Chongqing - On September 17, the 2025 Yangtze River Civilization Forum was held in Chongqing. Centered on the theme “Bridging Rivers and Seas, Sharing the Wisdom of Civilizations,” the forum brought together renowned experts and scholars from China and abroad. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the preservation and inheritance of the Yangtze River civilization, the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, and exchanges among the world’s major river civilizations. The forum served as a platform to spark new ideas, consolidate practical solutions, and promote joint efforts in cultural heritage protection and sustainable development.

On September 17, the 2025 Yangtze River Civilization Forum was successfully convened in Chongqing. (Photo/Deng Nan)

Esteemed speakers from Egypt, France, the UK, Pakistan, Brazil, and China shared groundbreaking insights during the main forum session, highlighting the historical and contemporary significance of river civilizations in shaping human development.

Chinese scholars Feng Shi and Xu Songyan explored the philosophical and astronomical foundations of Chinese civilization, tracing its longevity to early intellectual advances along the Yangtze.

Yang Kaizhong, Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, called for the Yangtze Economic Belt to spearhead China’s shift toward an ecological civilization. “This region is uniquely positioned to champion sustainable development driven by new, quality productive forces,” Yang said.

French Sinologist David Gosset urged for greater global openness, remarking, “The world should welcome China’s rise with an open attitude—just as China continues to embrace the world.” Referring to himself as “a man of the Yangtze,” Gosset also noted that “Chongqing’s cyberpunk vibe is a bold card waiting to be played” for international tourism.

Elsawy Elsawy Ahmed Abdelrahim, Professor at Benha University in Egypt, emphasized the deep connections between the Nile and Yangtze River civilizations. “Both rivers have nurtured continuous, diverse civilizations rooted in agriculture, trade, and culture,” he said. He also highlighted the joint China–Egypt initiative to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the Underwater Inscriptions and the Nilometer.

Magnus Widell, Reader in the Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology at the University of Liverpool, examined how major rivers facilitated the rise of early states and writing systems. “It was along these rivers that humanity first transitioned into complex societies—and eventually into history,” Widell observed.

Nora Sofia Cevallos, a researcher at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences, emphasized how communities in the Amazon Basin have embraced the rhythms of nature and the river, creating fulfilling lives in harmony with their environment.

Muhammad Hameed, head of the Department of Archaeology at the University of the Punjab in Pakistan, outlined continuities between the ancient Indus Valley civilization and modern cultures, noting ongoing collaborative excavations with Chinese institutions.

The Scholars, from China, French, Egypt, UK, Brazil and Pakistan delivered speeches on world rivers' civilizations on the forum. (Photo: Deng Nan)

A rich lineup of side events accompanied the main forum, including the 2025 Longgupo Site Academic Seminar, the World Great Rivers Concert, an intangible cultural heritage exchange and exhibition from the Yangtze River Basin, the special exhibition “From Dunhuang to Dazu,” a dazzling drone show titled “New Rhythm of Chongqing,” and a series of cultural exploration activities along the Yangtze River.

The featured intangible cultural heritage projects were showcased at the Yangtze River Basin Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition. (Photo: Catherine Chen)

Chongqing hosted the inaugural Yangtze River Civilization Forum in 2023. The following year, with approval from the central government, the forum was elevated to a permanent provincial–ministerial-level event, becoming the only forum of its kind dedicated to the civilizations and cultures of the Yangtze River Basin. The first two sessions brought together more than 200 experts from leading academic and cultural institutions nationwide. Selected contributions were compiled into the Yangtze River Civilization Forum Collection, featuring 75 articles totaling over 510,000 words. Many of the proposed measures on the construction of the Yangtze River National Cultural Park and related cultural productions have since been translated into concrete policies.

Yangtze River Basin Intangible Cultural Heritage Exchange and Exhibition. (Photo/Natalia Vakhrusheva)

Building on the success of its previous sessions, the forum has grown into a high-level academic event with national influence, marked by “central-local coordination and regional collaboration.” This year’s edition is further distinguished by its international expansion, high-caliber participants, and a more diverse array of activities.

This year's Yangtze River Civilization Forum is centered around the theme "Bridging Rivers and Seas, Sharing Wisdom of Civilizations." (Photo: Catherine Chen)