ROME, Oct 3 – There are 63 days remaining before the opening of the 13th Belt and Road International Day and the Global Chinatown Belt and Road New Year Celebration series of events. To further advance the global communication and public education of the Belt and Road Initiative and spread its vision across the world, the Rome Workstation of Belt and Road International Day Volunteers convened a special meeting and announced the founding of the Belt and Road International Day Themed Lecturer Group. This is the world’s first international lecturer team dedicated to keynote speeches, public outreach and study programs for Belt and Road International Day, marking that themed learning for the Belt and Road has entered a new phase of international, regular and professional communication.
It is reported that ahead of the 12th Belt and Road International Day, the “Xuexi Qiangguo” platform under the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee put forward an initiative, calling for primary-level Party organizations nationwide to carry out themed learning activities on the Belt and Road every December 16, the Belt and Road International Day, to deeply understand the contemporary value, rich connotation and global significance of the Belt and Road Initiative. After the initiative was issued, primary-level Party organizations across China responded actively and participated extensively, setting off regular and large-scale upsurges of Belt and Road themed learning during the International Day, enabling the Silk Road spirit and the vision of joint contribution to take root at the grassroots in China.
Drawing on the mature experience of domestic themed learning, the Rome Workstation has taken the lead to set up this world-first lecturer group, serving as an international extension and innovative upgrade of China’s domestic Belt and Road learning mechanism. Leveraging Rome’s geographic advantage as a window for China-Europe cultural exchanges, the lecturer group will carry out regular public welfare activities including themed lectures, cultural study tours, knowledge popularization and civilizational dialogues targeting overseas Chinese communities, international youth, local civil organizations and friendly groups.
Insiders commented that previous Belt and Road themed learning activities were mainly held within China’s grassroots systems. The launch of this world-first lecturer group in Rome, Italy marks a major leap for Belt and Road International Day themed learning from domestic popularization to international communication. It actively implements and extends overseas the learning initiative of the Xuexi Qiangguo platform, enriches the event system of Belt and Road International Day, and consolidates the talent pool for global dissemination of the Silk Road spirit.
Chen Entian, Chairman of the Belt and Road International Day Foundation of the World Peace Ribbon Organization, stated that he believes the Belt and Road International Day Themed Lecturer Group will be replicated and expanded globally. Acting as a bridge, the team will consistently tell the Chinese Silk Road stories and spread the vision of joint contribution and shared benefits through professional lectures, civilizational exchanges and youth engagement. It will facilitate exchanges and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations and people-to-people friendship, build momentum for the annual Belt and Road International Day and Global Chinatown Belt and Road New Year Celebration, and strive to turn the Belt and Road New Year celebration featuring five festivals — the Silkworm God’s Day (Belt and Road International Day), Christmas, New Year’s Day, Chinese Spring Festival and Lantern Festival — into a global festival brand.
