By Mohamed Ali Gharib Baheeg
Head of the Central Administration for Arab, Neighboring, and African Media Offices of State Information Service (SIS), Egypt
The Silk Road is not merely a revival of an ancient trade route, but the reawakening of civilizational encounters, cultural dialogue, and shared prosperity. Historically, this legendary passage enabled the movement of goods, people, and ideas across continents. Today, the Belt and Road Journalists Forum in China is a living extension of that spirit, gathering journalists from every corner of the globe to engage, exchange, and learn directly from each other’s societies. This spirit of authentic dialogue forms a global platform for peace and shared development—the forum’s very core.
Amid an age where global tension often overshadows opportunities for meaningful engagement, the journey organized by the All-China Journalists Association stood as a beacon of hope. As I reflect on my transformative week across Jiangxi Province, I realize that the best lessons emerge not from lectures or reports, but from firsthand experiences, where civilizational dialogue transcends politics and enters the realm of human connection and collective progress.
Commitment to Sustainability and Urban Vision
What left a remarkable impression throughout the journey was China’s deep and practical commitment to ecological balance and sustainability—even in places far from major cities. Nanchang’s lush parks, modern infrastructure, thriving green spaces, and organized urban planning all testified to an integrated national strategy balancing economic growth and environmental stewardship.
At the Nanchang Urban Planning Center, I saw not only architectural models or digitized city plans, but a philosophy of urbanization founded upon respect for the past, technical innovation, and the needs of future generations. Here, development involved careful integration of heritage into the blueprint for expansion—a living example of how progress and tradition can co-exist.
Living Museum: Heritage Meets Innovation
This philosophy became tangible at the Jiangxi Provincial Museum, where ancient bronzes, ceramics, and cultural relics were displayed as part of an ongoing story—a legacy actively influencing modern society. The museum was vibrant with school groups and families, underlining how tradition in China is not frozen in time, but passed deliberately from one generation to the next, fueling identity and creativity.
Grassroots Innovation: Where Tradition Drives Growth
My visit to Jiangxi Bao Food Industries in Zixi offered a powerful story of innovation rooted in heritage. Here, I tasted Zixi bread: a food product enriched by centuries of tradition, yet meeting modern standards for health, taste, and environmental responsibility. The on-site exhibition traced the evolution of bread-making in the region, showing how a community can boost economic well-being through cultural preservation instead of cultural loss. Conversations with staff during a tea tasting highlighted how pride in one’s roots can drive entrepreneurship and community betterment.
The Alchemy of Cultural Entrepreneurship
In Xianggu Fragrance Town (Jingxi), traditional craft and modern enterprise blended beautifully. In the digital museum of fragrance culture and the perfume workshop, local artisans demonstrated age-old skills they had inherited, and entrepreneurs explained how this intangible heritage had become an engine of growth. It was moving to see teenagers learning the craft in training programs. The stories shared here proved that authenticity and creativity, when coupled with sustainability, can build bridges between past and present and empower future generations.
Medicine and the Meeting of Wisdoms
The visit to Jiangzhong Pharmaceutical Valley showed how China’s approach to healthcare is a union of traditional and modern. The cultural wall at the R&D center illustrated a heritage of healing arts carried forward with state-of-the-art technology. The automated workshops and research facilities proved that innovation need not erase tradition, but can instead amplify its best aspects and bring time-proven wisdom to the global stage.
Technology, the Environment, and Social Responsibility
In Fuzhou, the tours of companies such as Fuzhou BYD Battery Company and Jiangxi Tongbo Technology revealed the country’s capacity for technical innovation and its commitment to clean energy. Scientific advancement is seen as inseparable from environmental and social responsibilities. Their approaches focused not only on output and productivity, but on reducing pollution and investing in people.
Natural Heritage and Biodiversity
One particularly memorable experience was the tour of Aixi Lake Wetland Park, known as the “lungs of Nanchang.” With its preserved wetland ecosystem, the park is a haven for biodiversity, offering refuge to rare birds and wildlife. This space serves as a laboratory for environmental protection, community recreation, and cultural education—fully integrating nature within urban life.
Cultural Performances: Heritage Alive
Evenings in historic districts such as Wenchangli showcased China’s intangible heritage at its brightest. At the Wen Shu Temple, I witnessed passionate live performances of music and dance recounting local history and folk tales. The crowds, a mix of elders, youth, and children, proved how alive these traditions remain—and how they reinforce identity and unity in a changing world.
Empowerment and Community
Beyond sights and formal programs, it was the informal moments that deepened my understanding. Chats with entrepreneurs, artisans, guides, and fellow participants illustrated that whether in urban centers or tiny towns, the themes are universal: a desire for dignity, unity, purpose, and a sustainable future. Memorable for me was meeting a young entrepreneur who had studied abroad and returned to help modernize the perfume business in her hometown, showing that international experience can strengthen—not dilute—one’s roots.
High-Speed Progress and Connectivity
The modernity of China’s rail system—taking the G635 high-speed train from Nanchang West to Ganzhou—was itself a marvel. The panoramic scenes from the train window, blending natural landscapes with developed areas, mirrored China’s efforts to join innovation and preservation seamlessly.
Lessons in Dialogue and Cooperation
Through it all, China’s model demonstrated that rapid development and cultural continuity can coexist. Rather than seeing globalization as erasure, China treats it as an opportunity for learning, collaboration, and the celebration of diversity. The Belt and Road Initiative, as embodied during this forum, is more than a blueprint for economic growth—it is a living forum for civilizational dialogue and trust-building at every level.
Towards a New Global Paradigm
This experience was far more than a professional journey. It allowed me to witness how planning, heritage, and openness drive social harmony. The Belt and Road Journalists Forum is, at its core, a living laboratory of dialogue among civilizations—bringing nations together in pursuit of peace, mutual respect, and sustainable progress.
As I return home, I do so with deep conviction: the future of international relations must be built not on conflict, but on creative dialogue, trust, and mutual enrichment. The more bridges we build—not just between governments but between communities, families, and individuals—the stronger and more resilient our shared future becomes.
To everyone I met—thank you for sharing your time and your story. Despite our differences, our fundamental hopes and dreams are remarkably similar.
*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.