The "Intercultural Communication in EU-China Relations: Issues, Consensus and Vision" forum was held in Milan, Italy, on January 21, 2024. The forum was hosted by Tsinghua University, co-hosted by Politecnico di Milano, and organized by China-Italy Design Innovation Hub of Tsinghua University and Center for Research on China-Europe Cultural Communication, School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University.

Among the participants were President Li Luming and Vice President Wang Hongwei of Tsinghua University, President of Istituto Italo Cinese Maria Rosa Azzolina, Dean Zhou Qing'an and Associate Dean Zhang Li of School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University, and Lu Honglei, Director of Public Opinion Research Office, National Image Research Center, Tsinghua University, as well as experts and scholars from China, Italy, France, Germany and Spain, and more than 50 teachers and students from China and other countries.

Before the opening ceremony, students from Tsinghua University's School of Journalism and Communication and Rixin College, holding paper fans and wearing horse-faced dresses, performed traditional Chinese dances with the guests. Afterwards, renowned experts and scholars shared their researh and insights on cross-cultural communication between China and Europe from various perspectives, including communication, political science, literature and history.

Li Luming, President of Tsinghua University, said in his speech that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Italy Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the 700th anniversary of the death of Marco Polo, the messenger of friendship between the two countries. Nowadays, China-Europe cultural exchanges are of great significance. News communication based on trust should strive to promote mutual understanding and respect among different cultures, avoid misunderstandings and conflicts caused by cultural differences, and contribute to building a harmonious society. The School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University has always adhered to the policy of “internationalization, practice and research”, and looks forward to strengthening academic exchanges and theoretical and practical innovations in the field of intercultural communication among the school, the academy and the academic community, so as to open a new chapter in intercultural communication and exchange between China and Europe!

“Strengthening cultural exchanges between China and Europe is conducive to practical cooperation between the two sides,” said Maria Rosa Azzolina, President of Istituto Italo Cinese. She pointed out that Tsinghua University and Politecnico di Milano, two top institutions from China and Europe, have been closely cooperating for many years in many fields such as education, culture, scientific research, etc., contributing to the common innovation and common development of China and Europe.

Zhou Qing'an, Dean of School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University, said in his moderation that the world is in a period of important social and media changes, so the storytelling ability of journalists is particularly important, forming an important part of the communication between China and Europe. 700 years ago, Marco Polo told the world what he had seen and heard in China; nowadays, there are more stories in China that can be conveyed to the outside world. The Forum hopes to create a space for China and Europe to gain a deeper understanding of each other's different lifestyles and histories.

The forum was divided into two parts. Zhang Li, Associate Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, moderated the first half of the forum on "The History and Development of Cultural Communication between China and Europe". The second half of the session, entitled "Multidisciplinary Dialogue on Cultural Communication between China and Europe", was moderated by Lu Honglei, Director of Public Opinion Research Office, National Image Research Center, Tsinghua University.

During the question and answer session, the audience enthusiastically asked questions on topics such as the coverage framework of EU mainstream media on China, the career development of journalists, and the internalized position of news coverage, to which the honored guests responded in detail.

The guests agreed that universities should further strengthen the construction of cross-cultural communication disciplines, and better cultivate Chinese and European cultural communication talents through cross-discipline and field practice.

This forum is one of the series of "Tsinghua University Milan Academic Week", which aims to enhance the understanding of Chinese and European civilizations through cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary academic exchanges, and better promote humanistic exchanges and dialogues between China and Europe.