Tell the story of modern China in the new era through the shared emotions of humanity.

Telling the story of China well and spreading its voice effectively are important tasks for international communication in the new era. Practice has shown that the things that most move the world and transcend cultural barriers are often not grand theories or rigid lectures, but rather simple and genuine human kindness, persevering spirit, and universally relatable emotions about a good life. On the evening of the 24th local time, President Xi Jinping revisited stories of friendly exchanges between the Chinese and American people at the state banquet held by U.S. President Trump. He specifically mentioned a touching tale: "More than 20 years ago, an American named Cyrus sponsored Chinese sand-control worker Yin Yuzhen in planting trees. Not long ago, this elderly man returned to China and saw with his own eyes that the desert from back then had already transformed into a lush forest."

It is reported that the origins of this tale trace back to 1999, when Cyrus, an American teacher teaching in China, saw Yin Yuzhen, a farmer from Inner Mongolia, planting trees and controlling desertification in the Mu Us Desert on television. He was deeply moved. Cyrus worked tirelessly to raise $5,000 to donate to Yin Yuzhen, a complete stranger. Receiving this act of kindness from across the ocean, Yin Yuzhen did not use it to improve her own life but instead spent it all on purchasing saplings. With relentless dedication, she hoisted bucket after bucket of water and planted bundle after bundle of seedlings into the yellow sands. Driven by the motto, "I'd rather die planting trees than let the sand bully people to death," she quietly worked in the desert. Later, the two lost contact for 26 years for various reasons, but Yin Yuzhen never forgot this cross-national friendship. She named the forest she cultivated "Cyrus Forest." In 2026, Yin Yuzhen recorded a video to search for her benefactor and, within just 26 hours, established contact. The elderly Cyrus returned to Inner Mongolia and personally witnessed the once barren desert, now blanketed with over 50,000 trees in a verdant forest. Touching the tree trunks, he marveled, "I once said it was impossible, but she proved me wrong."

An ordinary farmer and a foreign elder—this touching tale that transcends time and national borders, honest and unembellished, has been spotlighted in a major diplomatic event. This fully demonstrates that the most compelling Chinese stories rely on warmth, not volume, and genuine emotion rather than preaching.

Identify humanity’s shared emotional connections to break down barriers in international communication

Although countries vary in circumstances and cultures are diverse, humanity’s longing for kindness, perseverance, effort, and beauty is deeply universal. This is the greatest common denominator for exchanges and mutual understanding among civilizations, as well as the underlying logic for telling China's story well. Cyrus was moved by a Chinese farmer he had never met—not because of their geographical or social identities but because he saw precious qualities shared by all humans: resilience in adversity, self-reliance in the face of challenges, and gratitude for kindness received. Such plain but radiant human nature can be universally understood, respected, and empathized with worldwide.

The overseas artistic endeavors of renowned sculptor Xu Hongfei also demonstrate the powerful force of emotional communication. His lifelike sculptures have entered the Louvre, graced squares in major cities across Europe, and toured more than ten countries across five continents. His works focus on the joys and daily lives of ordinary people, displaying relaxed, vivid, and lively characters that convey pure love, beauty, joy, and happiness. Without complex cultural annotations or esoteric artistic expressions, his art evokes resonance among international audiences simply through its warm, relatable depictions of life. From the laughter and mimicry of European children to the lingering admiration of foreign elderly, it is evident: the most beautiful language is empathy, and the best communication is resonance. Guardianship of ecology, sincere goodwill, tranquil livelihoods, and positive aspirations—these are values universally pursued by humanity and the optimal context for Chinese stories to reach the world. Telling China's story does not require only sending out concepts but embedding itself into common human themes, making the world willing to listen, understand, and resonate.

Focus on the light of ordinary people and use small narratives to reflect the grandeur of an era

Grand narratives showcase a nation’s stature, while stories of ordinary people highlight its warmth. The truest and most credible picture of China lies within the struggles and lives of billions of ordinary individuals. Yin Yuzhen is merely an ordinary farmer from the depths of the desert; Cyrus is just a retired teacher from another country. Yet, these two ordinary figures wrote a heart-stirring transnational tale through over 20 years of kindness and perseverance. Five thousand dollars of kindness, fifty thousand trees of effort, and twenty-six years of steadfast commitment—one after another, these authentic and detailed accounts are much more convincing than hollow propaganda and better convey a real and three-dimensional China.

Xu Hongfei’s creations are always rooted in everyday life, insisting on making ordinary people the protagonists. He does not pursue grand themes or sculpt heroic figures; instead, he focuses on capturing moments of people dancing, embracing, playing, and working in their daily lives. These vivid and lively depictions of life break away from the stereotypical and abstract forms of international narratives, allowing foreign audiences to directly see the relaxed confidence, optimism, and kindness of contemporary Chinese people, and comprehend the real picture of Chinese people's stable lives and national security.

China’s development achievements in the new era ultimately focus on changing the fate and improving the lives of ordinary people. The perseverance of small individuals reflects the progress of an era, and the happiness of ordinary people underscores a nation's strength. Showing the big through the small, reflecting the grand through the micro, carrying the spirit of an era through individual stories, and showcasing the changes wrought by development through the myriad forms of human life are the most vivid and relatable ways to tell China’s story.

Relying on genuine emotion builds a universal language for communication

Cultural differences exist, and language presents barriers, but sincerity and warmth know no borders. The transnational friendship between Yin Yuzhen and Cyrus is grounded on pure trust, gratitude, and perseverance. A foreigner offered selfless help without expecting anything in return, and an ordinary farmer remained true to her word, showing unwavering determination over decades to repay this kindness. This touching bond that transcends mountains, seas, and time is simple yet profound, striking a chord in the heart, representing the most powerful and moving expression of China.

Xu Hongfei’s sculptures have continued to gain popularity overseas and spark organic dissemination because they express universal human emotions through art. Love and warmth, joy and inclusion, effort and tranquility are universal languages that cross racial and geographical boundaries. The interaction and immersion of foreign audiences with these sculptures and their experience of Chinese-style living aesthetics are processes of eliminating cognitive biases, perceiving Chinese warmth, and recognizing Chinese culture.

A credible, lovable, and admirable image of China is never achieved through propaganda but through the bits and pieces of goodwill, hard work, and perseverance demonstrated by countless ordinary people. Stories that are warm, genuine, and full of humanity are the ones that truly touch hearts, foster understanding, and achieve subtle and impactful international communication.

Insist on integration and reciprocity to allow Chinese stories to grow and spread naturally

The best international communication is not about deliberate output or forced indoctrination but natural growth and deep integration. Xu Hongfei’s "go out, go in, invite out, invite back, leave behind, and blend in" approach to dissemination reflects not only valuable experience in art outreach but is also a scientific method for telling Chinese stories in the new era.

The concept of "going in and blending in" involves breaking away from one-way communication and actively entering foreign mainstream public spaces, integrating into the daily lives of local people, and allowing Chinese culture and stories to take root and grow organically. Yin Yuzhen’s afforestation story earned recognition on a prestigious diplomatic stage because it originated from real life, endured the test of time, and was genuinely credible and moving.

To tell the story of China in the new era, we need to shift our communication approach—less formulaic lectures and more life-centered narratives; less condescending expressions and more equal and sincere empathy. Rooted in universal love, the beauty of life, the strength of struggle, and the happiness of ordinariness, using shared human emotions as the bridge, showcasing China’s warmth, confidence, and responsibility through authentic ordinary stories.

Only by exchanging sincerity for sincerity and connecting with the world through warmth can more lively, genuine, and moving Chinese stories reach the world, allowing the world to truly understand a credible, lovable, and admirable China of the new era.

(The author is the former director of Guangdong Maritime Bureau and former counselor of the Guangdong Provincial Government)