Former Chinese ambassador encourages young people to tell China's stories

Former Chinese Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming highlighted that young people should strive to tell China's stories well in his speech at the Launch Ceremony of the Fourth "Telling China's Story in English" Event in Fuzhou, China on Dec 10.

Liu said China has been increasingly stepping into the centre of the world stage, and the international community expects China to play a greater role in global affairs and is eager to understand China more. However, the world's understanding of China still has a significant deficit, with various misunderstandings, doubts and even suspicions.

Liu listed three reasons for this:

First, Western audiences mainly rely on Western media for information about China, which often presents a biased and even deliberately distorted view. Second, some in the West still harbour deep-rooted arrogance and prejudice, preventing them from viewing China objectively and fairly. Third, a few anti-China forces are doing everything possible to contain and obstruct China's rise, fabricating all sorts of lies and rumours, and engaging in stigmatization and demonization of China.

Liu stressed that telling China's stories well and showing a true, comprehensive and three-dimensional China to the world remains a daunting task, and it is a job for all Chinese people. Liu encouraged young people to be "a spokesperson for China's image and a broadcaster of China's voice" by offering five following suggestions:

First, young people need to know themselves. To tell China's stories well, they must first understand China. They need to know their own country, including its history, culture, development path and major policies, while also understanding where China has come from and where it is going.

Second, young people need to "know others". They need to be aware of what others want to know most about China and what the misunderstandings and prejudices are, so they can target their storytelling, clarify the facts, build trust and dispel doubts.

Third, young people need to learn to "communicate" by improving their communication skills. They must learn to use the language and narrative that foreign audiences can understand.

Fourth, young people need to be good at "making friends." They should make and deepen friendships, enhance understanding, inspire resonance, and let China's stories tell itself through friendship.

Fifth, young people need to master "English". Liu said proficiency in a foreign language, especially English, is fundamental to telling China's stories well. A good foreign language skill can also earn respect from the audience, making China's stories more effective.

Liu concluded his speech by encouraging young people to cherish the prime of youth and work hard on how to tell China's stories in English, presenting a credible, lovable and respectable China to the world.