A dialogue promoting the culture along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was held in Beijing on Thursday, attracting experts and journalists from home and abroad to promote the Grand Canal's cultural heritage with the help of new media platforms. 

Xia Chunping, deputy editor-in-chief of China News Service, Li Gao, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, and Zhang Yiqun, head of the International Communication Division of the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, attended the dialogue and delivered speeches. 

Speaking of his impressions of the Grand Canal, Lyu Zhenya, editor-in-chief of China Newsweek, emphasized one word: "new." "In recent years, the Grand Canal has embodied more meaning, and cities along the canal have impressed the world with their new image." He said the Beijing-Hangzhou dialogue provided an opportunity for experts to exchange ideas on how to better promote this culture overseas via new media. 

"Many people may have yet to see the Grand Canal in person, but most are familiar with poems and other literature related to it," said Yang Gu, president of Guangming Online, adding that one approach has been to make use of the canal's intangible cultural heritage to reinvigorate its popularity among younger generations. He also pointed out that changes in media platforms could better facilitate cultural exchange.

Yu Xiaogang, deputy editor-in-chief of Beijing Daily, said that compared to its former function of transportation, the Grand Canal is now more of a focus of cultural protection. 

Having grown up along the canal, Xia Yanping, senior editor and director of Zhejiang Radio&TV Group, said that he has a special bond with the canal. He called for joint efforts to further explore its cultural heritage and help the world better understand the canal.

"The Grand Canal is the longest and oldest canal among the three biggest canals in the world," said Yu Yunquan, director of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies under the China International Publishing Group. He added that the canal plays an important role in transportation and nurturing local culture.

Chen Xibo, deputy dean of the Grand Canal Research Institute of Beijing Wuzi University, said that the Grand Canal connects different parts of China and forms a bond among Chinese. He called for the public to protect and preserve cultural legacies along the canal.

The dialogue was held on a yacht on the Tongzhou section of the Grand Canal, inviting attendance from local and foreign journalists. The dialogue was also broadcast live on Chinese social media platforms, including Weibo and Douyin.