VR and AR are used for presenting the vibrancy of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Photo: TUCHONG

In the diverse context of the globalized era, China urgently requires a strategic reshaping of its discourse system to enhance the affinity and persuasiveness of its international storytelling. Exploring how to foster the sustainable development of China’s narrative system within the framework of building a community with a shared future for mankind has become a pressing contemporary imperative.

Historical & contemporary narratives

The cultural and historical resources of narratives are characterized by inheritability, prescriptiveness, and intrinsic coherence. Constructing a narrative system is not a rootless endeavor; it inherently involves a dynamic dialogue between history and the contemporary. In literary theory, both “narrative” and “narration” can refer to narrative, with the former denoting text produced by storytelling and the latter referring to the act of storytelling performed by a discourse subject. The polysemy of narrative emphasizes that discourse is a dynamic process of reproduction, not a static text. This requires a deep engagement with existing knowledge and narrative resources to prevent the silencing of history. Building an independent Chinese knowledge and narrative system requires re-evaluating the vitality and relevance of Chinese historical knowledge and narratives, restoring China’s narrative agency at the meta-discursive level.

Historical narratives carry the collective memory and cultural identity of the nation, providing modern individuals with a foundation for narrative identity and emotional connection. Contemporary narratives, in turn, imbue historical identities with new dimensions, enabling Chinese storytellers to not only “find themselves” but also “become themselves.” Through a modern lens, historical narratives resonate with the lived experiences of contemporary Chinese, forging connections in narrative identity that shape individual self-understanding and social engagement. Thus, the interplay between historical and contemporary narratives not only enriches the content of China’s narrative system but also offers a viable path for crafting a narrative identity rooted in deep cultural heritage and modern resonance.

New concepts, categories, and expressions within China’s narrative system—such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the modernization of China’s system and capacity for governance, and a community with a shared future for mankind—are original, contemporary ideas deeply rooted in the historical memory and cultural ethos of the Chinese nation. These Chinese perspectives, drawn from historical narratives, are refined and transformed into forms and mediums that resonate with global audiences, gradually evolving into universal languages and international consensus. Diachronic dialogue serves as the transformation mechanism for new concepts, categories and expressions. Through narrative reproduction, it elaborates on the unique national ethos and value system of the Chinese nation. This process plays an unparalleled role in anchoring the national characteristics and cultural identity of China’s narrative system.

Intersubjectivity in a multicultural context

“Intersubjectivity” refers to the shared perspectives, values, and understandings among individuals, shaping their perceptions and beliefs within social and cultural contexts. This shared framework reflects the dynamic and interactive nature of relationships. Japanese applied linguistics Junko Mori and other scholars have noted that intersubjectivity emerges from the interplay of social structures and cultural environments, fostering consensus among diverse actors and creating a mutually recognized identity with inherent tensions. In multicultural settings, the subjects of communication and interpretation are diverse, distinguished as “you” and “I” in subject-object relations. Yet, the mutual recognition embedded in intersubjectivity fosters a collective “we,” enabling international consensus and serving as a vital pathway to enhance the affinity and appeal of China’s narrative system.

Cultural richness is achieved through mutual learning and exchanges. By adopting an intersubjective perspective, China’s narrative system moves beyond one-way self-expression to embrace two-way interaction and collaborative growth, creating a more inclusive and open context for the global dissemination of Chinese stories. Rooted in centuries of dialogue with other civilizations, China’s narrative system is both distinctly national and inherently global, reflecting the open-mindedness of Chinese culture in embracing diverse world civilizations. Engaging actively in the cooperative and competitive dynamics of multicultural exchanges further highlights the flexibility and openness of China’s narrative system. By stimulating the “empathy” mechanism across diverse cultures, intersubjectivity deepens the international community’s emotional identification with and understanding of Chinese stories.

To meet the era’s call to “integrate Chinese and foreign elements,” the Chinese narrative system should prioritize several key capabilities. First, it is suggested to strengthen intercultural dialogue. By strengthening the exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese culture and the excellent cultures of other countries, and by uncovering shared values and intellectual resonances, China can foster deeper cultural understanding and consensus, amplifying the appeal of its stories. Second, it is advised to strategically leverage international platforms. To tell Chinese stories well to the outside world, “borrowing ships to sail overseas” should be wisely employed. Various international communication platforms and channels could be engaged to ensure that Chinese stories transcend geographical boundaries and reach broader global audiences, thus expanding their reach and influence. Finally, it is advised to prioritize intercultural engagement with the younger generation. By advancing intercultural education and exchange programs, China can enhance international youth’s awareness of and participation in its stories, cultivating storytellers with global perspectives and intercultural communication skills, ensuring sustained global resonance for China’s narrative system.

Digital transformation & narrative functions

With the deep integration of 5G, big data, the Internet of Things, generative artificial intelligence, and information dissemination, the public opinion ecosystem and communication methods in the field of international communication have undergone profound changes, redefining the developmental logic of China’s narrative system. Digital technologies have enhanced the flow and interactivity of information, shifting traditional one-way “I speak, you listen” storytelling to dynamic, multi-party dialogue. This evolution supports the global dissemination, engagement, and acceptance of Chinese stories. Against the backdrop of accelerating the construction of a digital China, mastering the dynamics of digital-era international communication, innovating the forms of discourse expression, and promoting the innovative upgrading of the narrative function and communication effectiveness of Chinese discourse have become intrinsic to the sustainable development of China’s narrative system.

Standing at the forefront of digital practice, China’s narrative system needs to integrate diverse media forms—text, images, video, and virtual reality (VR)—to create cohesive, cross-platform, and cross-media storytelling experiences. Such integration amplifies the appeal and persuasiveness of Chinese narratives while deepening audience immersion. For instance, the “VR Greater Bay Area” digital audio-visual series, launched by the Southern Finance Omnimedia Group’s International Communication Center and partners, employs augmented reality (AR) technology to vividly showcase the cultural, technological, and ecological vibrancy of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. By breaking free from conventional narrative frameworks, this immersive experience transforms “Greater Bay Area stories” into vivid, tangible scenes, enabling global audiences to experience the region’s dynamism firsthand, thus updating traditional narrative functions.

Deeply advancing the digital transformation of the Chinese discourse and narrative system requires moving beyond superficial “digital formalism” to foster meaningful, long-term synergy between narrative structures and the digital communication ecosystem. The functions of discourse exchange and emotional connection of the digital communication ecosystem expand the international expression scenarios of Chinese stories while blurring the boundaries between storytellers and audiences. This shift invites international audiences to become active participants and co-creators of Chinese stories, embodying the intersubjective perspective. By integrating more proactively and inclusively into the global communication ecosystem, China’s narrative system strengthens cultural exchanges and people-to-people connections worldwide, building a more multidimensional and comprehensive narrative system that lays a robust foundation for sustainable development.

Zhu Ying is a professor from the School of Journalism and Communication at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. Liu Yiyong is a research fellow at the Guangzhou Research Center for Public Opinion Governance and International Image Communication.