特朗普第二任期开始了。
我今天想谈的是文化全球化背景下，人文交流的重要意义。当前，国际政治格局正经历深刻变革，中美关系面临前所未有的挑战，“脱钩”和“去风险”已成为全球讨论的焦点。在这样的特殊时期，我们尤应重新审视并坚定那些能够联结人类情感、跨越国界的持久力量。
2024年9月，我在《南华早报》发文提到，在经济和技术去全球化的大环境下，文化全球化却依然展现出强大的生命力与韧性，并在跨越分歧、促进全球团结与合作中发挥着独特作用。几十年来，中美之间的人文交流为两国关系奠定了坚实基础，而两国也自然而然地成为了推动文化全球化的重要力量。
中国游戏《黑神话：悟空》就是一个典型的成功案例。这款游戏凭借创新的玩法和卓越的视觉表现，迅速吸引了全球玩家的关注。上线仅两天便突破200万同时在线玩家，登顶全球游戏排行榜。这不仅展示了文化产品的强大号召力，更彰显了文化作品如何在复杂的国际环境下超越国界、凝聚人心。同样，TikTok这一类平台，由中国企业开发，通过中美及国际资本的共同投入，深受全球用户的喜爱。尽管面临美国政府的种种制裁，这一平台依然成功地将本土创意与全球市场紧密结合，取得了巨大的成功。
这些案例充分表明，文化交流正在进入一个全新的发展阶段。即使面对经济和政治的逆流，文化全球化依然蓬勃发展，展现出跨越分歧、连接世界的巨大潜力。
韩桦在中美研究中心2024年会分论坛发言（视频：北京对话）
在全球变革的浪潮中，文化的力量远远超出了其表面的娱乐和消费属性，它是沟通不同文明、解决全球性问题的重要桥梁。我们应当意识到，在日益复杂的国际环境中，人文交流不仅是跨越国界的纽带，更是增进理解、构建和平与稳定的重要手段。
韩桦在《南华早报》发表题为"The world is getting smaller, at least culturally"的评论文章（图源：南华早报）
然而，整体前景依然充满不确定性。特朗普总统的关税威胁和持续的地缘政治冲突加剧了国际关系的紧张局势。尽管中国始终坚定地支持全球化，但俗话说，一个巴掌拍不响，合作需要双方的共同努力，尤其是考虑到美国仍然是世界上最大的经济体。全球化的益处无疑是显而易见的，但是当下这些挑战的核心，是政治互信与相互理解的赤字。国家安全问题、经济保护主义以及地缘政治竞争等因素，导致了关税战、制裁以及更高的贸易成本，给全球经济带来深远的影响。
从个体层面来看，中美之间的航班数量仍未恢复到疫情前的水平，且这一问题还受到俄乌冲突等多重因素的影响。尽管人们对人文交流的需求依然强烈，政治因素依然构成了重要的阻碍。在这方面，中国已经迈出了积极的步伐，致力于推动国际旅游和加强全球联结。过去一年多以来，中国针对38个国家的公民实行免签政策，使国际游客数量增长了六倍。中国许多城市的机场，不仅是一线城市，甚至二线、三线乃至四线城市，都为国际游客提供了专门的服务和支持，同时，酒店业也在为外国游客提供优质便捷的服务，成为促进国际交流的重要力量。
这些努力，加上中国深化改革、鼓励开放的更广泛战略，通过增加国际互动来推动社会变革。因此，人文交流与文化全球化成为这个分裂时代中的希望之光。与“脱钩”相反，我们或许正在见证一种更深层次的多元文化融合，这不仅超越了精英主导的经济合作，也为建立更为牢固的信任奠定了坚实根基。
因此，在这个日益互联却又充满分裂的世界里，投资于人文交流的重要性不言而喻。我们必须坚持并发展那些促进学术、文化与技术合作的项目。在全球共同应对挑战的过程中，蕴藏着巨大的发展机遇。试想一下，中美科学家能够携手应对气候变化，或者教育工作者合作开发创新方法，为学生应对快速变化的未来做好准备，在这些领域，人文交流将成为创新解决方案的重要催化剂。
此外，作为北京对话这样一个新型智库的代表，我认为对话依然是促进理解最有效的工具之一。然而，在社交媒体时代，对话也面临新的挑战：一个简单的推文可能引发全球性的误解。因此，也许我们需要结合开放的文化交流与闭门讨论的方式。在闭门环境下，参与者可以畅所欲言，聚焦解决方案，避免政治表演的陷阱。将这些方法与直接的人际关系结合起来，将为实现有意义且富有成效的对话提供一套有效的方案。
韩桦在年会翌日闭门会议中发言（图源：中美研究中心）
最后，让我们牢记，中美之间的联系不仅仅是由条约或贸易协议定义的，更是由那些积极参与、交流和互学的人们所塑造的。在面对复杂的国际关系时，我们应当致力于培育人文交流这一坚韧的力量。这股力量不仅能够超越政治，更能为我们所有人创造一个更加光明、紧密相连的未来。
（翻译：王奕涵 核译：李泽西、李雨琪）
以下为英文原文：
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor to stand before you to discuss today a very important subject that has been a cornerstone of China-US relations for decades.
The critical role of people-to-people exchange through cultural globalization, in my opinion, at a time when the international political landscape is evolving and the relationship between our two countries facing so many challenges, decoupling and de-risking at its climax, I think it is essential to revisit and reaffirm the enduring power of human connection.
Let me share with you one more recent observation, which I wrote for South China Morning Post. In today's climate of economic and technological de-globalization, cultural globalization actually continues to be a strong force when capable of bridging divides and fostering global unity and development. of this cultural globalization based on the past decades of foundation of people-to-people exchange.
Consider the global success of "Black Myths: Wukong", a Chinese developed online game that attracted audiences with its innovative gameplay and stunning visuals, gaining over 2 million concurrent players within two days of its release and the topping gaming charts worldwide. This demonstrates the growing appeal of cultural products that transcends borders and brings people together even amid geopolitical tensions. Similarly, platforms like TikTok, created by Chinese innovators and embraced globally through China and the US joint investments, thanks to the US government sanctions, demonstrate how cultural products blend local creativity with international participation. I think these successes highlight a new phase of globalization where cultural exchange thrives despite political and economic headwinds.
However, the broad outlook remains uncertain because President Trump's tariff threats and the ongoing geopolitical tensions have strained international relations. While China continues to champion globalization, collaboration requires efforts from both sides, as the US remained the world's largest economy. And I think at the heart of these challenges lies a deficit of political trust and mutual understanding despite globalization's clear benefits. Factors such as national security concerns, economic protectionism and the geopolitical rivalries have spurred tariffs, sanctions and higher trade costs.
On a more personal level, flights between China and the US remain below pre-COVID 19 levels, hindered by factors such as The Russian Ukraine conflict. These political challenges continue to impede people-to-people exchange, despite strong demand. So on this regard, I think China has made strides to foster international tourism and strengthen global connections. Over the past year, visa free entry for citizens of 38 countries has led to a sixfold increase in travelers. Airports in China in many cities, not only first-tier cities, but second-tier all the way through three-tiers, fourth-tier cities now offer dedicated assistance to international tourists. And hotels serve as hubs for supporting foreign visitors.
These efforts along with China's broader strategy deepen reforms and encourage openness, fostering societal change through increased international interactions. Hence, people-to-people exchange and cultural globalization remain a beacon of hope in an era of fragmentation. Rather than decoupling, we may be witnessing a deeper integration of diverse cultures, laying the groundwork for trust that transcends elite-driven economic engagements.
So as we navigate an increasingly interconnected yet divided world, the value of investing in people-to-people exchanges cannot be overstated. Programs promoting academic, cultural, and technological collaboration must be sustained and expanded. There are vast opportunities for growth in tackling global challenges together. Imagine the impact if Chinese and American scientists co-led efforts to tackle climate change, or if educators collaborate on innovative methods to prepare students for a rapidly changing world. These are areas where people-to-people exchange can shine as catalysts for creative solutions.
I come from a new model of Think Tank called Beijing Club for International Dialogue. I do think that dialogue remains one of the most effective tools for fostering understanding. Yet, it faces new challenges in the age of social media, where a single tweet can spark global misunderstandings. So perhaps it is time to embrace a mix of open cultural exchanges and closed-door discussions. Behind closed doors, individuals can speak frankly, focus on solutions and avoid the pitfalls of performative politics.
So combining these approaches with direct personal connections offers a promising recipe for meaningful and productive dialogue. In closing, let us remember that the ties between China and the US are not solely defined by treaties or trade agreements, but by the individuals who engage, who share and who learn from each other. As we navigate the complexities of our relationships, let us commit to nurturing the resilient force of people-to-people exchange, a force that holds the power to transcend politics and build a brighter, more connected future for all of us. Thank you.
Club点评：这是北京对话联合发起人、秘书长韩桦日前参加中美研究中心ICAS年会的发言。她提出，特朗普治下的中美关系面临诸多挑战，如“关税战”、“制裁”、地缘政治进一步紧张等，因此，加强人文交流尤为重要。全球化的文化交流不仅未停滞，反而展现出强大的生命力与潜力，成为推动两国关系发展的重要动力。
尤其值得注意的是，文化交流的形式正在发生显著变化。例如，近期小红书在美国的下载量激增，成为“TikTok难民”的新聚集地，吸引了大量美国用户涌向该平台与中国网民互动，分享生活方式和文化信息，这一现象表明，尽管国际关系充满紧张与不确定性，文化交流依然能够跨越国界，创造新的连接与理解。
韩桦呼吁，应持续扩大并深化相关合作项目，特别是在数字文化、媒体与教育领域，进一步加强中美双边人文交流的力量。通过持续对话与互动，我们不仅能增进相互理解，还能构建一个超越政治争议、更加和谐与包容的未来。在复杂的全球化环境中，人文交流无疑是消除误解、促进和平与稳定的重要途径。
Abstract: Han Hua, co-founder and secretary-general of the Beijing Club for International Dialogue, believes that under Trump's administration, China-U.S. relations face numerous challenges, such as the "trade war," "sanctions," and increasing geopolitical tensions. As a result, strengthening cultural exchanges has become especially important. Cultural exchange in the context of globalization has not only persisted but also shown tremendous vitality and potential, becoming a key driver for the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.
One particularly notable trend is the significant shift in the form of cultural exchange. For instance, recent surges in downloads of XiaoHongShu (Little Red Book) in the U.S. have turned the platform into a new gathering place for "TikTok refugees," attracting large numbers of American users to interact with Chinese netizens, share lifestyle tips, and exchange cultural information. This phenomenon demonstrates that, despite the tense and uncertain international relations, cultural exchange continues to transcend borders, fostering new connections and mutual understanding.
Han Hua calls for the continued expansion and deepening of relevant cooperation projects, particularly in the fields of digital culture, media, and education, to further enhance the power of Sino-U.S. people-to-people exchanges. Through ongoing dialogue and interaction, we can not only improve mutual understanding but also build a future that transcends political disputes and is more harmonious and inclusive. In the complex landscape of globalization, cultural exchanges are undoubtedly a crucial pathway for dispelling misunderstandings and promoting peace and stability.
