Forum focuses on Chinese think tanks in the digital era

Amid rapid digital transformation and intensifying global competition, Chinese think tanks are being urged to bolster their expertise in global governance to enhance China's international image and influence, experts said at a forum held on Wednesday in Beijing.

The Roundtable on Think Tank Construction and Public Opinion in the Digital Age, hosted by the National Academy of Development and Strategy at Renmin University of China, brought together over 20 distinguished experts, scholars and media leaders to discuss challenges and opportunities for Chinese think tanks.

Over the past decade, Chinese think tanks have shifted from focusing on quantity and scale to prioritizing innovation and global influence in their pursuit of high-quality development. Experts agreed that leveraging cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence and digital platforms, is crucial for achieving this goal.

AI and digital technologies are revolutionizing how information is shared and reshaping global interactions, said Feng Shizheng, vice-president of the university. He emphasized that think tanks must harness these tools to strengthen their role in advancing Chinese modernization and global governance.

Collaboration with the media is also vital to enhancing China's global communication, said Sun Shangwu, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily. "Think tanks provide intellectual frameworks, while media channels amplify their reach," he said, adding that joint efforts can effectively transform academic insights into multilingual content that resonates with global audiences.

However, despite China's advancements, gaps remain in AI-driven global communication, said Shi Anbin, a professor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University. For instance, Chinese content constitutes only a small fraction of datasets used in major AI models like ChatGPT, limiting its linguistic and cultural reach.

He underscored the need for think tanks to integrate into global AI platforms and advance Chinese narratives to strengthen the nation's voice in the digital era.

Despite significant domestic progress, Chinese think tanks still lag in global influence, said Jing Linbo, head of the Evaluation Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

He pointed out that United States think tanks excel at shaping international discourse by coining influential terms like "debt traps" and "soft power", forcing others to respond. Chinese think tanks, he argued, must focus on rigorous research and sharp, proactive messaging to set the global agenda rather than merely reacting to it.