By Predrag Rava
Journalist of UNS Online, Serbia
China is more than just a country — it is a civilization whose continuous development can be traced back to ancient times. For me, as both a journalist and sociologist, it represents a fascinating blend of the traditional and the modern. Considering that Serbia, the country I come from, and China have nurtured friendly relations for a long time, I have never had any prejudices or difficulties in understanding Chinese culture.
While many Europeans tend to associate China with massive cities and rapid technological advancement, I’ve always been more drawn to its spirituality and philosophy. Chinese culture, shaped by Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, along with the teachings of ancient thinkers like Han Fei, Sun Tzu, Mozi, and others, and later influenced by Marxism, remains a subject of deep interest for me.
Family is a deeply rooted concept in Chinese society, and respect for elders and the preservation of social harmony are central to the Chinese mindset. What fascinates me most is China’s ability to maintain a balance between its rich traditions and the dynamics of the modern world — something I aim to explore further and share with a wider audience.
From this ancient civilization, Europe inherited silk, spices, gunpowder, the compass, and perhaps most importantly, the technology of paper printing — an innovation that accelerated the flow of information, knowledge, and progress. Inspired by Marco Polo’s Silk Road, the Belt and Road Initiative has emerged as a much broader, global project. Through this initiative, China seeks to connect Asia, Africa, and Europe through infrastructure, trade, and investment, while fostering growth and development in countries facing challenges to sustainable progress.
There is still much we can learn from Chinese society today. While liberal individualism took root in Europe, China cultivated a spirit of collectivism and solidarity — something Karl Marx saw as essential for building a vast and unified country across diverse and challenging terrains.
At a time when such ideas were unthinkable in Europe, China replaced its theocratic feudal system with a merit-based bureaucracy. This system allowed individuals, regardless of their background, to rise to prominent social positions based on ability and achievement. In that sense, Chinese society has often been remarkably open, free from entrenched hereditary privileges throughout much of its history.
I emphasize all of this because I believe that understanding different cultures and overcoming prejudice are essential for fostering cooperation and progress. The media can play a crucial role in connecting people within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. Through responsible and professional reporting, journalists can help audiences better understand the cultural, economic, and political goals of the Initiative, while also sharing positive examples of international media collaboration.
Good journalism can also counter disinformation that undermines international cooperation, helping to promote peace, stability, and mutual respect. In times of great geopolitical upheaval, strengthening cultural exchange through the media could prove pivotal. That’s why media collaboration is often rightly seen as a form of “soft power” in the service of peace and development.
Education in intercultural dialogue and journalistic ethics is vital, not just for media professionals, but for any meaningful form of international cooperation. My impressions of China are also closely tied to its impressive development in information and communication technologies, which is yet another reason to support joint educational programs for young journalists from Belt and Road member countries.
*The views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the individual authors and do not reflect the position of the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Journalist Network.