On November 9, the 6th China International Communication Academic Conference was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The event was jointly organized by Zhejiang University of Media and Communications and the International Communication Committee of the Chinese Association for Journalism History. It was co-hosted by the School of Journalism and Communication at Zhejiang University of Media and Communications, the International Communication Research Center of Zhejiang University, the Zhejiang Communication and Cultural Industry Research Center, and the Humanities and Social Sciences Department of Zhejiang University of Media and Communications. Over 30 experts, scholars, and industry representatives from more than 20 universities across China, including Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Fudan University, attended the conference. The opening ceremony was chaired by Li Wenbing, Vice President of Zhejiang University of Media and Communications and Deputy Director of the International Communication Committee of the Chinese Association for Journalism History.
In their opening remarks, Wei Lu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Acting President of Zhejiang University of Media and Communications, and Chen Xianchun, Vice Chairman of the Zhejiang Federation of Social Sciences, emphasized that in light of the complex international public opinion environment and the evolving global communication landscape, attendees should enhance academic exchanges to find opportunities amidst challenges and pursue innovation-driven development.
“This conference is a landmark event in the history of journalism and communication in Hangzhou,” said Wu Fei, Deputy Director of the Humanities Department at Zhejiang University and Chairman of the International Communication Committee of the Chinese Association for Journalism History. He highlighted that, in the face of complex international dynamics, the rise and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation must gain global recognition. Breaking through the dominant discourse system of Western mainstream media remains a focal point of research in journalism and communication. He further stressed the need to develop international communication narratives that acknowledge and respect differences, creating a communication system shared by all humanity.
The conference featured a main forum and three sub-forums. The main forum, themed “Upholding Integrity and Innovation: The Global Challenges of International Communication and China’s Voice,” included keynote speeches from six academic and industry experts. They explored new trends, challenges, and opportunities in global communication, providing intellectual and academic support for building international communication systems and fostering a community with a shared future for humanity. The main forum was chaired by Zhang Jie, Deputy Director of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department at Zhejiang University of Media and Communications.
While China's external communication has made significant progress in scale, channels, technology, and influence, issues such as communication concepts, skills, discourse systems, and technological methods still lag behind the country’s global stature, international standards, and contemporary demands.
Guo Ke, Deputy Director of the International Communication Committee of the Chinese Association for Journalism History, pointed out that China remains at a disadvantage in the global flow of information. Highlighting gaps in academic research on international communication, he proposed three approaches to innovating international communication theories: first, breaking the Western-centric mindset with practices rooted in Chinese characteristics; second, ensuring theoretical innovation resonates with and explains Chinese experiences; and third, achieving theoretical resonance and convergence through continuous learning and adaptation.
Han Hong, Associate Dean of the School of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, delivered a keynote speech titled The Five Fingers Narrative: Media Archaeology of the China Threat in the Himalayas. Drawing on his field research, Han explained the origins and evolution of the “Five Fingers” theory and emphasized the importance of clarifying historical truths in international academic contexts. He also proposed strategies for effectively telling China’s stories in the Himalayan region.
In the technical domain of international communication, China's advancements in information and communication technology have gained global recognition. “In recent years, China has emphasized the need to ‘go global.’ In international standards, we need to identify gaps between Chinese and international standards and work to bridge these gaps, contributing China’s standards to the global framework,” said Lei Jun, Senior Project Director at China Mobile. He introduced China’s contributions to global communication technologies, showcasing the country’s strength in this area.
The three sub-forums focused on “Intelligent Media and International Communication,” “Digital Communication and New International Communication Platforms,” and “Theories and Practices of International Communication.” Fifty-nine research teams from universities across the country engaged in academic discussions during the forums.
The conference concluded successfully at 6:30 PM. The closing ceremony was hosted by Sun Mengru, a Hundred Talents Program researcher at Zhejiang University and Secretary-General of the International Communication Committee of the Chinese Association for Journalism History. Wu Fei, Chairman of the International Communication Committee and Professor at Zhejiang University, delivered the closing remarks. He summarized the conference’s outcomes and praised its vibrant academic atmosphere.
The 6th China International Communication Academic Conference injected new energy into international communication research, and attendees look forward to more outstanding research achievements and broader academic exchanges in the future.