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Culture

At the site in Niuheliang, the ruins of a goddess temple, altars, and stone mounds from 5,500 years ago suggest a grand hub for sacrificial ceremonies. It is the only prehistoric temple ruin to have been excavated in China to date.

The people of Hongshan Culture particularly favored jade. Sacred animals including dragons, phoenixes, tortoises, and silkworms, are depicted in many jade artifacts, demonstrating their role in communication with the deities. The reverence for jade can also be seen in later Confucianism, which made it a metaphor for many virtues.

Hongshan Culture was deeply rooted in the history and traditions of northeastern China, but it also absorbed cultural elements from elsewhere in a sign of its vitality.

This inclusive attitude toward neighboring cultures may have provided the impetus to form and pass on Chinese civilization from one generation to the next. Hongshan Culture, which is represented by Niuheliang, proves the continuity of Chinese civilization and is the root of ancient Chinese culture.

An Laishun

Chairperson, Asia-Pacific Regional Alliance of International Council of Museums, professor of Heritage Management and Museum Studies, Shanghai University

Why do people preserve cultural heritage? Cultural heritage is the creation of our ancestors, the properties we cherish, the environment in which we live, the wealth that we pass on to future generations. It is a cultural treasure left over from history, the stack of time and culture and a source of inspiration for new creativity.

The social value of cultural heritage has broad connotations. During international contact, the promotion of intercultural and interstate dialogue and peace-building through the conservation and use of world heritage is a manifestation of the social value of cultural heritage. At the same time, the contribution to sustainable cultural development is likewise a reflection of the social value of heritage, and at this level, social value is in a certain sense a contemporary, and a realistic value.

As an important part of people-to-people diplomacy, collaboration in the areas of cultural heritage and museums can serve as an efficient method of improving mutual respect and understanding between different countries, nationalities and cultures, and will play an even greater role in the global exchange between cultures.

Mehri Madarshahi

Former UN senior economist, member of the UNESCO International Center for Creativity and Sustainable Development (ICCSD) Advisory Committee

Cultural heritage implies a shared bond to the past, to our present, and to the future, representing our history and defining our identity.

The new era of world heritage conservation also involves a focus on sustainable development and community engagement, as well as the integration of modern technology and scientific research into conservation efforts. This approach seeks to balance the preservation of cultural and natural heritage sites with the needs of local communities and the broader goals of sustainable development.

In an era of globalization, cultural heritage helps us to remember our cultural diversity, and its understanding develops mutual respect and renewed dialogue among different cultures.

I have visited many museums in the world... They are attractive because they present the richness of diverse civilizations. Exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations must not be built on the exclusive praise or belittling of one particular civilization.

Jia Xiaobing

Director of World Archaeology Research Office, Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Following the excavation of Hongshan Culture sites like Dongshanzui and Niuheliang in Chaoyang, Liaoning province, in the last century, the study of the origins of Chinese civilization has become a popular topic, especially since the project to trace the origins of Chinese civilization has been pursued and has achieved significant results in the 21st century.

The concept of uniting humanity with the universe is important in traditional Chinese philosophy, and refers to the harmonious unity between the universe and humankind. It reflects the ancient Chinese people's understanding of the relationships between humans and nature, humans and society, and humans and their fellow humans.

From the beginning of Chinese civilization, our ancestors recognized the importance of a relationship with the universe and created a system of rituals to make contact with it.

The study of the origins of Chinese civilization has made remarkable strides, and the findings of the origins of Chinese civilization have also contributed to the study of the origins of world civilization, but there are still many unsolved mysteries that remain to be explored.

Alan Macfarlane

Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, Fellow of the British Academy

A culture is living people and so the objects are just one thing that has survived from living people. But what is important to save is also their whole life, as much as you can. So their songs, their music, their agricultural systems, their dances, their family life, all that, if possible, should be recorded.

China has preserved better than almost anywhere else in the world the cultural heritage of minority ethnic groups. Wonderful costumes, wonderful folk art, and this is what I think really needs to be preserved in China.

One of the very interesting things we could do is to devote some of that time and imagination and energy to the conservation and dissemination and understanding of our mutual cultures.

Once you make that effort, it encourages mutual understanding and respect for other cultures at a deep level, and hopefully will lead to a world where we will have peace, harmony and order, not endless bullying, misunderstanding, confrontation and competition. So, world culture can unite us all.

Zhang Jianwei

Deputy dean of the School of Archaeology and Museology, director of Cultural Heritage at Peking University

In light of the flood of recent data caused by the rapid development of 3D modeling and virtual reality technologies, researchers and preservers of cultural heritage sites now face new opportunities and challenges. As with personal computers and smartphones, virtual simulation devices that employ VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) technologies have great potential to become the next indispensable computation platform. Ever since 2016, "virtual reality's breakthrough year", virtual simulation devices have been used in numerous applications to enhance online tours and public education for cultural heritage sites in China. Today I would like to explore how cultural heritage digitization promotes education and research in the fields of archaeology, museology and tourism.

However, that in-person observations are still indispensable even with the technologies that we have today. The visuality that we acquire through small screens cannot replace the materiality that we experience on site, but they attract us to visit them on-site. I believe this is even more persuasive after the world endured 3 years of the pandemic. For the aim of a community with a shared future for mankind, we will continuously use heritage digitization technology to explore the civilization history of China.

Stephanie Stone

Editor and video producer at China Daily, member of The Edgar Snow Newsroom.

In my research on Hongshan Culture, I came across the concept of plurality and unity as put forth by the Chinese anthropologist and sociologist Fei Xiaotong in 1988. Plurality because each ethnic group in China has its own history and culture; unity because together they make up the Zhonghua Minzu (the Chinese people as a whole), an entity formed by the inseparable internal connections and common interests of all ethnic groups.

The article which referenced Fei's work went on to note that, "what is particularly striking is that the development of various regions was accompanied by increasingly close exchange and communication".

Close exchange and communication. I believe this assessment has global implications. The development of an individual, a country, the global community hinges in large part on close exchange and communication with those from different backgrounds, cultures, worldviews. As a foreign journalist in China, I'm uniquely positioned to be part of the close exchange and communication bridge between China and the West. Let us all continue to do our part for global development by working in tandem to share the stories behind the cultures.

Editor's note:China Daily launched Vision China in 2018 to play its role as a bridge for communication between China and the rest of the world. Focusing on developments in both China and abroad, Vision China invites well-known Chinese and overseas opinion leaders to give talks and share their ideas on forums focusing on a wide range of topics. In this event on Thursday, we gathered in Chaoyang, Liaoning province, a place where Hongshan Culture thrived more than 5,000 years ago. With the theme "Tracing the Origins of Chinese Civilization and Passing it on to Future Generations", experts shared their thoughts on the inspiration provided by ancestors and called for exchanges and mutual learning among various cultures. Let's hear what they said at the forum.

On June 2, President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at a symposium on cultural inheritance and development, where he gave a comprehensive, systematic, and in-depth explanation of a series of major theoretical and practical issues related to the inheritance and development of Chinese culture, and made strategic deployments for shouldering the new cultural mission and striving to build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation. China Daily has studied the spirit of President Xi's important directives on promoting cultural inheritance and development, and strengthening and improving international communication. We will stay firmly rooted in Chinese culture. We will collect and refine the defining symbols and best elements of Chinese culture and showcase them to the world. We will enhance technological empowerment, expand communication platforms, create high-quality and multimedia products featuring Chinese culture, promote exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations, and improve the communication strength and influence of Chinese culture.

Today, in conjunction with the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the publicity department of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the CPC, we have jointly organized Vision China and invited renowned Chinese and foreign experts who are involved in historical research, civilization tracing and cultural heritage protection. They will share their insights on the development of world civilization, cultural inheritance and innovation, as well as their research and thoughts on Hongshan Culture with us. I believe this will be a feast of knowledge.

Liaoning has a long history and rich cultural inheritance. In recent years, it has accelerated its development into a culturally advanced province, especially in strengthening the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage, promoting archaeological excavations and research work focusing on Hongshan Culture, and deepening the study and promotion of Liaoning's regional culture, and has achieved eye-catching results. Yesterday, we visited the Niuheliang site and were moved by the long-standing and profound Chinese culture. This experience has deepened our understanding of President Xi's important speech and further enhanced our sense of responsibility and mission to tell the story of Chinese civilization to the world and promote communication between China and the world. Here, I would like to share three thoughts:

First, we need to systematically introduce the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization and present ancient China to the world. China has more than 1 million years of human history, more than 10,000 years of cultural history, and over 5,000 years of civilizational history. From "the sky full of stars" to "the bright moon with sparse stars", China has created numerous dazzling cultural achievements and written a brilliant chapter in the history of human civilization.

As President Xi pointed out, "China's fine traditional culture comprises many important elements which have formed the prominent features of Chinese civilization." The remarkable consistency, originality, uniformity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness "precisely portray" Chinese civilization.

We should strive to explain to the world the social ideals of pursuing common good for all, the governance concept of regarding people as the foundation of the country and governing by virtue, the tradition of unity and diversity, the care for family and country that every person bears responsibility for the rise or fall of their motherland, the spiritual pursuits of embracing the world with virtue and illuminating morality, the economic ethics of enriching people and balancing righteousness and profit, the ecological concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, the philosophical thought of seeking truth from facts and combining knowledge with action, the thinking of sticking to the middle way and maintaining harmony, the way of interaction of being trustworthy and kind to neighbors. By doing so, we let the world clearly see where modern China comes from, and recognize and identify a reliable, admirable and respectable China from the continuous Chinese civilization.

Second, vividly demonstrate the modern civilization of the Chinese nation and interpret modern China to the world. President Xi pointed out that it is natural to integrate the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture if we are to create and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics on the basis of the profound Chinese civilization of more than 5,000 years. Marxism and China's fine traditional culture are highly compatible. They complement and enrich each other. Their combination makes Marxism bear Chinese characteristics and the fine traditional Chinese culture modern, promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of the latter, that is fine traditional Chinese culture. The "two combinations" have solidified the foundation of the Chinese path, opened up new horizon for innovation, consolidated cultural subjectivity, made the new culture formed through the "two combinations" the cultural form of Chinese modernization, and created modern Chinese civilization and a new form of human civilization.

We need to let the world fully recognize the innovation, inclusiveness and peace that the modern civilization of the Chinese nation inherits and glorifies, as well as the advanced nature that emanates due to the "two combinations". We need to let the world recognize that the historical inevitability, cultural connotation, and unique advantages of the Chinese path are the key to the brilliant achievements of New China since its founding and in the new era. We need to let the world recognize that China has always stood on the right side of history and on the side that represents the progress of human civilization, and let them recognize and identify with a real, three-dimensional and comprehensive image of China that has created "two miracles": rapid economic development and long-term social stability.

Third, expound the Chinese path to modernization and depict the future of China to the world. In the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi solemnly declared: From this day forward, the central task of the Communist Party of China will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realize the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

Ten years ago, President Xi proposed the grand concepts of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the Belt and Road Initiative. Since September 2021, he has successively proposed the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, illustrating how the world should look like in China's view.

We should accurately depict Chinese modernization's significance to the world as a new form of human civilization from the perspective of the development of human civilization, emphasize that China seeks its own development while firmly maintaining world peace and development, and uses its own development to better maintain world peace and development.

Publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily

Editor's note:China Daily launched Vision China in 2018 to play its role as a bridge for communication between China and the rest of the world. Focusing on developments in both China and abroad, Vision China invites well-known Chinese and overseas opinion leaders to give talks and share their ideas on forums focusing on a wide range of topics. In this event on Thursday, we gathered in Chaoyang, Liaoning province, a place where Hongshan Culture thrived more than 5,000 years ago. With the theme "Tracing the Origins of Chinese Civilization and Passing it on to Future Generations", experts shared their thoughts on the inspiration provided by ancestors and called for exchanges and mutual learning among various cultures. Let's hear what they said at the forum.

Liaoning province in July features a vast sky and stunningly verdant fields and mountains. In this beautiful season, we have gathered in Chaoyang, Liaoning, to hold the Vision China lecture themed "Tracing the Origins of Chinese civilization, Passing it on to Future Generations". We will discuss Chinese civilization with its glorious history of more than 5,000 years, feel the magical meaning of Hongshan Culture, and listen to the sounds of civilization from ancient ancestors.

Here, entrusted by Party Secretary Hao Peng and Governor Li Lecheng, and on behalf of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Liaoning provincial government, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all government leaders, guests and media friends; express my admiration to the experts and scholars who have been committed to the exploration, research and promotion of Hongshan Culture for a long time; and express my heartfelt thanks to friends from all walks of life who have always been concerned about Hongshan Culture.

Liaoning has a long history and profound culture. Since ancient times, it has cultivated farming culture, fishing and hunting culture and nomadic culture; witnessed the harmonious co-existence of multiethnic groups; and given birth to the unique Sanyan culture, Liao and Jin culture, and the culture of the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

It is also home of World Cultural Heritage sites including Jiumenkou Great Wall, Wunyu Mountain City, Shenyang Imperial Palace, and Fuling and Yongling Qing royal mausoleums.

Liaoning has a unique Red culture. It is the origin of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and saw the turning point of the War of Liberation (1946-49). It is also the source of the national anthem of New China; a departure place of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea; an important industrial base of China; and the birthplace of Lei Feng's spirit.

Among the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Liaoning, Hongshan Culture stands out with inestimable historical and contemporary value.

In the early 1980s, the Hongshan cultural sites in Niuheliang in western Liaoning amazed the world with their large altars, goddess temples, the stone tombs and large number of precious jade articles.

This great discovery not only expanded the scope of the archaeological study of ancient Chinese history from the Yellow River Basin to the West Liaohe River Basin in the north of the Yanshan Mountain, but also extended the recorded history of Chinese civilization by 1,000 years, providing real archaeological evidence of the over-5,000-year-long Chinese civilization.

The discovery also opened a new chapter in the archaeological investigation of Hongshan Culture and sparked a new surge in interest to study it, which has resulted in new achievements, one after another.

The series of archaeological discoveries including altars, temples, tombs, jade ware, painted pottery and goddess statues have proved that Hongshan Culture had progressed far beyond disparate clans and tribes, and it was the prototype of a country. It shines among the diversified ancient Chinese cultures.

Our Hongshan ancestors worshipped dragons and jade, as well as Heaven and Earth, which had an important influence on the formation of jade culture, dragon worship culture and the etiquette civilization of later generations.

President Xi Jinping has stressed that archaeology is indispensable to understanding the long history of Chinese civilization and the extensive and profound Chinese culture. He has also called for the implementation of major projects such as "comprehensive research on the origins and early development of Chinese civilization" and the establishing of a "modern archaeology in China" with high standards, and stressed a good job should be done in studying and explaining the origin of Chinese civilization.

In recent years, the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and the provincial government have attached great importance to the archaeological study, research and publicity of Hongshan Culture.

They have increased investment, improved relevant laws and regulations, held academic activities, strengthened publicity and promotion, and also made great efforts in the application of world heritage sites for Hongshan Culture, together with the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Since 2017, generations of archaeologists in Liaoning have been carrying out special archaeological investigations to further unveil the mysteries of Hongshan Culture. By 2022, the number of Hongshan cultural sites in the province had increased from around 90 to more than 500.

Guided by the important speech made by President Xi and his instructions, Liaoning will make scientific planning and concentrate strength and resources to conduct further archaeological investigation, exploration and interpretation of Hongshan Culture and promote the findings.

The province will also proactively participate in Chinese civilization research projects, promote the joint application of World Cultural Heritage sites, and organize multidisciplinary research.

It aims to expand the research direction of Hongshan Culture, continuously explore the culture's rich connotations and deepen understanding of its cultural value, promote the integration of culture and tourism, and push forward the development of Chinese cultural heritage.

I sincerely hope that the National Cultural Heritage Administration and China Daily give greater guidance and support, and that experts and scholars will continue to pay attention to Hongshan Culture, further clarify the origin and formation process of Chinese civilization, show the evolution process of the diversified but integrated Chinese culture, and promote the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese culture.

Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee, head of the Committee's Publicity Department

Editor's note: China Daily launched Vision China in 2018 to play its role as a bridge for communication between China and the rest of the world. Focusing on developments in both China and abroad, Vision China invites well-known Chinese and overseas opinion leaders to give talks and share their ideas on forums focusing on a wide range of topics. In this event on Thursday, we gathered in Chaoyang, Liaoning province, a place where Hongshan Culture thrived more than 5,000 years ago. With the theme "Tracing the Origins of Chinese Civilization and Passing it on to Future Generations", experts shared their thoughts on the inspiration provided by ancestors and called for exchanges and mutual learning among various cultures. Let's hear what they said at the forum.

Official focuses on studying the past to create the future, and the need to reach out to world, and locate China's contributions to global civilization

Our majestic China, long may its mountains and rivers run. At this historic moment when the Party and the nation are studying in-depth and implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, conscientiously implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the symposium on cultural inheritance and development on June 2, and embarking on a new journey to build a modern Chinese civilization, we are gathered here in Chaoyang, Liaoning province, one of the important birthplaces of Chinese civilization, and capital of the three Yan regimes during the Sixteen Kingdoms period (304-439), for a Vision China event themed "Tracing the Origins of Chinese Civilization and Passing It on to Future Generations".

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has attached importance to cultural heritage work as never before. Focusing on the latest archaeological discoveries and their significance, and deepening the project of tracing the origins of Chinese civilization, General Secretary Xi Jinping has twice presided over group study sessions of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, pointing out that archaeological discoveries demonstrate the historical lineage of the origins and development of Chinese civilization, its brilliant achievements, and its significant contributions to world civilization; and that the findings of major projects, such as the tracing of the origins of Chinese civilization, have proved the country's million-year human history, ten-thousand-year cultural history, and 5,000-odd-year history of civilization.

He stressed the need to develop archaeology with Chinese features, style and ethos to better understand long-standing and splendid Chinese civilization, and to take the study of the history of the Chinese civilization to a deeper level to enhance our historical awareness and cultural confidence.

On June 2, General Secretary Xi Jinping attended a symposium on cultural inheritance and development and delivered an important speech in which he summed up the five outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization, namely, consistency, originality, uniformity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness, profoundly elaborated on the inevitable course of "two combinations" (to combine the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture), and stressed the necessity of properly carrying out major projects like the comprehensive study on the Origins and Early Development of the Chinese Civilization and Archaeology China, to do a good job of researching and interpreting the origins of Chinese civilization, to take on new cultural missions, to stimulate the vitality of national cultural innovation and creativity, and to work hard to create new cultures that reflect our times.

Hongshan Culture is an important Neolithic culture in the northern part of China. Liaoning, together with the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Hebei province, is the core area for Hongshan Culture sites, and is also a key area for the comprehensive national research program to trace the origins of Chinese civilization. Its altars, goddess temple, stone barrows and jade ritual artifacts mark profound changes in social structure, perceptions and beliefs in China, and demonstrate that the late period of Hongshan Culture they represent entered a complex social stage. They are an important source of Chinese civilization's tradition of valuing rituals and revering jade. In recent years, archaeological research of Hongshan Culture continues to make new progress. Research of the Civilization Process of Hongshan Society was added to the major Archaeology China project. The Niuheliang site has been turned into a national archaeological park. The dawn of more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization on this land is gradually becoming clear. The pluralistic and integrated cultural qualities, cultural traditions such as regarding the dragon as a totem and respecting jade, and the concepts of the universe and society, of humans as an integral part of nature, and of the respect for ancestors reflected in Hongshan Culture have been integrated into China's makeup, and have become organic components of Chinese civilization.

It is our new cultural mission in the new era to continue to promote cultural prosperity, build China's cultural strength, and create a modern civilization for the Chinese nation from a new historical starting point. To this end, I advocate deeply understanding the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization, profoundly grasping the essence of the "two combinations", deepening research on archaeology, civilization and history, digging deep into the multiple values of cultural heritage, telling the story of China's cultural heritage, giving better play to the role of cultural heritage in uniting hearts and promoting exchange and mutual learning among civilizations, and promoting cultural self-confidence and self-improvement.

First, we shall deepen archaeological studies and prolong the lineage of history and culture. We shall break the bonds created by the present system and its mechanisms, and stimulate the vitality of our field through scientific innovation. We will deepen our research in projects tracing the origins of Chinese civilization and other key programs part of Archaeology China, properly combining archaeological exploration, documentation studies, and the approaches of natural science technology. We can thereby gradually re-tell the process by which trickles of civilization converged into grand rivers, unveiling the pattern of evolution of the global history of civilization and of a "community with a shared future for mankind", and provide inspiration for the development of modern human society. We expect Liaoning to strengthen the excavation, research, and explanation of archaeological sites like those of Hongshan Culture, and make new contributions to prove the more than 5,000 years of history of Chinese civilization.

Second, we shall improve exploration of values and make relics alive. We shall advance the study, explanation and publicity of the historical, cultural, aesthetic, scientific value of heritage, as well as its reference in the modern context. Efforts should be made to sort out traditional cultural resources and bring back to life relics sleeping in closed palaces and records in ancient books, legacies of the vast land of China. The fundamental features of Chinese civilization — consistency, originality, uniformity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness — need to be precisely narrated in their entirety, and the creative evolution and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture need promotion.

Third, we shall uphold the idea of openness and inclusiveness and better tell China's story. We shall actively participate in building systems of global governance and academic discourse. We will carry out the practicable steps of the Global Civilization Initiative, and properly construct the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia. We would like to promote collaborative archaeology, as well as communication and cooperation on cultural heritage conservation and museums. We will also strengthen the exchange of experience in protecting cultural heritage and associated theories with other countries, and work with China Daily to create a global communication platform, including the key program Silent Testimony: Artifacts of China's Inclusiveness. Through these efforts, we can contribute Chinese wisdom, solutions, and strength to the global protection of cultural heritage.

Those with deep headwaters have long streams, while those with deep roots have lush leaves. Let us follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and stick to the principles of cultural relic-related work, making protection a priority, strengthening management, exploring the values, making effective use, and allowing heritage to come alive. Let us better bear the cultural mission of the New Era with a hardworking attitude to seize the day and strive for success. Let us build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation with righteousness and pioneering spirits to uphold fundamental principles and break new ground and continuously create new glories for Chinese culture, and compose new chapters for the rejuvenation of the nation.

Vice-minister of Culture and Tourism and Director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration

The place that witnessed the dawn of Chinese civilization more than 5,000 years ago, on Thursday hosted experts who gathered to explore the values the modern world could learn from the distant past.

The Vision China event, jointly organized by the National Cultural Heritage Administration, China Daily and the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Liaoning Provincial Committee, was held on Thursday in Chaoyang, Liaoning province.

Themed "Tracing the origins of Chinese civilization and passing it on to future generations", the event invited Chinese and foreign experts engaged in archaeological and historical research, civilization studies and cultural heritage protection to share their insights on Hongshan Culture, the development of world civilization, and cultural inheritance and innovation.

At a symposium on cultural inheritance and development on June 2, President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, summarized five prominent features regarding Chinese civilization — consistency, originality, uniformity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness.

In his keynote speech at the event, Li Qun, director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, called for in-depth study and implementation of Xi's guidance on cultural heritage work.

"We will deepen our research in key programs, including projects engaged in tracing the origins of Chinese civilization, systematically reveal the discoveries of ancient Chinese society and its historical development patterns," Li said.

Hongshan Culture was a key Neolithic culture renowned for its exquisite jade. It covered parts of today's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, as well as Liaoning and Hebei provinces.

In the early 1980s, a team of archaeologists discovered the Niuheliang site dating back 5,000 to 5,500 years in Chaoyang, marking a milestone in the study of Hongshan Culture.

Liu Huiyan, head of the publicity department of the Liaoning Provincial CPC Committee, said the great discovery of Niuheliang not only expanded the scope of archaeological study of ancient Chinese history from the Yellow River Basin to the western region of the Liaohe River Basin, but also extended the recorded history of Chinese civilization by 1,000 years, providing real archaeological evidence about the more than 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization.

Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, highlighted the important historical references provided by Hongshan Culture for modern development, and vowed to expand communication platforms, create high-quality and multimedia products featuring Chinese culture, and promote exchanges and mutual learning among world civilizations.

"We visited the Niuheliang site and were strongly moved by the long-standing and profound Chinese culture," he said. "This experience has deepened our understanding of President Xi's important speech and further enhanced our sense of responsibility and mission to tell the story of Chinese civilization to the world and promote communication between China and the world."

"We will stay firmly rooted in Chinese culture. We will collect and refine the defining symbols and best elements of Chinese culture and showcase them to the world," he said.

Guo Dashun, honorary director of Liaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, led the team that discovered the Niuheliang site in the 1980s. Speaking at the event, he said that the site's altar, temple and tombs, which were used for worship and sacrifice, are scattered over a wide area but are well-structured and form an organic complex with rigorous layouts and a central axis.

The use of jade at funerals in Niuheliang and its layout of a south-north central axis is a major topic of research in the study of the origin of China's traditional rituals.

He noted that scholars from home and abroad have shared the view that as the Hongshan Culture lay at the intersection of the ancient painted potteries cultural belt that spanned the Eurasian continent and the jade cultures that flourished along the Pacific coast, the development of the culture should be studied from a global perspective.

Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre, sent his greetings to the event through a video message, in which he noted that China has long advocated harmonious coexistence between people and nature.

Since joining the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1985, China has been playing a leading role in the implementation of the convention and actively sharing its rich experience and expertise in the field of heritage conservation, he noted.

"We will participate in building up global governance and academic discourse systems, carry out practicable steps of the Global Civilization Initiative, promote collaborative archaeology as well as cooperation in cultural relic conservation and museums, and contribute Chinese wisdom, solutions, and strength to the world's protection of cultural heritage," Li Qun added.

"Vision China" is a series event that was launched by China Daily in 2018 to serve as a bridge for communication between China and the world by inviting well-known Chinese and overseas opinion leaders to give talks and share their ideas.

The event has already been held 27 times at home and abroad and through online platforms.

China Daily is organizing a Vision China event in Chaoyang, Northeast China's Liaoning province, to discuss topics related to cultural heritage. The theme is "Tracing the origins of Chinese civilization and passing it on to future generations." Tune in at 9 am (Beijing time), July 13 to watch the event LIVE.

The latest Vision China event themed "Tracing the origins of Chinese civilization and passing it on to future generations" will be held in Chaoyang, Northeast China's Liaoning province and broadcast live at 9 am on Thursday.

Guest speakers from home and abroad will discuss how to put their best foot forward in protecting cultural heritage.

China Daily is organizing a Vision China event in Chaoyang, Northeast China's Liaoning province, to discuss topics related to cultural heritage. The theme is "Tracing the Origins of Chinese Civilization and Passing It on to Future Generations".

Tune in at 9 am (Beijing time), July 13 to watch the event LIVE.

Speeches focus on technology's ability to drive economies, create dialogue

As digital technology becomes a pioneering force in driving the global technological revolution and industrial transformation, more effort is needed to allow intelligent technology to promote the national goal of the "building of a community with a shared future for mankind", according to Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily.

Speaking at the Vision China event on Thursday, Qu said that artificial intelligence, represented by ChatGPT, in particular, has become a buzzword, and many foreign experts believe that its advent is as important as the arrival of the PC or the internet.

An acronym for "Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer", ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, a company based in the United States. It has wowed the world with its ability to take on a variety of tasks such as writing essays, debugging programs and making business plans, abilities that differentiate it from earlier, more narrowly focused AI projects that excelled in only one area.

Though different views on GPT exist, it is widely hoped that the latest technology will play a "positive and proactive" role in improving well-being, Qu said.

According to him, this potential can be fully leveraged to promote the "building of a community with a shared future for mankind", a concept first proposed by President Xi Jinping in March 2013. "In the future, we should give full rein to the role of intelligent technology in implementing the 'Three Initiatives' proposed by President Xi, " Qu added. This refers to the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

He made the comments as global economic recovery faces challenges, with problems including the disparity in development, dilemmas of governance, the digital divide and the equity deficit becoming more prominent. Concerns also exist that a new digital divide may emerge in the intelligent era.

"We should bridge the digital divide and create cohesiveness for the implementation of the Global Development Initiative," Qu said.

The publisher highlighted the fact that more effort is needed to nurture new drivers of economic growth in the post-epidemic era and create an open, fair, just and nondiscriminatory environment for scientific and technological development.

While praising the convenience and potential dividends that intelligent technology offers humanity, Qu also acknowledged that it is a double-edged sword and may create many challenges, as well as ethical issues.

"We should improve global governance of science and technology, and ensure intelligent technology evolves in the right direction to provide a strong pillar for global security," Qu said.

In February, the Chinese Foreign Ministry published The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, which called for greater effort to strengthen international governance of AI and other emerging technologies to prevent potential security risks.

An analysis of the legislative records of 127 countries shows that the number of bills containing the term "artificial intelligence" that were passed into law grew to 37 last year from just one in 2016, according to the AI Index Report 2023 produced by Stanford University.

"AI has moved into its era of deployment; throughout 2022 and the beginning of 2023, new large-scale AI models have been released every month," Jack Clark, co-director of the Stanford Institute of Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, wrote in the report.

"Given the increased presence of AI and its potential for massive disruption, we should all begin thinking more critically about how exactly we want AI to be developed and deployed."

As intelligent technology injects new vitality into global development, Qu also highlighted the importance of promoting exchanges to empower the implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative.

"We should further tap into the potential of intelligent technology and explore scenario-based, smart applications of cutting-edge technology to build new platforms for dialogue among civilizations, and for cross-cultural communication," Qu said.

By way of example, China Daily set up the MetaTime studio last year, which combines research from major projects such as the national project to trace the origins of Chinese civilization, and new technology such as the metaverse, to showcase the charm and significance of China's traditional culture and show the world a credible, attractive and respectable China.

The move resonates with the public's growing enthusiasm for AI. Citizens from China, Saudi Arabia and India are among those who feel the most positively about AI products and services, according to a survey of nearly 20,000 adults from 28 countries by Ipsos, a global market research group.

About 78 percent of Chinese respondents, the highest proportion among surveyed countries, agreed with the statement that products and services using AI have more benefits than drawbacks.

This was followed by Saudi Arabia (76 percent) and India (71 percent), Ipsos added.

With emerging digital technologies like artificial intelligence expanding rapidly around the world, the northern port city of Tianjin plans to bolster efforts to promote development through technological innovation and opening-up, as well as education, technology and a strong workforce, a local senior official said.

Shen Lei, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Tianjin Municipal Committee and head of the committee's Publicity Department, said that in today's world, a new wave in the information technology revolution is in full swing, bringing profound change to industrial development.

"Data, algorithms and computing power have become crucial factors in determining the overall competitiveness of a region or country," she said at the latest Vision China event held on Thursday night.

"We need to harness the power of the new generation of artificial intelligence to drive technological innovation, upgrade industries and boost productivity."

Shen stressed the need to foster advantages in industrial development by vigorously developing the digital economy, accelerating the industrialization of digital technologies and the digital transformation of industries, and promoting the in-depth integration of the internet, big data and artificial intelligence with industries.

During the first quarter of this year, Tianjin's economy showed significant improvement and accelerated growth, with its GDP expanding by 5.5 percent year-on-year to 371.5 billion yuan ($53.3 billion) during the period.

The city's industrial output — a gauge of activity in the manufacturing, mining and utilities sectors — rose by 3.1 percent in the January-March period from a year earlier, after a 1.5 percent rise in the first two months.

Tianjin is shaping up to become a high-tech hub and has rolled out a series of policies to develop the AI sector. It has set up a special fund of 10 billion yuan for intelligent manufacturing, and a 100-billion-yuan industry fund for the new generation of artificial intelligence.

Shen said that as a megacity with over 10 million people and a rich cultural heritage, Tianjin occupies a strategic position in national development and boasts regional, industrial and resource advantages that can help it achieve growth.

She emphasized that Tianjin will deepen reform and opening-up, create a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, and set up a high-level platform for opening up.

Noting education, science and technology, and human resources as the foundational and strategic pillars for creating a modern socialist country in all respects, Shen said Tianjin will implement its action plan to develop the city through science, education and a highly-skilled workforce.

"This involves close integration between education and industry, between science and the economy, and between workforce building and development, and we shall create a sustainable competitive advantage for Tianjin by turning it into a city with high-quality education, a hub for scientific and technological innovation, and an open platform for attracting top talent," she said.

The Tiankai Higher Education Innovation Park also officially opened on Thursday. Shen explained the name "Tiankai" not only represents the collaboration between the two renowned century-old universities of Tianjin University and Nankai University, but also embodies the idea of revitalization.

The park aims to become a source of scientific and technological innovation, promoting the commercialization of scientific and technological breakthroughs, and the integrated development of innovative industrial chains.

Society can benefit from the new wave of technical revolution being unleashed by artificial intelligence, but must make sure that it remains under the control of humans, an expert said on Thursday.

Fu Xiaolan, a fellow at the National Academy of Social Sciences in the United Kingdom, was speaking at Vision China, which was organized by China Daily and the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee's publicity department.

The convergence of rapid technological breakthroughs has created new models of value production and a new industrial revolution, said Fu, who is also the founding director of Oxford University's Technology and Management Center for Development.

"Artificial intelligence is one of the core technologies at the heart of this revolution," she said. "The impact of artificial intelligence on society includes opportunities and challenges."

Fu highlighted the "wonderful opportunities for development" — greater efficiency, improvement of work conditions and welfare.

She cited the use of AI doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, and the opportunity the technology provides to developing countries that could enable them to skip some stages of development.

She also warned of the challenges created by AI.

"AI can replace workers, including skilled workers, whose jobs are repetitive and routine," she said.

"It can also significantly increase income inequality between rich and poor — those who own the technology and those who don't — and between countries."

AI may also deepen the existing digital divide and favor countries that have the needed skills, she said, adding that there are also privacy and security concerns and that the algorithms may contain embedded bias, which could influence outcomes.

"While globally, AI opens digital windows of opportunity for developing countries, there is also the risk that the opportunity for developing countries to catch up might narrow," Fu said, referring to the rapid rise of AI, as well as the infrastructure needed to develop it.

These challenges have also been highlighted by governments, tech giants, institutes and experts, especially since ChatGPT was launched earlier this year.

In a white paper on regulating AI released in late March, the British government proposed adopting a comprehensive regulatory approach. Italy and Canada have also underscored the data security risks posed by ChatGPT.

Stressing the importance of ensuring AI is responsible and ethical if it is to be useful, Fu emphasized the need to build privacy, robustness, transparency and fairness into the tech, noting that those who develop and employ AI for business and other services should be held accountable.

Trust must be created around the technology so that people have the confidence to use AI for economic and welfare improvement, Fu said.

Pierre Pakey, head of product innovation at Laiye Technology (Beijing) Co Ltd, shared his thoughts about how large language models, a new path in artificial intelligence, can mimic human minds in some ways during the latest Vision China.

Previously, the most common way to train AI was to give it plenty of examples, a process called supervised training.

With the new approach of descriptive training, AIs are trained in the same way humans would be, by describing the task that requires completion in natural language, Pakey said.

Taking the example of intelligent document processing, where the goal is to extract key information such as issue dates, supplier addresses and vendor names from an invoice, he said that the common way of training involves feeding the AI thousands of invoices.

But as invoices vary, one of the issues is physically pinpointing the positions of each piece of information on the documents in order to train the language model. This process is both slow and prone to errors, Pakey said.

"With descriptive training, people just describe what they want in plain language. So it's extremely simple and it completely changes the time necessary to actually launch a new AI and train on a new task," he said.

With descriptive training, users must ask themselves what the best question is, and what is the best way of asking the model to perform the desired task. This process is called prompt engineering.

"The first time we launched a large language model in production, we had very disappointing accuracy, meaning that our metrics were telling us this was a bad model. When we dove deeply to understand why our accuracy was poor, we noticed that the model was still doing better than the human laborers it was ranked against," he said.

The large language model needed to handle hundreds and even thousands of different examples, and in this situation, it did better than human workers at labeling.

As with any AI model, its accuracy did not exceed 95 percent, and Pakey said that if users needed further improvements, it was only a question of aligning expectations and of being very clear about what information they wanted to extract.

Large language models still have limitations. They need to be given time to produce a good answer, and when prompting different models for an answer, it's important to bear in mind the trade off between complexity and accuracy, Pakey said.

"But most importantly, they are able to learn new tasks almost instantly, and that makes this one of the most exciting things that we have seen in AI in a long time."