Blue Book on China’s International Communication (2024) Launched in Nanjing
On March 29, 2025, the Seminar on Innovative Development of Local International Communication and the Launch Event of the Blue Book on China’s International Communication (2024) were held in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Over 30 representatives from research institutions, local international communication centers, and universities gathered to discuss innovation and practice in international communication.
In his speech, Hua Guihong, President of Nanjing Normal University, introduced that the university’s journalism and communication discipline has a history of over 60 years. In recent years, under the co-construction mechanism between government ministries and the university, NNU has closely aligned itself with the development trends of media convergence and international communication. It has deepened strategic cooperation with peer institutions such as the Institute of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, achieving remarkable results in joint talent training and collaborative scientific research and innovation. These efforts have produced a large number of outstanding professionals for the country’s journalism and communication sector. As technologies like artificial intelligence and big data profoundly reshape the communication landscape, higher education institutions must not be absent in meeting both the opportunities and challenges that arise.
Shuang Chuanxue, Party Secretary and President of Xinhua Daily, Chairman of Xinhua News Media Group, and Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication at Nanjing Normal University, stated in his speech that in recent years, in response to the new demands brought about by the systematic reshaping and comprehensive restructuring of the international communication landscape, multiple regions have set up international communication centers. These centers tap into local cultural resources and leverage unique communication advantages. Such highly valuable local practices and localized wisdom are continuously driving a deepening trend in which the focus of international communication is shifting downward toward local and grassroots levels. The invaluable accumulation of localized practices and ingenuity has not only accelerated the strategic decentralization of international communication toward subnational and community levels but also opened innovative pathways for reimagining theoretical frameworks within the discipline. He emphasized the importance of properly navigating three key relationships: between local practice and indigenous knowledge, between the Chinese perspective and global standards, and between instrumental rationality and value rationality, so as to enhance the effectiveness of international communication "within China-centric methodological frameworks".
Hu Zhengrong, Director of the Institute of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explained that the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Nanjing Normal University are jointly implementing the "One Ministry, Six Institutes" collaborative education initiative, which integrates science and education to foster talent in journalism and communication. Currently, there are over 100 local international communication centers across China. International communication has attracted unprecedented attention from the theoretical, academic, and practical communities, and has achieved some notable results. However, China's international communication still faces significant challenges and difficulties. Against this backdrop, this conference aims to unite the strengths of academia and industry in the field of international communication to collectively explore its development path and direction.
At the conference, the Blue Book of International Communication: Annual Report on the Development of China's International Communication (2024) was officially released. This blue book provides a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and strategic direction of China's international communication from both macro and micro perspectives. Its content covers various key topics, including new trends in international communication, AI-powered innovations in international communication practices, a new pattern of collaborative communication among diverse actors, emerging trends in the global dissemination of content, new pathways in media convergence and platform innovation, and fresh insights into enhancing the effectiveness of international communication.
During the panel on innovative development in local international communication, Shen Zhengrong, Director of Jiangsu Now International Communication Center, along with six other representatives from local international communication organizations and four journalism and communication scholars from universities, took turns speaking in an alternating format. They shared insights on innovative practices in regional international communication and cutting-edge academic research. Through theoretical discussions and case studies, the session served as a platform for collective brainstorming to enhance the effectiveness of international communication and the influence of Chinese civilization on the global stage.