Developing countries gain inspiration from China's history of bold decision-making based on its own situation and resources, said a Philippine expert at the Global South Think Tanks Forum in Beijing on Wednesday.
The event attracted political figures, government representatives, analysts, scholars and journalists from 76 countries and regions worldwide.
When asked to comment on China's role in the Global South and developing countries, Anna Rosario Malindog-Uy, Vice President of Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, stressed that learning from the Chinese experience is a notion far more profound than simply emulating the policies of a single country.
"If you really look at China, it developed its economy, and everything is indigenous. It capitalizes on its own domestic strength as a country and its growth and opening up. There are such things in China -- modernization, opening up, and reforms. If you really study the economic development in China 40 years ago until now, it's based on its own historical background, its comparative advantage, and the resilience and hard work of the Chinese people. This is the foundation of why China is China today -- the [second-largest] economy, and even number one in many respects. I think that is an inspiration to the whole Global South and Global South countries, precisely because this is the kind of things we need to adopt -- not necessarily copying China in everything that it does, but I think we need to learn how to develop our own economy based on our own resources and historical underpinnings, and then pursue our own development that what we think is right for us, define the destiny of our own countries based on what we think is right, but not on the dictates of other countries," she said.
China's 'indigenous' development offers inspiration for Global South: Philippine expert
The Eighth China Intangible Culture Heritage Expo opened on Thursday in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, highlighting the integration of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) into modern life, with technology-driven experiences taking center stage.
Themed "Protection, Inheritance, and Innovation", this year's edition showcases a total of 211 ICH items, with over 100 inheritors present to engage with attendees.
"I have participated in three consecutive China Intangible Culture Heritage Expos with my grandmother and my parents. This year, we are focusing on innovation, while in previous years, we paid more attention to traditional aspects of preservation," said Sun Geyao, an inheritor of sachet embroidering.
"I feel that everyone is showcasing their finest works to visitors and to their peers. This exchange elevates our skills and helps more people understand what we, as inheritors, are passing down and promoting," noted Wang Xuxian, an inheritor of tin carving technique.
The expo also highlights the role of technology in enhancing visitor experiences, featuring interactive immersive activities in the world of ICH.
For instance, visitors can immerse themselves in the cloisonné production process through cutting-edge visual positioning technology, or step into the enchanting world of shadow puppetry via interactive experiences. They can even virtually fly kites, thanks to advanced spatial computing technologies. These innovations breathe new life into cultural treasures, illuminating the brilliance of Chinese heritage.
"Only by integrating with the times can ICH showcases its own value. By merging with daily life, it can shine anew. This expo features interactive projects that make up 70 percent of our exhibits, and we will host over 120 activities that bring intangible heritage into communities, schools, and businesses," said Ma Li, secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Jinan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism.
Fusion of modernity, technology, heritage illuminates China Intangible Culture Expo
