New book 'Fu Culture: A Global Perspective' launches at Beijing symposium

The Chinese and English editions of "Fu Culture: A Global Perspective." [Photo/Blossom Press]

The Chinese and English editions of "Fu Culture: A Global Perspective" were launched at a symposium in Beijing on Nov. 5. The book explores the cultural significance of "fu" — the Chinese notion of happiness and good fortune — and its expressions across different civilizations.

Chang Bo, president of China International Communications Group (CICG); Ruan Shiwei, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Fujian Provincial Committee and president of the Fujian Provincial Association for Yan Huang Culture; and Huang Weizhou, Party secretary and chairman of the Straits Publishing and Distribution Group, delivered remarks at the event. Xie Gang, vice president of CICG, was also present.

Chang Bo, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), delivers remarks at a symposium in Beijing, Nov. 5, 2026. [Photo/Blossom Press]

In his speech, Chang said that with deep historical roots and rich cultural connotations, Chinese fu culture is rooted in people's lives and continues to evolve with the times, embodying the Chinese people's aspirations for happiness and well-being. Together with the diverse understandings of happiness and well-being found in cultures around the world, fu culture forms part of humanity's shared pursuit of a better life, he said.

He called for efforts to strengthen the international communication of fu culture by highlighting its people-centered values and contemporary relevance, exploring more engaging ways of presenting it to international audiences, and expanding targeted communication channels.

CICG looks forward to working with partners in China and abroad to tap into the rich resources of fu culture, and develop cultural brands and conduct research that can enhance the global reach and influence of Chinese civilization, Chang added.

Ruan Shiwei, vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Fujian Provincial Committee and president of the Fujian Provincial Association for Yan Huang Culture, delivers remarks at a symposium in Beijing, Nov. 5, 2026. [Photo/Blossom Press]

Ruan said that the book examines fu culture through a broad cultural lens and draws on in-depth academic research, building a bridge for dialogue among civilizations and contributing to the cultural foundation for building a community with a shared future for humanity. 

He noted that Fujian province is working to incorporate the spirit of fu culture into local ways of life, productive activities and broader cultural practices. Going forward, the province will continue to explore the contemporary relevance of fu culture, seeking to broaden the idea of happiness for individuals and families to encompass social progress and national development.

Huang Weizhou, Party secretary and chairman of the Straits Publishing and Distribution Group, delivers remarks at a symposium in Beijing, Nov. 5, 2026. [Photo/Blossom Press]

Huang said the book offers a distinctive perspective by systematically examining representative concepts of happiness from different parts of the world. Its exploration of the diversity of human aspirations for happiness enriches academic research on fu culture and provides a solid intellectual foundation for introducing it to international audiences.

Li Mi, author of "Fu Culture: A Global Perspective," shares his insights into the book's creation at a symposium in Beijing, Nov. 5, 2026. [Photo/Blossom Press]

During a presentation by the team behind the book, Li Mi, the book's author and a professor at Beijing International Studies University, said the research on fu culture can help identify common ground across civilizations and turn humanity's universal aspiration for happiness into a cultural basis for overcoming differences and building consensus.

Li Weibin, English translator of "Fu Culture: A Global Perspective," shares his insights into the book's translation at a symposium in Beijing, Nov. 5, 2026. [Photo/Blossom Press]

The book's English translator Li Weibin, also a professor at Chengdu University of Information Technology and president of the Sichuan Applied Foreign Languages Institute, described the translation process as a "dialogue across cultures."

At the symposium, scholars and professionals from China and abroad discussed the contemporary significance of fu culture, its international communication and its role in promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.

Rafael Henrique Zerbetto, a Brazilian expert at China International Communications Group and recipient of the 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award, shares his views at a symposium in Beijing, Nov. 5, 2026. [Photo/Blossom Press]

Rafael Henrique Zerbetto, a Brazilian expert at CICG and recipient of the 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award, offered a cross-cultural perspective, noting that the book does not treat fu as a curiosity, but as a fundamental question every civilization asks.

"A valuable lesson I have learned is that you cannot understand a culture if you do not let it change you. This book invites us into a genuine cultural dialogue in which we are not merely observing, but willing to be transformed by the encounter," he said.

The event also saw the launch of a global initiative inviting scholars in China and abroad to submit academic papers and participate in exchanges on the modernization of traditional fu culture, its global reach and the shared values of human well-being across civilizations. Copies of the book were also presented to experts and students from Costa Rica, Brazil, Italy, Egypt and India.

International students pose for a photo holding copies of "Fu Culture: A Global Perspective" at a symposium in Beijing, Nov. 5, 2026. [Photo/Blossom Press]

The symposium was guided by CICG and the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Fujian Provincial Committee, and jointly organized by CICG subsidiary Blossom Press, the Fujian Provincial Association for Yan Huang Culture, and the Straits Publishing and Distribution Group. Wang Ning, president of Blossom Press, chaired the event.