By Sherif Omar
Deputy Managing Editor of Al Haram, Egypt
In a world where technology has shortened distances, it has become easy for a child living in a small village in Egypt to learn about Chinese culture, watch its films, and listen to its music—even mimic some of its expressions or the gestures of its stars. Yet despite all that, cultural gaps still persist, and they may even grow wider if they are not bridged through dialogue and mutual understanding. Digital images alone are not enough to comprehend the deep historical and cultural layers of a civilization.
It is in this context that the idea of “Civilization Dialogue” emerges—not merely as a diplomatic tool or a cultural slogan, but as an existential necessity in a multipolar, culturally intertwined, and rapidly transforming world. It is a dialogue that balances authenticity and openness, and resists extremist rhetoric that seeks to isolate nations behind cultural walls.
China as a Gateway to Understanding the Other
My visit to China to participate in the Belt and Road Journalists Forum was a unique experience—one that felt like wearing a new pair of glasses through which I could view the world. It wasn’t just the skyscrapers of Nanchang or the impressive organization and warm hospitality that caught my eye. I delved deeply into the philosophy of “harmony in diversity,” which flows through the Chinese people’s collective consciousness, their ancient literature, their architecture, and even their everyday life.
It wasn’t only the formal sessions of the forum that brought insight, but the small details—a translator’s smile, a local performance from one of the provinces, or a casual lunchtime conversation about African media or education in Kazakhstan. These moments felt like life lessons in humanity, where we each discovered that “the other” is not our opposite, but rather a continuation of shared values.
During the forum, I met fellow journalists from across the globe: Central Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, South America. At first, we all carried preconceived notions about each other—many of them shaped by media, popular culture, or cinema. But I quickly realized we didn’t really know one another. These were stereotypes that did not hold up to reality. It was only through face-to-face interaction, honest conversation, and shared experiences that those walls began to fall, giving way to new windows of understanding.
The Human Common Ground Between Civilizations
Between ancient Egyptian civilization and the profound legacy of China, I found far more similarities than differences: a reverence for knowledge, respect for elders, and a belief that ethics form the backbone of social structure. These values are not exclusive to any one nation—they are human bridges that connect us all.
If we expand the lens to include other civilizations—the Mayans, Persians, Native Americans—we notice common threads: symbolic thinking, spiritual relationships with nature, honoring motherhood, and treating writing as a sacred act of preserving memory. These aren’t signs of identical cultures but of a shared human spirit manifested in diverse forms.
During a side conversation, a young Chinese participant asked me about the Egyptian “harah”—the traditional neighborhood—and its role in shaping popular culture. I replied that, like Chinese villages or old urban blocks, the Egyptian harah still represents social cohesion, simplicity, and folk wisdom. “You could be describing old Beijing!” he laughed. In that moment, we both realized that what we often think is uniquely “local” is actually “globally shared.”
The Tang Xianzu Museum: Where Literature Meets the Future
One of the most powerful moments of my trip was visiting the Tang Xianzu Museum in Jiangxi province, dedicated to one of the great figures of traditional Chinese theater. At the entrance, an inscription caught my eye and stayed with me:
“We inherit the story of Tang Xianzu, elevate Chinese culture, build a smart city, and create a beautiful life.”
That sentence encapsulated everything: culture is not merely a story we tell about the past—it is a bridge to the future. I saw the same spirit in China’s smart city initiatives, where modern technology is seamlessly integrated with a deep respect for cultural heritage. A walk through China’s streets quickly reveals this duality—on the same block, you’ll find cutting-edge innovation alongside careful preservation of history. China is simply breathtaking.
Dialogue Doesn’t Mean Dissolving
A common misconception is that cultural openness requires losing one’s identity. In truth, strong identities are the ones most capable of dialogue—not because they fear others, but because they have the confidence to share and engage.
Civilization dialogue does not mean surrendering your roots, nor adopting the customs of others. It means presenting your identity with confidence while accepting others as they are. You don’t need to love their food or wear their clothes. You only need to respect them, and take from their culture what helps your people live better and dream bigger.
Journalists as Bridge-Builders
As journalists, we are not just witnesses to events—we are narrators of meaning. We hold the tools to either build bridges or fuel division. Through my experience at the forum, I learned how to find inspiration in the cultures of others, to absorb their journalistic practices, and to bring back new ideas to my readers in Egypt and across the Arab world.
Each night, I would read reports and human stories from my colleagues—stories of resilience, transformation, and community. One Nigerian journalist shared a powerful piece about traditional music and how it helped rebuild identity after civil war. Her story brought to mind Egypt’s own experience in the 1950s and 60s, when folk songs shaped national consciousness and gave the people a voice.
The Challenges of Dialogue in the Digital Age
The internet may have made communication easier, but algorithmic “filter bubbles” have locked many users into narrow echo chambers where they hear only those who sound like them. On social media, people often live in ideological or cultural bubbles that amplify division rather than foster understanding.
The rise of generative artificial intelligence has added another layer of complexity. AI can now produce persuasive but misleading content that misrepresents cultural truths. In this landscape, we urgently need a new media literacy—one that values accuracy, depth, and intercultural sensitivity over viral appeal.
Recommendations: From Theory to Practice
- Integrate civilization dialogue into educational and journalistic curricula.
- Launch multilingual platforms that allow youth to share and explore cultural experiences.
- Encourage collaborative media production between journalists from different countries.
- Support documentary programming that highlights commonalities—not just differences.
- Develop intelligent tools that overcome language barriers and connect diverse audiences.
- Emphasize human-interest journalism as a vehicle for reviving shared values.
- Organize recurring forums between journalists and students across universities worldwide.
Diversity Is Strength
The goal of civilization dialogue is not to erase differences, but to recognize that every culture has a voice, and every civilization deserves respect. True progress is not measured only by GDP or high-speed trains—it is measured by our ability to coexist, to embrace difference, and to learn from one another with humility, joy, and curiosity.
We live life only once. Yet through other cultures, we can live many lives, each offering a new perspective, a new possibility. That is the secret of dialogue.
Culture is the answer.
*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.