The nation's top press officer yesterday urged journalists, celebrities, scholars and business people to deal more effectively with foreign cultures and work on ways to boost communication.

Cai Wu, minister of the State Council Information Office, said China had always sought development on a peaceful path, which traversed across a nation filled with deep historic and cultural traditions.

"We need to tell the world about our cultural traditions and achieve the acknowledgement and understanding from the international community through the exchanges and communication on the mutual respects," Cai said.

He said China was facing many challenges in cross-culture communication, but had upcoming opportunities to show the world its true and unique character.

Hosting the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and 2010 World Expo in Shanghai provides fantastic opportunities to share Chinese culture with the world, he said.

Cai was addressing a one-day "Cross Culture Communication" forum in Beijing, which provided a platform for exchanging ideas.

More than 10 speakers, including government officials, media celebrities and business representatives, attended the forum and offered different perspectives about cross-culture exchanges.

They examined the role culture played in communication and how to overcome cultural differences.

Editor: Xu Shenglan