A think tank forum was held on Saturday in Beijing, where experts exchanged ideas about how to promote Chinese culture for China's Belt and Road Initiatives.

Chen Ping, chairperson of the International Organization of Folk Art (IOV) China, offered dozens of suggestions on how to develop China's soft power at the "One Belt One Road 100" forum.

"Cultural soft power is more influential than what the military and economy can bring. China should develop real soft power," he said, calling culture "the walking economy."

He said the expression of culture should be diverse and accurate. When shaping the nation's cultural image, great attention should be paid to public relations. He also advocated the national cultural tourism image, non-governmental diplomacy, reimagining China's cuisine culture, building up a high class film industry, encouraging publications to go abroad, protecting intangible heritage, restoring traditional customs and improving the qualities and cultivation of diplomats and all citizens.

Liu Shaojun, founder and chairman of the Emperor Hotel Group, said, "Why does everybody today like to talk about culture? Because in modern China there is a lack of culture. The culture needs to be inherited and passed on. China has constantly learned from other countries for more than a century but it has sometimes forgotten and ignored the most excellent cultural essence hidden in Chinese culture. We know Westerners even more than they know us. We need to get our best culture out to reach them, and we should talk about the Belt and Road Initiatives in terms of contribution and dedication. "

The Belt and Road Initiatives are a development framework proposed by China that focuses on connectivity and cooperation among countries primarily in Eurasia with two main components, the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Leung Haiming, director of Hong Kong office of the China Media Development Fund, voiced his concern on foreign violation of Chinese intellectual property. "Actually I found out many overseas Chinese registered trademarks and other intellectual property for Chinese in foreign countries, and then when Chinese companies go overseas for development and expansion, they will sue Chinese companies for money."

He also noted that when Chinese enterprises go abroad, they lack the talents who really have language and management ability, as well as an international vision. "There are dozens of countries along the Belt and Road. Chinese enterprises should find out more about the culture and customs, investment environment, political atmosphere and the diplomacy of those countries."

Chen Jianzhu, deputy general manager of China ACG Group Co., Ltd and China Cultural Media Group Limited, added, "The Silk Road will be the future hot destination for tourism. At the same time, there is plenty of cultural heritage that hasn’t been explored. Tourism is not about seeking novelty, the core concept should still be the cultural experience. We hope more enterprises can unite, relying on Chinese government's initiatives, to explore and practice the revival of the Silk Road. "

The "One Belt One Road 100" forum held a full day event on Saturday, inviting more than 200 experts, as well as enterprises and media representatives to discuss the theme of the forum: "One Belt, One Road: from vision to action," trying to help implement the early landmark projects of the "Belt and Road" Initiatives as soon as possible, with the aim of building an intellectual union together.

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