Cultural exchange is the key to fostering development and resolving global conflicts, according to Huge Bowden—a professor of ancient history at King's College London. Interviewed on the sidelines of the 2026 International Forum on Mutual Learning Among Civilizations, which opened in the Macao Special Administrative Region on Monday, he said Western societies still have much to learn about Chinese history and culture, and that sustaining dialogue is essential for moving the world forward to a better future.