Core Insights - The article emphasizes the significant impact of the global political and economic environment on cultural trade, highlighting the need for China to enhance its international competitiveness in cultural trade and to develop digital cultural trade as outlined in the "14th Five-Year Plan" [1] Group 1: Cultural Trade Overview - In 2023, China's total cultural product import and export volume reached $166.36 billion, with digital cultural new formats like online dramas, online literature, and online games showing an upward trend [1] - Traditional cultural trade is facing challenges, with traditional cultural product exports declining by 9.3% to $148.40 billion, while imports increased by 9.4% to $17.37 billion, resulting in a reduced trade surplus of $131.03 billion [2] Group 2: Market Dynamics - China's cultural exports are heavily reliant on the US, Europe, and Japan, which have seen a contribution decline of 8.7% over the past five years, while emerging markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East are becoming increasingly important for future growth [3] - The digital cultural new formats are experiencing explosive growth, with 16 digital technology-driven cultural industries achieving revenue of $5.91 trillion in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 9.8% [4] Group 3: Digital Cultural Growth - The overseas revenue from online literature reached $4.35 billion in 2023, growing by 7.06%, with North America accounting for 38% of total revenue [4] - The overseas sales revenue of self-developed online games exceeded $18.56 billion in 2024, marking a 13.39% increase, with a broad player base across various regions [5] Group 4: Cultural Services Trade - The government is actively promoting the development of cultural services trade, with a focus on enhancing competitiveness through policy measures and international cooperation, particularly with Belt and Road Initiative countries [6] - Cultural services trade is transitioning from traditional sectors to knowledge-intensive areas, with personal cultural and entertainment services exports growing by 39.3% in 2024 [6] Group 5: Challenges in Cultural Trade - The traditional cultural industry is slow to transform, leading to an imbalanced import-export structure characterized by high-end imports and low-end exports [7] - Local adaptation capabilities are lacking, and compliance issues are becoming more prominent, increasing operational costs for companies [8] - There is insufficient collaboration within the industry, leading to inefficiencies, particularly in the translation processes for online literature [9] Group 6: Strategic Recommendations - Recommendations include upgrading traditional industries through technology, establishing a global certification system, and enhancing talent development in digital cultural industries [10] - A "technology + rules" digital trade model is suggested to support core technology development in new formats and to ensure compliance with international regulations [11] - Financial support mechanisms are proposed to mitigate risks associated with cultural trade, including the establishment of a cultural export insurance pool [11]

Group 1 - The State Council of China has issued policies to promote the high-quality development of cultural exports, aiming to cultivate internationally competitive cultural enterprises and facilitate the global expansion of cultural products and services [1] - The 2025 Cultural Power Construction Summit Forum highlighted the role of digital technology in transforming the cultural industry, emphasizing the need for government and market collaboration to address challenges and seize opportunities in cultural trade [1] - Pop Mart has established a presence in over 80 major global cities, showcasing the international recognition of its intellectual property (IP) value, which is a core driver of its growth [1] Group 2 - Huasheng Fantawild has developed an internal AI content generation platform, enhancing the quality and efficiency of animation and film content creation through the application of AI technology in various stages of production [2] - The company aims to deepen its focus on the cultural tourism technology industry and enhance digital applications to create more cultural products [2]

Core Insights - The article highlights the significant growth of China's cultural exports, particularly in the gaming industry, with overseas gaming revenue reaching $18.557 billion in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 13.39% [1] - A high-profile forum on "Digital Intelligence Empowering Cultural Trade" gathered government officials, scholars, and business leaders to discuss how China can leverage technology to enhance its cultural influence globally [1][4] Industry Growth - The Chinese cultural trade total reached 1.4 trillion yuan in 2024, with digital cultural trade, including online games and audiovisual content, exceeding 370 billion yuan, accounting for 25.8% of the total cultural trade [4] - The government has emphasized the importance of cultural trade as a strategic component of building a cultural power, with policies aimed at enhancing digital capabilities and international competitiveness [4][5] Technological Advancements - AI technology is transforming cultural exports by overcoming language barriers, enabling rapid multi-language adaptation of cultural works, and significantly reducing costs [6][7] - Innovations in video production, such as the domestic video model "Vidu," are leading to lower production costs and higher quality outputs, facilitating the export of cultural content [6][9] Systematic Approach - Companies are shifting from single product exports to a more integrated "system output" strategy, exemplified by Pop Mart's overseas revenue surpassing 5 billion yuan in 2024, driven by an IP ecosystem and digital infrastructure [8] - The gaming industry is adopting a "research and operation integration" model, customizing game content for different markets, which has led to significant overseas revenue growth for companies like 37 Interactive Entertainment [9] Cultural Heritage Digitization - The digital transformation of cultural heritage is being prioritized, with over 52% of the Palace Museum's collection digitized by 2024, allowing for global access and the creation of derivative cultural products [10] - Innovative projects like the VR film "Tang Palace Night Banquet" are successfully combining traditional culture with modern technology to enhance international appeal [10] Challenges and Future Directions - Despite successes, challenges remain, including a lack of high-quality cultural data for AI training and the need for effective cross-cultural communication strategies [11][12] - Companies are exploring localized strategies to better resonate with international audiences, emphasizing the importance of cultural context in content delivery [12]

Group 1 - The forum focused on the theme "Multi-party Cooperation to Ensure Cultural Trade Sets Sail" and featured discussions on policies to promote high-quality development in cultural trade [1] - Key officials from various government departments shared the latest policy measures aimed at enhancing cultural trade, highlighting Shenzhen's innovative experiences in digital cultural trade [1] - Industry leaders discussed the role of digital technology in driving product innovation, business model innovation, and operational innovation within cultural trade [1] Group 2 - Experts explored how digital technology can revitalize traditional culture and enhance the global competitiveness of Chinese intellectual property (IP) [2] - The forum included discussions on brand building and operational services, with insights on how Chinese brands can break through on the global stage [2]

Core Viewpoint - The speech by Jiang Xiaojun emphasizes that digital intelligence technology is transforming the cultural industry and trade, creating vast opportunities for growth and innovation in cultural exports [1][2]. Group 1: Impact of Digital Intelligence on Cultural Industry - Digital intelligence technology is driving changes across the entire cultural industry chain, significantly promoting its prosperity and development [1]. - The efficiency of extracting, processing, and generating cultural elements has been greatly enhanced, giving cultural products an inherent global appeal [1]. - The case of the domestic 3A game "Black Myth: Wukong" illustrates the potential of high-quality cultural products in the international market, with one-third of its players being overseas [1]. Group 2: Cultural Trade Forms - Jiang Xiaojun identifies four forms of cultural trade that should be emphasized for collaborative development: 1. Cross-border sales of cultural products, exemplified by Pop Mart's overseas revenue accounting for about 40% [2]. 2. Attracting foreign consumers to experience cultural services in China. 3. Cultural producers operating commercially abroad. 4. A dual cross-border model involving both producers and consumers [2]. Group 3: Challenges in AI-Assisted Creation - The rise of AI-assisted creation is rapidly enhancing creative capabilities, with AI learning from vast amounts of cultural works and generative AI changing the way cultural products are created [1]. - However, challenges remain, such as the lack of high-quality Chinese cultural materials, as many large models primarily rely on internet content, which may not adequately represent the richness of Chinese cultural classics [1].

Group 1 - The 2025 Cultural Power Construction Summit Forum focused on the role of digital intelligence in empowering cultural trade, discussing innovative paths, practical cases, and future trends in the industry [1][3] - Key representatives from government, academia, and industry participated, sharing insights on the integration of digital technology and cultural trade [2][3] - The forum highlighted the importance of innovation in cultural trade, encompassing both artistic and technological advancements [2][3] Group 2 - The forum featured a policy roundtable discussing the collective efforts needed to ensure the success of cultural trade [3] - A total of 404 enterprises and 121 projects were recognized as key cultural export entities for the 2025-2026 period [3] - The event was organized by various governmental and cultural institutions, receiving support from the Ministry of Commerce and the National Radio and Television Administration [3]

Core Viewpoint - Service trade has become a significant force in the economic development of countries and serves as a barometer for economic growth and living standards [1] Group 1: Trends in Cultural Trade - Cultural trade is developing rapidly, with a broader definition that includes not only traditional cultural trade but also goods-related cultural trade, which is gaining attention from various economies [1] - Cultural trade is becoming more diverse, with developing economies participating more actively and introducing unique creative cultural products and services into the international market, marking a new growth point [1] - Digitalization is fostering new business models and formats in cultural trade, enhancing industries such as media, gaming, music, and film, while enabling personalized cultural products and services for international consumers [1] Group 2: Recommendations for Cultural Trade Development - Emphasize innovation to enhance competitiveness, which includes innovation in literature, arts, technology, and the methods of cultural trade [3] - Maintain an open and inclusive approach, using accessible language to tell national stories in the international market [3] - Foster cooperation and mutual benefit, requiring a fair and just international trade environment along with collaborative efforts in industry, trade, and rule-making [4]

Group 1 - The forum highlighted the transformative impact of digital intelligence on the cultural industry, promoting its prosperity and providing vast development space for cultural trade [3] - Innovation is fundamental to cultural trade, encompassing literary, artistic, technological, and operational innovations [3] - Chinese companies are shifting from "borrowing boats to go to sea" to "building boats to go to sea," with successful examples in animation, gaming, trendy toys, and theme parks [3][4] Group 2 - Companies like Bubble Mart are focusing on global operations, leveraging IP as a core driver to connect with global consumers [3] - 37 Interactive Entertainment has expanded its business to over 200 countries, integrating Chinese cultural elements into game development and operations [4] - The forum featured discussions on digital cultural trade expansion, revitalizing traditional IPs, and the dual empowerment of brands and culture [5] Group 3 - Online literature has emerged as a global cultural trendsetter, with Chinese online literature entering a new phase of global IP co-creation [5] - Traditional cultural industries are revitalizing through digital technologies, creating new models and immersive experiences [5] - The forum included a policy roundtable discussing the latest measures to support high-quality cultural trade development [6] Group 4 - The forum announced the "2025-2026 National Cultural Export Key Enterprises and Key Projects," with 404 enterprises and 121 projects recognized [8]

Group 1 - High-quality development in cultural trade is essential for building a cultural powerhouse, with digital technology driving unprecedented changes and opportunities in the cultural industry [1] - The 2025 Cultural Powerhouse Construction Summit Forum highlighted the new landscape of cultural trade under the influence of digital technology, with representatives from government, academia, think tanks, and enterprises participating [1] - Digital technology enhances the production, transaction, creation, and service models in the cultural industry, improving efficiency and facilitating better matching between large platforms and individual creators [1][2] Group 2 - The core of contemporary cultural trade is international trade related to digitalization, which is crucial for the construction of a cultural powerhouse [2] - The Palace Museum has embraced new technologies since 1999, achieving 52% digitization of its collection and collaborating with Tencent on projects to protect and revitalize cultural heritage [2] - Chinese companies are shifting from product exports to system exports, requiring capabilities in supply chain integration, delivery resilience, market awareness, and compliance [2] Group 3 - Companies are the main application subjects of digital technology, enhancing competitiveness and innovation across production, management, and marketing [3] - The Chinese gaming industry is expanding globally, with companies integrating AI into various stages of game development and operation to improve efficiency and quality [3] - The theme park industry, exemplified by companies like Huaqiang Fantawild, is leveraging digital technology to create high-tech attractions and promote cultural exchange [3]

Core Viewpoint - The development of the digital economy presents significant opportunities for China's cultural export trade, emphasizing the need for high-quality development in foreign cultural trade through technological advancements and collaboration among various sectors [1] Group 1: Cultural Export Trade Growth - China's cultural export enterprises are strengthening, particularly in sectors like online gaming, web series, and online literature, which have produced leading companies that are vital to cultural exports [1] - The total cultural trade volume in China is projected to reach 1.4 trillion yuan in 2024, with digital elements in cultural trade, such as online games and audiovisual content, exceeding 370 billion yuan, accounting for 25.8% of the total [1] Group 2: Policy and Infrastructure Support - The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has established 13 national-level cultural trade bases to provide policy consultation, legal assistance, and financial support, facilitating a nationwide cultural trade network [2] - The Ministry has organized 14 promotional events, generating over 500 million yuan in transaction volume for cultural products through cross-border e-commerce [2] Group 3: Key Development Areas - The three critical areas for promoting foreign cultural trade are content development, channel construction, and nurturing key players in the industry [2][3] - The National Radio and Television Administration supports various cultural industries through funding and training, aiming to enhance international market outreach [3] Group 4: Regional Development and Policy Initiatives - Shenzhen's foreign cultural trade revenue accounted for one-sixth of the national total, leading the country in this sector [4] - The city has implemented several regulations to create a stable business environment, focusing on the integration of digital technology and culture [4] - Future efforts will concentrate on optimizing support policies, improving the external openness of the cultural sector, and enhancing the infrastructure for cultural trade [4]