On September 27, 2026, exactly 80 days remain until the 13th Belt and Road International Day. It has been learned from relevant sources that the 2026 Global Diplomats' China Culture Night will be held in Beijing on December 16, the very day of the 13th Belt and Road International Day.
The Belt and Road International Day falls on December 16 each year. It is an international folk festival initiated by 1,216 scholars from Belt and Road countries, and the first international folk festival originating from an Eastern country that represents the cultural confidence of Eastern nations. The number "1216" is a homophone for "Belt and Road" in Chinese, making it easy to remember, and December 16 was thus designated as the Belt and Road International Day. This year marks the 13th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, lending special significance to this year's International Day.
The Global Diplomats' China Culture Night was initiated in 2015 by LOOKWE, a leading organization in people-to-people diplomacy. It is co-hosted with embassies of multiple countries across five continents in China, along with international organizations such as the Beijing International Diplomatic Organization and the Beijing International Military Attaché Organization, and enjoys the full support of embassies from over 160 countries in China. Since its successful debut at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in 2015, the event has been held for twelve consecutive editions and has become a high-level annual gathering of people-to-people public diplomacy resources in China in terms of both prestige and scale. Rooted in China and oriented toward the world, the event focuses on promoting cultural exchange and international cooperation, supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and seeks to advance mutual understanding, mutual respect, and mutual trust among nations through multicultural exchange and interaction.
The 12th Global Diplomats' China Culture Night concluded successfully in Beijing in December 2025 under the theme of "Mutual Learning Among Civilizations, People-to-People Connectivity, and Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind," attracting nearly 1,000 attendees, including diplomats from over 170 countries, representatives of international organizations, and Chinese entrepreneurs. Over its twelve years of development, the event has become an important platform for foreign envoys to learn about Chinese culture and expand practical cooperation.
It is reported that the 2026 Global Diplomats' China Culture Night will continue the tradition of previous editions, presenting a cultural exchange feast that blends Eastern and Western cultures for Chinese and international guests on the day of the 13th Belt and Road International Day.
