In the world of international relations, few languages are as persuasive as the layered petals of a peony flower.

At the 2026 Heze Peony International Communication Forum held in Heze, Shandong province, on Saturday, attendees from countries such as Brazil, Russia and Italy were unanimous in their appreciation of floral beauty.

Due to a perfect combination of climate, history and industry, peonies have been cultivated in Heze for more than 1,500 years. Today, the Shandong city has built the flowers into a 13 billion yuan ($1.9 billion) industry, and has 1,308 registered peony varieties across nine color groups and 10 flower forms.

Inspired by peony's lush, layered petals and rich symbolism of prosperity and honor, the Heze Peony International Communication Forum was established in 2023 to discuss botanical diplomacy and promote cultural exchanges.

"Flowers are an aesthetic language that transcends national borders," said Zhang Lun, secretary of the Heze Committee of the Communist Party of China.

He called for coordinated efforts to promote both what he called "peonies going global" and "flowers coming to Heze", injecting new momentum into building a harmonious global community.

The city has built overseas peony gardens in Bulgaria, Serbia and Thailand. Meanwhile, roses from Bulgaria and Nepal's alpine rhododendrons will soon be introduced to Heze, it was announced at the forum.

"In Russia, the peony, a symbol of wealth, prosperity and splendor, is also one of the most beloved and widely cultivated flowers. I actually grow 28 different varieties of peony in my garden," said Tatiana Bakurova, principal of Oryol State First High School in Russia, who attended the forum.

Through the peony, her school has begun cultural and educational cooperation with Heze, enriching campus life with joint exchange activities.

"Through exquisite decorations and artworks of peonies, we have been able to engage closely with Chinese culture and broaden our horizons," Bakurova said.

From a cultural communication perspective, Dario Famularo, an Italian sinologist at Sichuan International Studies University, described how the peony has traversed time and oceans to become a bond between China and the West.

"Learning to understand each other through appreciating flowers is a good example, as every communication needs to start from a common ground," Famularo said. "The peony can serve as a gateway to cultural exchange, leading us into art history, botanical history and even the history of philosophy."

Scholars who attended shared their perspectives on promoting peony culture globally.

With its layered, flowing petals, and warm, elegant colors, the peony reflects the core Chinese philosophy of "harmony in diversity and shared beauty", while also resonating with the global pursuit of peace, beauty and inclusiveness, said Zhou Wuzhong, a professor at the School of Design at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Zhou said that traditional peony patterns, though ornate and magnificent, can be simplified and modernized to better appeal to younger global audiences.

The forum is part of the 2026 World Peony Conference, a monthlong event that got underway on Friday.