Jocelyn Eikenburg tells her story at Bookworm in Sanlitun, Beijing, Dec 12, 2018. [Photo by Chen Xinyu/chinadaily.com.cn]

Jocelyn Eikenburg, an editor with China Daily who is originally from the US, first came to China in 1999 and has lived in the country for over a decade. In her speech, she shared her romantic story with her Chinese husband to the audiences, discussing reform in the country’s marriage laws that now "empowers individuals to follow their hearts in one of the most important life decisions a person can make. This kind of freedom, a critical aspect of China's reform and opening-up, has helped transform the country into a more humane place to live. It means China can better fulfill its promise to serve the people".

David Bartosch shares his thoughts at Bookworm in Sanlitun, Beijing, Dec 12, 2018. [Photo by Chen Xinyu/chinadaily.com.cn]

David Bartosch from Beijing Foreign Studies University analyzed the meaning of 40 years of China's opening-up policy from the perspective of philosophy and world history.

"China is one of the very few fully sedentary civilizations of pre-modern times," David said, comparing the economies of China with those of Western Eurasian civilizations. He said the latter had a rather "half-nomadic" character.

"In contrast, China developed a peaceful way of self-organization throughout most of its unoccupied phases in history." David said this wisdom of peaceful development and self-organization, of sharing and fruitful coexistence is what is needed to provide the children of this Earth with a livable future.

Participants listen as expats share their stories at Bookworm in Sanlitun, Beijing, Dec 12, 2018. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Participants listen as expats share their stories at Bookworm in Sanlitun, Beijing, Dec 12, 2018. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]