Nanjing Hosts 2025 Yangtze Culture Forum for Enhanced Global Dialogue on River Culture and Sustainable Development
NANJING, China, Dec. 04, 2025 — The 2025 Yangtze Culture Forum commenced in Nanjing, bringing together over 300 attendees from more than 30 nations. Its purpose was to delve into the cultural, ecological, and developmental importance of the planet’s major rivers. UNESCO and the Nanjing Municipal People’s Government served as co-organizers, with the News and Information Center of Xinhua News Agency, Xinhua’s Jiangsu Bureau, and the Information Office of the Nanjing Municipal People’s Government handling the organizational aspects.
Adopting the theme “Flowing Rivers, Converging Future,” this year’s Forum sought to enhance global collaboration concerning river culture, sustainable management of river basins, and intercultural discourse. More than 300 international guests convened alongside the Yangtze River to examine the legacy of river civilizations and devise innovative approaches for contemporary river-related cooperation.
Xin Changxing, Secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, highlighted the Yangtze River’s role in connecting the Yangtze and Huai River regions and its outlet to the Yellow Sea, thereby defining Jiangsu’s geography and serving as the economic backbone. He affirmed that Jiangsu intends to leverage the deep cultural heritage of the Yangtze River to foster increased dialogue, exchange, and collaboration with nations and areas situated along significant rivers globally.
Fu Hua, President of Xinhua News Agency, underscored the Yangtze River’s status as the birthplace of Chinese civilization. He added that Xinhua plans to utilize the forum to intensify collaboration in narrating fresh stories about the Yangtze, showcasing Jiangsu’s “river strategy,” and advancing scholarly work on Yangtze culture. Xinhua’s objective, by positioning the river as a conduit for worldwide cultural exchange, is to introduce Yangtze culture to a global audience and for generations to come.
The 2025 Yangtze Culture Forum reiterated UNESCO’s dedication to responsible river management, cultural and scientific partnership, and assisting riverine communities confronted by worldwide issues. UNESCO and Nanjing expressed their continued commitment to collaborate in championing ethical management, local community involvement, and mutual knowledge sharing across river systems globally.
Source: 2025 Yangtze Culture Forum
CONTACT: Contact person: Mr. Feng, Tel: 86-10-63074558
