In conjunction with Ocean University of China, the Chinese Society for Historians of China’s Foreign Relations held its ninth Members Congress and Academic Seminar in Qingdao from May 26 to 27.

The theme of this year’s seminar was “Historical Changes and Contemporary Enlightenment of the Maritime and Land Silk Roads.” Having witnessed human civilization, progress and economic development, the ancient silk roads are historical symbols of communication and cooperation as well as the cultural heritage of all countries around the world.

Wang Xiaoqiu, a professor from the Department of History at Peking University, said that the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Maritime Silk Road, as cooperative endeavors proposed by China, have forged a more open and efficient international cooperative platform, holding high the banner of peaceful development.

Geng Sheng, a research fellow from the Chinese Academy of the Social Sciences and honorary chairman of the Chinese Society for Historians of China’s foreign Relations, introduced how tea, a special product of China, pushed forward the dissemination of Chinese culture while spread overseas through the “the tea route,” contributing to the common community of human destiny.

Tea, one of the world’s four great drinks together with coffee, red wine and sodas, has evolved from a drink to an important culture that has impacted people’s dietary structure and lifestyles, demonstrating the “Silk Road spirit” of mutual integration and learning, Geng added.

Shi Yuntao, professor from the School of Chinese Language and Literature at Beijing Foreign Studies University, analyzed poems of the Tang Dynasty to track how overseas utensils spread to China through the “maritime silk road,” noting that cultural exchanges provided many novelty images for the creation of Tang poetry. Poems of the Tang Dynasty provided important records of China-foreign cultural exchanges, Shi said.