Soft guzheng (Chinese zither) melodies floated through a ballroom as diplomats and guests gathered under warm lights in Beijing on the evening of Dec 21.

Against a backdrop inspired by the ancient painting A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains, performers in flowing traditional costumes moved across the stage, setting the tone for the 2026 Global Diplomatic New Year Welcome Event in China, where cultural exchange took center stage.

Hosted by the China Overseas Development Association alongside the 2025 China Enterprises Going Global Conference, the night offered a space for informal conversation and cross-cultural connections. Diplomats stationed in China, representatives of international organizations, scholars and guests mingled over music, performances and conversation.

The event aimed to offer diplomats a window into how China frames its global engagement not only through economic ties, but also through shared cultural experiences.

Earlier in the day, discussions had brought together diplomats from Pakistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Zambia and other countries, who shared perspectives on cooperation and people-to-people exchanges with Chinese partners. Several ambassadors spoke of agricultural collaboration, green energy needs, and local development priorities, turning abstract cooperation into lived experience.

Experts attending the event highlighted that China's engagement with the world is entering a more mature phase, one that places growing emphasis on responsibility, sustainability and long-term partnership.