Nadeem Akhtar，巴基斯坦人，华南师范大学城市文化学院副教授，武汉大学新闻与传播学院博士、华南理工大学工商管理学院博士后。曾在The Social Science Journal、Journalism Studies、Journal of Research in International Education、International Journal of Communicology等国际期刊上发表学术论文多篇。2021年上半年已在International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health、Frontiers in Public Health和 Sustainability 等SSCI来源期刊上以第一作者或通讯作者身份发表T级论文4篇。

The 2^nd International Conference on Language, Art and Cultural Exchange (ICLACE 2021) was held, dated 21-23 May, 2021, in Dali, China. Dr. Nadeem Akhtar was invited to present his paper, titled “The Interplay of Cultural and Academic Exchanges under China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Inroads into Multiple Corridors” as a keynote speaker.

Dr. Akhtar mentioned that his study aim was to present perspectives on the social contexts of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. He argued that visual data have meanings that require local social contexts to enable better cultural understanding and sustainable relations. The key results he presented are: (a) the living city of Gandharan Civilization, where Buddhism has strong roots - a road towards historical connectivity as it could be of attraction for religious tourism; (b) the 6,000 archeological sites from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province will be preserved under a joint project between China and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government; (c) the Mughals’ architecture in Lahore is another attraction that can tell the past stories to cultural tourists; and d) the rising academic exchanges and joint ventures among Pakistani and Chinese universities are paving way for people-to-people contacts to develop better cultural understanding. Based on the results, the study puts forward policy suggestions on developing better intercultural understanding and on enhancing the effectiveness of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Dr. Akhtar responded to a query of Korean scholar that the friendly relations between two countries are bringing industrial revolution in Pakistan under the auspices of Belt and Road Initiative, specifically its flagship project CPEC. He further explained that this project is also opening new doors to cultural and religious tourism in Pakistan.

During the informal discussion with conference participants, Dr. Akhtar also introduced School of Urban Culture and its new Sino-foreign program “Network and New Media” which will add the school’s endeavors to promote the cultural industry in Greater Bay Area, especially in Foshan.

初审：周丽婷

终审：朱鮀华