What they say at Vision China event in Liaoning

Stephanie Stone

Editor and video producer at China Daily, member of The Edgar Snow Newsroom.

In my research on Hongshan Culture, I came across the concept of plurality and unity as put forth by the Chinese anthropologist and sociologist Fei Xiaotong in 1988. Plurality because each ethnic group in China has its own history and culture; unity because together they make up the Zhonghua Minzu (the Chinese people as a whole), an entity formed by the inseparable internal connections and common interests of all ethnic groups.

The article which referenced Fei's work went on to note that, "what is particularly striking is that the development of various regions was accompanied by increasingly close exchange and communication".

Close exchange and communication. I believe this assessment has global implications. The development of an individual, a country, the global community hinges in large part on close exchange and communication with those from different backgrounds, cultures, worldviews. As a foreign journalist in China, I'm uniquely positioned to be part of the close exchange and communication bridge between China and the West. Let us all continue to do our part for global development by working in tandem to share the stories behind the cultures.