Irina Bokova, former director-general of UNESCO, during an interview at the Forum on Internet Communication, Cultural Exchanges and Mutual Learning during the 2023 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, Nov. 9, 2023. [Photo by Xu Xiaoxuan/China.org.cn]  

In today's digital era, the "open sesame" to bolstering cultural diversity and avoiding the danger of entrenching online biases and prejudices is introducing healthy values, mutual respect and universal ethics within digital platforms, said Irina Bokova, former director-general of UNESCO, at the Forum on Internet Communication, Cultural Exchanges and Mutual Learning during the 2023 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit on Thursday.  

While emphasizing the importance of digital access and skills, Bokova spotlighted the paramount position of humans and emphasized that digital technologies should serve the people. "The internet, devoid of the right value guidance, tends to be manipulated for spreading hatred and toxic information detrimental to human societies," this staunch advocate for diversity and equality told China.org.cn in an exclusive interview in the ancient water town of Wuzhen, Zhejiang province.

Bokova pointed out that cyberspace should be a place of sharing knowledge, of empathy, solidarity and respect, and of learning to live together, not of animosity or biases. Her comments echoed the concept of building a community with a shared future in cyberspace proposed by China, which allows all countries to share the opportunities and fruits brought by the development of the internet.

Bokova expressed concern about social networks contributing to a more fragmented world, particularly with the rapid evolvement of artificial intelligence, confining users to their own way of thinking, ethnicity and community and causing uniformity. In addressing this issue, this newly named Hehe Culture ambassador, turns to the ancient Chinese philosophy of harmony in diversity.

The Chinese term "Hehe" means peace and harmony, representing part of traditional Chinese culture. An open mind and mutual respect will serve well to this "Hehe" end, Bokova lauded. 

Following the principle of peace and harmony, Bokova believes that positive, diverse and inclusive content should be encouraged on the internet, and the role of education needs to be leveraged to nurture people's cultural literacy, since nobody is born a racist or extremist dented by prejudice. 

On top of that, Bokova extolled the unique role of cultural heritage, tangible and intangible, in galvanizing intercultural dialogue, likening them to an open book recording a myriad of human civilizations. She praised the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for transcending cultural differences and promoting joint heritage conservation through intercultural dialogue.

In addition, Bokova called for the establishment of an internet-oriented silk road under the BRI framework. "We call for a new type of internet Silk Road that is culturally diverse, inclusive and multilingual and that allows us to share knowledge and intercultural experiences," Bokova said.

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