Harmony concept gains global relevance

The essence of Hehe culture continues to inspire dialogue and cooperation among nations worldwide, officials and guests said at a forum in Zhejiang province over the weekend.

Under the theme "Hehe Culture and Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations," this year's Hehe Culture Forum brought together experts, scholars and representatives from across the globe to explore how the philosophy of harmony and inclusiveness can contribute to peace and shared development.

Chang Bo, president of China International Communications Group, said that Hehe culture — which emphasizes inclusiveness, harmony in diversity and collective progress — embodies the wisdom of Chinese civilization and plays an increasingly vital role in China's governance philosophy in the new era.

"Hehe culture is a hallmark of China's integration of traditional wisdom with contemporary governance," Chang said. "The fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee has charted the course for advancing this cultural spirit and promoting the shared values of humanity. Its significance lies in serving as a spiritual bond throughout history, reflecting the modern value of the Chinese path and gathering the fruits of Chinese modernization. Strengthening the study and communication of Hehe culture is of great importance to the world."

Thun Vathana, second vice-president of the Cambodian Senate, highlighted the deep-rooted friendship between Cambodia and China, saying that both nations have long upheld the principle of "unity in diversity" in their pursuit of peaceful development.

"China has always been a trusted partner and mediator," he said. "If the world embraces the spirit of Hehe — resolving differences through equality and dialogue — we can together build a future of mutual understanding, peaceful coexistence and common prosperity. True civilization lies in respect and consultation, not coercion or the use of force. Peaceful coexistence should be the shared code of humanity."

Since its launch in 2021, the Hehe Culture Forum has been held annually in Tiantai county in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, becoming a global platform for dialogue on cooperation and mutual benefit.

In Tiantai, the cradle of Hehe culture, the vitality of this ancient philosophy remains alive. The local government has integrated the principle of "valuing harmony above all" into every aspect of social governance, building a signature "Hehe mediation" brand and pioneering the "Hehe discussion" model. These efforts have fostered a new model of "harmonious governance", in which the spirit of Hehe is visible everywhere and embraced by everyone.

Since the beginning of this year, Tiantai has successfully resolved more than 7,000 civil disputes, including over 110 complex cases.

"Taizhou has worked closely to foster a 'Hehe economy', protect a 'Hehe ecology', and promote 'Hehe governance'," said Shen Mingquan, Party secretary of Taizhou. "The spirit of harmony and unity has become an integral part of the city's governance philosophy, driving force and way of life. Going forward, we will deepen research, strengthen theoretical exploration and advance cultural inheritance to contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity."