Cultural Soft Power

It refers to the cohesion and vitality of a country based on culture, as well as the attraction and influence resulting from it. It is mainly the power embodied in culture, values, policy systems, ideology and public opinion. The improvement of cultural soft power is a strategic focus of cultural construction in China. It has a bearing on the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, its position in the world’s cultural structure, as well as its international status and international influence. In October 2007, the 17th CPC National Congress officially included “improving the country's cultural soft power” in the report, and proposed that “improving the country's cultural soft power will better protect the people's basic cultural rights and interests”. It raised the protection of the people’s basic cultural rights and interests to a new level, signifying that the improvement of cultural soft power as a national strategy has been incorporated into the relevant policies of governments at all levels and has been applied to specific practices from the central to the local level. When Xi Jinping presided over the 12th collective study of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee in 2013, he pointed out that improving the country’s cultural soft power is related to the “Two Centenary” goals and the realization of the Chinese Dream for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We must strive to consolidate the foundation of the country’s cultural soft power, spread contemporary Chinese values, showcase the unique charm of Chinese culture, and improve international discourse power. Improving cultural soft power is an important way to enhance the country's core competitiveness.

The comprehensive national strength of a country not only includes economic strength, technical strength, and national defense strength, but also includes national cohesion, moral appeal, and public opinion guidance. Spiritual strength is also an important part of comprehensive national strength. Improving cultural soft power is also a fundamental requirement for building a well-off society in an all-round way. The modernization that China wants to achieve is the modernization of the comprehensive development of economy, politics, culture, society, and ecology. The well-off society that China wants to build in an all-round way requires not only substantial and abundant material life, but also rich and healthy cultural and spiritual life. This urgently requires China to further increase its cultural construction and continuously improve the country’s cultural soft power.