Peking University, November 10, 2023: The Youth Forum on "My Story with Chinese Modernization," a panel session of the 2023 Beijing Forum, was held at Zhongguanyuan Global Village on the morning of Nov. 4. Hosted by Wang Weijia, vice dean of the School of Journalism and Communication at Peking University, the event featured an opening address delivered by Tang Jinnan, Party Secretary of the School of Journalism and Communication. Scholars and students from different backgrounds engaged in profound discussions on the relevant themes.


Tang Jinnan provided a brief introduction to the concept of Chinese modernization, highlighting its significance as a theoretical refinement and practical summary of China's four decades of reform and opening-up.

Subsequently, eight students representing various regions shared their keynote speeches during the session. Drawing from their personal experiences and stories, they presented diverse perspectives on the notion of Chinese modernization.

Aleksandra Pozhidaeva, correspondent and editor at China Pictorial magazine and an alum at the School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, captured the essence of Chinese modernization through her lens and words. In her speech, she expressed the aspiration to showcase the real, multi-dimensional, and comprehensive China.

Donglona Adawa Thomas, a Ph.D. student from the School of International Studies at Peking University, delivered a keynote report titled "Exploring China's Image in the Evolution of Sino-African Relations: Status and Prospects."


Kirill Kravtsov, a master's student from the School of Journalism and Communication at Peking University, discussed the understanding of Chinese modernization from the perspective of Russian audiences, covering aspects including history, academic experts' evaluations, young sinologists' viewpoints, and media coverage.

Anzelika Smirnova, a Ph.D. student from the School of Journalism and Communication at Peking University, presented her report on the topic of "Rethinking 'Modernization': Chinese Modernization and its Influence from the Foreign Perspectives." Through a captivating video presentation, she emphasized that modernization holds symbolic significance, and its interpretation and understanding vary across different countries due to their unique historical processes.


Nik Gu from Tsinghua University envisioned Chinese modernization as a vibrant path of peaceful development, combining traditional and modern elements. He expressed his commitment to utilizing his abilities to tell the "China story" and engage in youth public diplomacy.

Raz Galor, founder of Y China, an entertainment variety video platform operated by independent content creators, shared his journey of studying and starting a business at Peking University. Leveraging the power of new media, he aims to offer a comprehensive and multi-faceted understanding of China to the world while exposing Chinese youth to diverse cultures from around the globe.

Furthermore, Liu Hao and Luo Ying, both graduate students from the School of Journalism and Communication at Peking University, delivered insightful speeches during the event. Liu Hao presented the report on how Chinese modernization facilitates high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, while Luo Ying elaborated on contemporary Chinese individuals' efforts to maintain their cultural identity and provided insights into the unique and universal aspects of the Chinese path.

Following the conclusion of the keynote speeches, Jiang Xiaotao from the Office of International Relations at Peking University, along with Tang Jinnan, and Professor He Shu, as well as researcher Zhang Huiyu, both from the same school, offered their comments and concluding remarks, further elaborating on the enlightening significance of Chinese modernization.

Reported and written by: Chen Lei