Widely regarded as the forerunner of Chinese espionage fiction, novelist Mai Jia has gained international acclaim with bestsellers including "Decoded" and "The Message." In an exclusive interview with CGTN, Mai spoke about how writing has become a form of reconciliation with his childhood and hometown.

"There was a time when I couldn't write about my hometown because of unresolved tension. The day I became willing to write about it was, in itself, a reconciliation," he said.

In a world full of conflicts and misunderstandings, Mai believes communication through literary exchanges is crucial as it can reach the "most sensitive and tender of human hearts," makes people aware of their limitations and live with humility.

"With that humility and sincerity, the world should not be as full of conflict, misunderstanding and even war as it is now," Mai said.

Executive Producer: Zhang Jingwen

Producer: Yang Sha

Director: Chen Hongyu and Li Yue

Videographer: Gao Zhihong and Leng Junpeng

Cover photo: Yin Yating