Constructing Chinese Discourse System to Enhance Soft Power, International Influence

Qianqian  Gao

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) emphasized the urgency of building a discourse system and narrative framework with distinct Chinese characteristics. This initiative aims to tell China's stories vividly and disseminate its voice effectively, projecting a genuine, multidimensional, and captivating image of China. It underscores the pivotal role of cultural communication in international relations and provides strategic guidance for strengthening China’s soft power and expanding the global influence of Chinese civilization.

In the context of accelerated globalization, constructing a Chinese-specific discourse and narrative system has become imperative. As China’s comprehensive national strength increases and its international status rises, global attention and expectations toward China have surged. In a complex global public opinion environment, shaping a true, multidimensional, and comprehensive image of China is not only crucial for building the country’s image but also has far-reaching implications for China’s reform, opening-up, and socialist modernization. Thus, creating a favorable external opinion environment is essential for fostering rational understanding and positive responses from the international community regarding China's development trajectory.

President Xi Jinping has stressed that strengthening international communication capacity is a strategic priority for China's foreign communication efforts in the new era. Enhancing international discourse power in alignment with China’s growing national strength and global status, while fostering a supportive public opinion environment for national reform, development, and stability, constitutes a key task. Leveraging Chinese wisdom to contribute to the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity, China aspires to play a unique role in reforming the global governance system. In this process, accelerating the development of China's discourse and narrative systems must be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This guiding thought not only synthesizes the CPC's governance experience but also responds profoundly to the opportunities and challenges posed by the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics and global development trends.

The essence of Xi Jinping Thought lies in integrating the core principles of Marxism with China’s specific practices and rich traditional culture, offering a series of innovative ideas, strategies, and insights. These theoretical achievements provide scientific responses to major challenges in the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, while embodying firm ideals, deep empathy for the people, distinct contemporary relevance, profound historical depth, and robust cultural confidence. These theoretical underpinnings serve as a spiritual guide for China's development and lay a solid foundation for the construction of a discourse system with Chinese characteristics oriented toward global communication. Through innovative communication strategies and an optimized discourse system, China aims to narrate its stories effectively in the global public sphere, enhancing its soft power and contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global governance.

In the realm of international communication, telling China’s story and presenting its image hold strategic significance, with narrating the story of the CPC being particularly crucial. President Xi Jinping has emphasized that to understand contemporary China, one must first understand the CPC. As the core characteristic of socialism with Chinese characteristics and its greatest institutional advantage, the CPC's leadership is integral to this narrative. Sharing the story of the CPC helps deepen international understanding of China and demonstrates that the Party is a responsible political force committed to people’s well-being, national rejuvenation, and global progress.

Over the past century, the CPC has consistently upheld a people-centered development philosophy, serving the people wholeheartedly. This principle has permeated every phase of revolution, construction, and reform, continuously improving the people’s well-being and laying a solid foundation for the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Under the CPC’s leadership, China has achieved remarkable success in promoting human development and realizing shared prosperity among its citizens.

On the path toward national rejuvenation, the CPC adheres to the principles of independence, pragmatism, and openness, driving the nation forward. Through persistent efforts, China is now closer than ever to achieving the great Chinese Dream, with greater confidence and capability. The CPC's sense of historical responsibility propels the Chinese nation toward prosperity and strength, demonstrating extraordinary resilience and vitality.

Simultaneously, the CPC takes a global perspective, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to world peace and development. The Party actively promotes global economic growth, providing momentum for global development, and participates in addressing common challenges facing humanity by fostering a more just and equitable international order. China consistently practices the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, asserting itself as a builder of global peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order.

In this era of profound global change, the CPC Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, places high importance on international communication work. It has launched comprehensive efforts to enhance communication capacity, implementing strategic measures to improve communication effectiveness. Amid the intense competition for international discourse, the ideological and cultural frontlines must follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, embrace their responsibilities, and exhibit strong historical awareness and cultural confidence.

Enhancing international communication capacity requires continuous innovation in communication methods and pathways, optimizing discourse, and expanding diverse communication channels. It is essential to tailor communication strategies to different regional and cultural contexts, making flexible use of digital technologies and new media platforms to build a multi-layered and multidimensional communication network. This ensures that China’s voice reaches the global community accurately and widely. International communication must not only convey facts but also focus on discourse construction and narrative innovation. By proactively setting the agenda, telling China’s stories, and spreading Chinese ideas, China can enhance the appeal and influence of its communication efforts.

Improving the effectiveness of international communication is both a fundamental requirement for shaping a national image and a strategic task for gaining leadership in international discourse and actively participating in global governance. By presenting a genuine, multifaceted, and comprehensive image, China can guide international public opinion, challenge the dominance of Western narratives, and create a favorable opinion environment for its development. This process also showcases Chinese wisdom and strength, contributing to the development of a community with a shared future for humanity and fostering innovative global governance.

Enhancing the dissemination and influence of Chinese civilization is central to current international communication efforts and forms a core component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. President Xi has emphasized the importance of top-level design and strategic planning in building a distinct communication system that reflects Chinese characteristics. Strengthening the influence of international communication, the appeal of Chinese culture, the affinity of China’s national image, and the persuasiveness of Chinese discourse is essential for gaining broader recognition on the global stage.

Through these efforts, China aims to present a more authentic, multidimensional, and comprehensive national image internationally, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global governance. These endeavors not only foster deeper understanding and support for China within the international community but also inject new vitality into world peace and development.

In conclusion, constructing a discourse and narrative system with Chinese characteristics is a long-term and challenging task. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, China will continue to deepen its international communication efforts, narrate China’s stories effectively, and project its voice globally. These efforts will contribute significantly to building a community with a shared future for humanity and advancing innovative global governance, thereby enhancing China’s international influence and providing a richer, more diverse discourse environment for the world.

(Qianqian Gao is a research scholar at the School of Economics and Management, Suqian University)