On November 22, as a key component of the "2025 Yangtze Culture Nanjing Forum," the "Writing the Great River—The World of Water and Harmony" River Communication Forum was held at the Nanjing Yangzi River International Conference Center. Two-time Academy Award winner and recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, Malcolm Clarke, was invited to attend and delivered a keynote speech titled “A journey from the Yangtze: Bringing China's Stories to a Changing World."

In his speech, Director Clarke affectionately reviewed his creative journey in China. He expressed that during his years living in the country, he has been captivated every day by the exciting changes taking place on this land. "As a storyteller concerned with human destiny, I believe there is no better or more suitable place than China," Clarke said.

Speaking of the Yangtze River's impact on him, Clarke gave it the highest praise. He believes that the Yangtze River basin has not only nurtured the hardworking Chinese people but also harbors countless moving stories, providing him with a continuous source of creative inspiration. He expressed his hope to continue his journey from the Yangtze, using his lens to capture authenticity and bringing more Chinese stories with universal value to global audiences.

The forum was co-hosted by the Xinhua News Agency Jiangsu Branch and the Xinhua News Agency News Information Center. It aimed to gather recorders and communicators of river civilizations from around the globe to discuss how to better tell the stories of great rivers to the world. Director Clarke's sincere sharing resonated strongly with the Chinese and international guests in attendance.