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The 20th Edgar Snow Symposium has brought together scholars, students and international guests from China and the United States in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province. The event honors the legacy of an American journalist whose writings introduced China to the world and inspired people-to-people friendship across generations. Xia Ruixue has more.
This is a cross-cultural dialogue that has endured for decades. At Zhengzhou University in central China's Henan Province, participants gathered to celebrate the 20th Edgar Snow Symposium on Monday.
The annual event honors the legacy of American journalist Edgar Snow, whose groundbreaking book Red Star Over China opened a new window for the world to understand China nearly 90 years ago.
ZHANG QIANHONG Former Vice President of Zhengzhou University "We believe that through this symposium, we can better understand Snow's spirit and his ideas – the spirit of transcending barriers, bridging cultures and connecting hearts across nations."
The opening ceremony brought together scholars, students and representatives from both countries.
Eric Foster, the nephew of Edgar Snow, recalled how his uncle and aunt, Helen Foster Snow, devoted their lives to telling China's story truthfully to the world.
Others said the symposium is more than a memorial. It is an academic platform for dialogue, reflection and mutual learning.
ERIC FOSTER Edgar Snow's Nephew "Both Edgar and Helen devoted their life in their writings for China. They had a very deep love, and just the truthfulness in their journalistic writings, just telling the truth like it is and being honest without colored glasses. And just saying the truth, this is the most best thing that we could have for future journalists."
The symposium also featured a photo exhibition retracing Snow's journeys through China, from Beijing to the caves of Yan'an, where his book was born.
For many participants, the exhibition was a reminder that Snow was not only a journalist, but a bridge-builder, a man who turned observation into understanding, and understanding into friendship.
SIDNE GAIL WARD President, US Edgar Snow Memorial Foundation "As everyone in China knows, Edgar Snow deeply connected with the Chinese people and also brought that information back to the US. That is our role, that is our mission, which is to continue to do that."
In an age when the world faces new challenges and uncertainties, the values Snow stood for truth, respect, and friendship, feel more relevant than ever.
His spirit of truth-seeking journalism still resonates deeply, reminding people that honest understanding, not ideology, is the cornerstone of friendship between nations.
Through its 20-year journey, the symposium has shown that dialogue is not merely an exchange of ideas, but a shared effort to keep humanity connected.
XIA RUIXUE Zhengzhou "Decades after Edgar Snow's footsteps in China, his legacy of understanding and friendships do inspire both nations to look beyond differences and to treat each other with honesty and respect. Xia Ruixue, CGTN, Zhengzhou, Henan Province." (Source: CGTN)
