How Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture shapes a modern superpower

Chinese President Xi Jinping has placed culture at the centre of China’s national strategy. When he formally introduced “Xi Jinping Thought on Culture” in October 2023 in Beijing, he outlined a vision that ties China’s socialist values to its deep civilisational roots, calling for cultural confidence as a driving force in national rejuvenation and modernisation.

Xi’s doctrine builds on years of policy, extending from the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, when he first urged the integration of Marxist principles with China’s unique traditions. Since then, he has repeatedly emphasised the importance of public communication and the creative transformation of China’s heritage, arguing that culture is as essential to the nation’s future as economic and technological development.

YAN NI

During a recent study tour to China, hosted by China Broadcasting International Economic and Technological Cooperation Co., Ltd., Deputy Director-General of the International Cooperation Department at the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), Yan Ni outlined the scale of China’s ambitions in this sphere.

“The work of public communication and culture is extremely crucial to the future and destiny of the Party, the long-term stability of the country, and the cohesion and centripetal force of the nation.” President Xi Jinping said. This is what guides China at this historical point, aiming to promote cultural prosperity, build a culturally strong country, and develop a modern Chinese civilisation.

Building cultural confidence

Xi Jinping’s Thought on Culture promotes an approach rooted in openness, inclusiveness, and innovation, while upholding fundamental values. Xi has consistently said that this strategy provides a strong ideological guarantee, spiritual strength, and favourable cultural conditions for building a modern socialist country and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Xi’s cultural doctrine summarises China’s efforts to preserve, develop, and revitalise its heritage. He has called for integrating Marxist ideology with China’s realities and traditions, saying, “We must continue to adapt the basic tenets of Marxism to China’s specific realities and its fine traditional culture.” The declaration, delivered during the centenary of the CPC in 2021, signalled a change in China’s approach to cultural policy.

Xi has repeatedly visited historical sites and museums, making over 170 directives and instructions on cultural relics and intangible heritage. He has personally championed the protection and legalisation of cultural heritage, calling for the return of lost relics and the development of traditional arts. Xi’s administration has promoted the “creative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture,” aiming to ensure continuity and innovation in China’s civilisation.

Experts said that China’s timing in formalising Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is significant. With its “hard power” already strong, China now seeks to unify its cultural wealth, boost national confidence, and enhance its “soft power” on the world stage. Xi’s vision aims to enhance cultural prosperity and position China as a global leader in culture.

Media, technology and soft power

China’s cultural policy finds direct expression in its rapidly evolving media and technology sectors. The audio-visual industry, Yan Ni explained, operates across a four-tier system, i.e., state, provincial, city, and county, with more than 2,500 radio and television broadcasting media outlets, over 49,000 radio and television program production and operations institutions, and more than 3,100 licensed or registered online audio-visual service providers. Nearly 1.07 million people work in the sector.

According to the NRTA’s 2024 statistics, Chinese radio producers generated 7.5 million hours of content, and broadcasters aired 16.46 million hours. Television producers created 2.6 million hours of programming, with 20 million hours broadcast nationwide. The sector’s digital transformation is remarkable: online video users have reached 112.9 million, and online audio users total 79.68 million. Short video platforms have become ubiquitous, with 1.04 billion subscribers and daily uploads exceeding 130 million. Long video platforms attract 752 million users, and live streaming platforms now reach 833 million users, more than 75 percent of China’s internet users.

Young women in Hanfu, the traditional clothing of China’s Han ethnic group. Photo: VCG

The industry generates over RMB 1.48 trillion (about US$207 billion) annually. China now hosts 1,136 high-definition television channels, eight 4K channels, and two 8K channels, with all provincial TV stations covered in HD. The country has 208 million cable TV subscribers, 110 million HD and UHD subscribers, 285 million OTT (over-the-top) subscribers, 154 million direct-to-home satellite TV subscribers, and 400 million IPTV subscribers. Internet pay-TV services now reach 788 million users.

China has prioritised the convergence of traditional broadcasting with new media. The authorities have pushed to consolidate traditional outlets, accelerate integration with digital platforms, and optimise resources for greater synergy. This systematic approach supports high-quality, standardised service delivery, reflecting the viewing habits of a diverse, increasingly online population.

China’s focus on technological innovation extends to the fight against disinformation. The authorities have enacted a robust legal framework, including the Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, and Personal Information Protection Law, to combat fake news and protect citizens’ rights. Chinese online platforms follow content management protocols, and actively monitor and remove false information. The Government has promoted public education in media literacy, regularly conducting campaigns to help citizens identify and resist fake news.

Artificial Intelligence and big data analytics play an increasing role in detecting and countering the spread of disinformation. On the international stage, China works with other countries and organisations to address the global challenge of disinformation, contributing to a more secure information ecosystem. Yan Ni said that these measures have received international recognition for their effectiveness in safeguarding truth and public interest.

Cultural heritage and youth innovation

Xi Jinping’s vision for culture goes beyond media and law. He has shown a personal interest in the preservation, study, and reinterpretation of China’s heritage, with frequent visits to historical and archaeological sites such as the Confucius Temple, Dunhuang Mogao Caves, Sansu Temple, and the Yin Ruins. He has directed efforts to protect sites like Liangzhu, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, shutting down polluting mines and calling for the return of lost relics. Xi has issued more than 170 instructions related to cultural relics and intangible cultural heritage since 2012.

Cultural institutions, such as the China National Arts and Crafts Museum, play a vital role in preserving and promoting intangible heritage. Over the past two years, the museum has hosted over 20 exhibitions and nearly 100 cultural and educational events, drawing wide public praise. Experts such as Lei Xingshan, President of Beijing Union University, and Tang Fei, Chief of the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, highlight the way in which the creative development and legal protection of heritage invigorate the national spirit and strengthen cultural confidence.

Young Chinese innovators and inheritors are also contributing to the modernisation of tradition. Designer Chen Liwen has transformed 700-year-old Yunjin brocade into modern fashion, while Langjia Ziyu, a third-generation inheritor, is reviving Beijing dough figures, a protected folk art.

Culture experts such as Fang Qiongyi say that the creative energy of young inheritors demonstrates the continuity of Chinese culture and its adaptability to the modern era.

International cultural exchange and the Global Civilisation Initiative

Xi Jinping Thought on Culture includes a strong outward-facing component. The doctrine calls for “enhancing international communication capacity and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilisations.” China draws on historical precedents such as the ancient Silk Road, with its record of cultural and commercial exchange. Xinjiang, for instance, remains a living example of China’s long tradition of cultural diversity.

China has launched joint archaeological projects with Central Asian and European countries, reflecting its commitment to mutual learning in heritage preservation. The Belt and Road Initiative, sometimes described as the modern Silk Road, has attracted collaboration from more than 150 countries and over 30 international organisations, representing nearly a trillion US dollars in investment.

Xi has introduced the Global Civilisation Initiative, calling for tolerance, co-existence, and exchanges among civilisations. International commentators such as the Director of the China-Brazil Center for Research and Business, Ronnie Lins points to the need for respect for diversity, shared values, and increased cooperation, principles echoed in Xi’s approach.

Chinese cultural diplomacy increasingly includes media partnerships, cultural exhibitions, and exchanges. For example, in May 2024, the NRTA signed a cooperation agreement with the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, which led to the broadcast of Chinese programs such as “The Three-Body Problem” and “Like a Flowing River” in Sri Lanka. In May 2025, the NRTA and Sri Lankan media launched “Serendipitous Journeys,” a cross-cultural documentary series exploring youth experiences in both countries.

China has also invested in technology transfer and infrastructure, as seen in the Colombo Lotus TV Tower, completed in 2019 by the China Broadcasting Film and Television Design Institute. This project has enhanced Sri Lanka’s broadcast infrastructure, symbolising the strengthening of media ties.

Personnel and policy cooperation are expanding. In September 2023, a delegation from Sri Lanka’s National Television visited China for joint programs and filming. A Memorandum of Understanding(MOU), signed in January 2025, supports ongoing collaboration, including joint production, translation and dubbing, industry events, and professional training.

What Sri Lanka can learn from China

China’s experience under Xi Jinping Thought on Culture offers Sri Lanka valuable insights for navigating its own questions of national identity, cultural renewal, and media modernisation. President Xi Jinping has placed culture at the core of national development, using it as both a source of unity and a means to project China’s presence on the global stage. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, Xi has prioritised cultural confidence, encouraging the integration of Marxist principles with China’s traditional values. He has called for openness, inclusiveness, and innovation while upholding the fundamental aspects of China’s long civilisation. This approach has provided clear strategic direction, allowing China to build a cohesive narrative during periods of rapid economic and social change.

Sri Lanka, often shaped by fluctuating political priorities and fragmented policy, can learn from the consistency and cross-sectoral nature of China’s cultural strategy. In China, the Government links cultural policy with education, heritage preservation, media, and the arts, ensuring that each part contributes to a unified national vision. Sri Lanka could benefit from a similarly coordinated policy that bridges its diverse cultural, linguistic, and religious communities, while making culture a living part of development.

China demonstrates that modernisation does not require sacrificing heritage. Xi Jinping has personally championed the creative transformation of Chinese tradition, supporting legal protection for historical sites, the return of lost artefacts, and the promotion of crafts and performing arts. He has directed initiatives that encourage the fusion of ancient culture with contemporary creative industries. In Sri Lanka, where Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, and Christian traditions coexist, policymakers can encourage the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage while fostering new forms of artistic expression that speak to contemporary society.

China’s investment in media and technology provides another lesson. The country’s audio-visual sector employs over a million people and spans thousands of outlets and production studios. China produces millions of hours of content every year, and the Government has facilitated the deep convergence of traditional broadcasting with digital platforms. As a result, over a billion Chinese engage with short video content, and hundreds of millions use streaming and live platforms. Sri Lanka, which is still expanding its digital infrastructure, can follow China’s example in supporting both public and private investment in technology and content creation, ensuring that Sri Lankan stories remain accessible and relevant in an increasingly digital world.

The Chinese Government has taken a firm approach to information integrity, passing robust laws such as the Cybersecurity Law and Data Security Law. Chinese authorities require online platforms to monitor and remove false information and have invested in public education to improve media literacy. They have employed artificial intelligence and big data analytics to manage the flow of information and fight disinformation. Sri Lanka, which has encountered its own challenges with fake news and the misuse of social media, can study China’s approach to legal frameworks and platform responsibility while also considering its own commitment to freedom of expression and open debate.

China’s focus on media literacy is particularly relevant as Sri Lankans increasingly rely on digital platforms for news and entertainment. Comprehensive education initiatives that teach critical thinking and discernment can help Sri Lanka’s public resist misinformation and become more active and informed digital citizens.

Xi Jinping Thought on Culture places special emphasis on youth. In China, young artistes and innovators are encouraged to reinterpret traditional forms, as seen in the adaptation of ancient brocade into modern fashion or the revival of folk arts. Sri Lanka’s vibrant youth population has the potential to drive a similar renaissance in arts, crafts, and digital content, but requires targeted investment, training, and access to international opportunities.

China’s strategy of international cultural exchange offers another model. Through partnerships, co-productions, and technology transfer, China has demonstrated how international collaboration can boost local capacity and broaden perspectives. As Sri Lanka seeks to tell its story to the world, it can emulate China’s coordinated approach to cultural diplomacy and the building of soft power.

China’s experience shows that successful policy requires strong implementation and collaboration across Government, industry, academia, and communities. Sri Lanka can build mechanisms that foster this cooperation, encouraging public and private stakeholders to contribute to cultural and media development.

As global media becomes more complex, the need for investment, innovation, and education grows. By learning from China’s integration of tradition with technology, its approach to managing information, and its investments in media and cultural exchange, Sri Lanka can position itself as a modern, confident, and resilient nation. China’s example demonstrates that a clear cultural vision, supported by coordinated policy, technology, education, and international cooperation, can help a country preserve its heritage, build unity, and shape its future in a rapidly changing world.