Transcultural Communication Pathways for Belt and Road Stories: An Empathic Perspective

Abstract

This study explores the transcultural communication pathways of Belt and Road stories from the perspective of empathic communication, aiming to address current issues in international communication such as the overly official tone of national narratives, weak dialogic foundations in media narratives, and insufficient discourse power in non-governmental narratives. The research highlights that empathic communication, through mechanisms of emotional bonding and value-sharing, can effectively mitigate cultural discount and foster cross-cultural identity. Transcultural communication, grounded in the concept of “a community with a shared future for mankind,” advocates for the equal integration of diverse civilizations. Based on a tripartite narrative analysis (national, media, and non-governmental levels), strategies are proposed: constructing a “polyphonic communication” framework to resolve asymmetrical empathy, uncovering shared values to enhance emotional resonance in media narratives, and empowering non-governmental actors to activate collective empathy. These pathways, by leveraging platform dynamics, innovating symbolic expressions, and promoting multi-stakeholder participation, offer practical solutions for the global dissemination of the Belt and Road Initiative. How to tell the story of “The Belt and Road” well in the context of different values and cultural backgrounds, and it is particularly important to update and iterate the concept and way of “telling the story of China well”.