Let the world’s civilized gardens be colorful and full of vitality
——Written on the first anniversary of the Global Civilization Initiative
The garden is full of flowers in spring, and the living things are beautiful.
The prosperity of civilizations and the progress of mankind are inseparable from seeking common ground while reserving differences, being open and inclusive, and inseparable from exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
"Today, when the future and destiny of all countries are closely linked, the inclusive coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning of different civilizations play an irreplaceable role in promoting the modernization process of human society and prospering the world's civilized gardens." On March 15, 2023, at the meeting between the Communist Party of China and At the World High-Level Dialogue of Political Parties, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, demonstrating that China is “willing to work with the international community to create a new situation of people-to-people exchanges, cultural integration, and people-to-people bonds around the world, so as to make the world a garden of civilizations” "Colorful and full of vitality" sincerity and responsibility.
The more you understand the Global Civilization Initiative, the more you can feel the profound heritage and wisdom contained in it.
"The five colors complement each other; the eight-note ensemble brings harmony and peace." Currently, the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century.
To cope with common challenges and move towards a better future requires not only economic and technological strength, but also cultural and civilizational strength.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, President Xi Jinping has actively advocated the promotion of exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, contributing Chinese wisdom and inspiring spiritual strength to promote the progress of human civilization and respond to common global challenges.
There is a consistent and firm declaration - a speech delivered at the UNESCO headquarters in March 2014, emphasizing that mutual respect and harmonious coexistence among different civilizations should be promoted, and exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations become a bridge that enhances friendship between people of all countries and promotes the progress of human society. power and the link to maintain world peace; in September 2015, he attended the general debate of the 70th United Nations General Assembly and proposed for the first time that peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom are the common values of all mankind; in May 2019, in the Asian Civilization At the opening ceremony of the dialogue conference, four-point propositions were put forward to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning between different countries, different ethnic groups, and different cultures in the world, and to consolidate the humanistic foundation for jointly building a community with a shared future for Asia and a community with a shared future for mankind... President Xi Jinping elaborated in depth on China’s goals in the new era The concept of civilization brings enlightenment to the profoundly evolving world.
There are those who are constantly doing it themselves - reminiscing with President Sisi at the Luxor Temple in Egypt about the long history of China-Egypt civilization exchanges, listening to the library director introduce the collection of Sino-Czech exchange books at the Strahov Library in the Czech Republic, and Take a stroll through the ancient city of Bukhara in Uzbekistan, known as the "living fossil of the Silk Road", and tell the Chinese allusion of "stopping an enemy with force" at the Acropolis Museum in Athens... President Xi Jinping takes action to promote exchanges through culture, and promotes understanding through exchanges. Show China's respect and appreciation for other civilizations, and work with all parties to paint a picture of mutual understanding and mutual respect among different civilizations.
Standing at the crossroads of where human civilization will go, China has proposed a global civilization initiative, emphasizing the need to jointly advocate respect for the diversity of world civilizations, jointly advocate the promotion of common values for all mankind, jointly advocate the importance of civilization inheritance and innovation, and jointly advocate the strengthening of international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.
The Chinese plan of mutual respect, harmony, and symbiosis adheres to the civilizational concept of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and tolerance, and promotes all parties to use civilizational exchanges to transcend civilizational estrangement, civilizational mutual learning to transcend civilizational conflicts, and civilizational tolerance to transcend civilizational superiority, so that civilizations can transcend civilizational superiority. Exchanges and mutual learning have become a bridge that enhances friendship between peoples of various countries, a driving force for the progress of human society, a bond for maintaining world peace, and a gathering of civilizational forces that jointly promote the modernization process of human society.
Over the past year, President Xi Jinping has set out from a high position to chart the course for exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations between China and other countries: facing Central Asian countries, he emphasized “to deepen mutual learning among civilizations, enhance mutual understanding, build a solid foundation for the ever-lasting friendship between China and the people of Central Asian countries, and work together to build A community that understands each other, loves each other, and works with one heart and one mind"; facing the BRICS countries, it proposed that "China welcomes all countries to actively participate in initiative cooperation, promote the contention of different civilizations, let a hundred flowers bloom, break down exchange barriers, and continue the fuel of human civilization"; facing the Asia-Pacific countries, Emphasizing on “carrying forward the spirit of partnership of harmony in diversity and mutual support”…
President Xi Jinping replied to well-known Arab artists, students from Central Asia, Bangladeshi children, friendly people from Belgium, teachers and students of the Confucius Institute at Durban University of Technology in South Africa, the "US-China Youth Student Exchange Association" in Washington State, USA, and friendly people from all walks of life, expressing his hope for all parties. Enhance understanding, friendship and cooperation; to the Asia Cultural Heritage Protection Alliance Conference, the "Gulingyuan" Sino-US People-to-People Friendship Forum, the 3rd Civilization Exchange and Mutual Learning Dialogue and the 1st World Sinologists Conference, 2023 Beijing Cultural Forum, the 1st "Good People" Zhu Forum" and others sent congratulatory letters to clarify the ways of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
"The more you understand the Global Civilization Initiative, the more you can feel the profound heritage and wisdom contained in it." Gani Ur-Rehman, director of the Institute of Asian Civilizations in Taxila, Pakistan, said that it is necessary to solve the common problems faced by mankind. Challenges, starting from the perspective of civilization, and promoting the civilizational concept of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and tolerance are undoubtedly a long-term and fundamental solution.
“It helps to promote the world’s joint efforts to respond to global challenges” “It plays a constructive role in promoting world peace and development and creating an inclusive new form of human civilization” “I hope this initiative will contribute to promoting the development and progress of human civilization”… …More and more international people say that the Global Civilization Initiative shows the prospect that human beings can join hands to build a better world.
Starting from the profound historical inheritance, it shows a world perspective, which is of great significance for better exploring the development of human society.
“The Chinese National Library is a priceless treasure.” In October last year, Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, came to China to attend the third “Belt and Road” International Cooperation Summit Forum and pay a working visit. Visit the Central Main Building of the museum.
He carefully looked at each display case and expressed admiration from time to time, believing that “General Secretary Xi Jinping’s concern for promoting the construction of the National Edition Museum reflects Comrade General Secretary’s great importance to the protection of traditional culture” and “it is conducive to the inheritance of the bright and rich Chinese civilization by generations of Chinese people.” Go down".
“To understand today’s China, we must start by understanding China’s history.” In April 2023, President Xi Jinping pointed out during an informal meeting with French President Macron in Songyuan, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province.
Living water from the source, moistening for thousands of years.
In the long history, the Chinese civilization has established a series of civilization peaks with its unique innovation and creation and its persistence.
The Global Civilization Initiative is rooted in the soil of China’s excellent traditional culture.
In June 2023, at the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly summarized the five outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization-continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness, and peace, providing an "accurate portrait" of Chinese civilization.
The outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization determine its openness and inclusiveness to other civilizations in the world.
The ancient Silk Road stretched thousands of miles and lasted for thousands of years. It accumulated the Silk Road spirit centered on peace and cooperation, openness and tolerance, mutual learning, and mutual benefit. It promoted equal exchanges between civilizations between the East and the West and left a trail of mutually beneficial cooperation. People from all countries along the route have benefited a lot.
The Chinese civilization has always been a way of life, to be kind to neighbors and to work in harmony with all nations. It has drawn a strong foundation for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and also illuminated the glorious future of human civilization.
In the past year, from the establishment of the Asian Cultural Heritage Protection Alliance and the Asian Cultural Heritage Protection Fund to the successful holding of the "Understanding China" international conference and the "Liangzhu Forum", the global civilization initiative has been transformed from concept to practice, and Chinese civilization and different civilizations have exchanged and learned from each other. , "Beauty and beauty are shared", and continue to write a new and colorful chapter of world civilization.
In the Chengdu Universiade, 6,500 athletes from 113 countries and regions participated. This world youth event built a bridge of communication for young people of different skin colors and different cultures; in the Hangzhou Asian Games, martial arts, sepak takraw, cricket, and kerosene Jiujitsu, Jiujitsu... projects with different regional and cultural characteristics show the confidence, tolerance and openness of Asian civilization.
In February this year, the 2024 "China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchange" opened. Works created by artists from Laos, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and other countries attracted people's attention...
The Global Civilization Initiative is based on China’s development practices.
The rejuvenation of the nation is also the rejuvenation of civilization.
From "a latecomer to modernization" to "the growth pole of world modernization", from "the country being humiliated, the people suffering, and civilization being dusted" to "creating a new form of human civilization", China in modern times has experienced the most magnificent development in the history of the Chinese nation. , the most extensive and profound historical changes.
The Global Civilization Initiative is another important public product provided by China to the international community in the new era.
British scholar Martin Jacques said: "China's global civilization initiative is based on a profound understanding of the development of its own civilization. Starting from its profound historical heritage, it shows a world perspective and is of great significance for better exploring the development path of human society."
It embodies Chinese wisdom and pushes the dialogue between China and other civilizations in the world to a new level.
The significance of thought lies in responding to historical changes and answering the questions of the times.
In today's world, changes over the past century are accelerating, and human society is facing multiple challenges.
Today, when the future and destiny of all countries are closely linked, the Global Civilization Initiative provides profound answers to major questions such as how different civilizations can get along with each other and where human civilization will go.
The four "joint initiatives" profoundly reveal the development laws of human civilization and provide more possibilities for promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and promoting the process of human modernization.
Respecting the diversity of world civilizations is the primary prerequisite for implementing the global civilization initiative.
Diversity is the foundation of human civilization.
The Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity states: “Cultural diversity is a source of exchange, innovation and creation, and is as essential to humankind as biological diversity is to maintaining biological balance.”
"For thousands of years, different regions and civilizations in the world have given birth to different cultures and arts. This is the charm of the world." Nasir Khan, deputy director of the Archeology and Museum Department of the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture of Pakistan, said, Global Civilization Initiative It is a full manifestation of respecting the diversity of civilizations. Respecting the diversity of world civilizations, arts, cultures and heritages will inject strength into exchanges and cooperation among people around the world, and is an ideal path to promote peace and development of mankind.
Carrying forward the common values of all mankind is the basic stance of implementing the global civilization initiative.
President Xi Jinping pointed out: "Peace and development are our common cause, fairness and justice are our common ideals, and democracy and freedom are our common pursuit." China does not impose its own values and models on others, does not engage in ideological confrontation, and advocates The greatest common denominator of value is formed on the basis of seeking common ground while reserving differences, communicating on an equal footing, and learning from each other.
In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and Iran resumed diplomatic relations under the mediation of China; at the Nyerere Leadership Academy in Tanzania, young and middle-aged cadres from the six sister parties in southern Africa understood and learned from China’s development experience and thought about how to promote better development in their own countries. …Badamzian, General Secretary of the Islamic United Party of Iran, said: “We believe that the proposal of the Global Civilization Initiative will help people of all countries step out of the shadow of hegemonism and maintain their own unique civilization and culture.”
Paying attention to the inheritance and innovation of civilization is an important guideline for implementing the global civilization initiative.
"The sustainable development of civilization requires not only passing on the fire and protecting it from generation to generation, but also adapting to the times and bringing forth the new." From the restoration project of the nine-story temple in Kathmandu, Nepal to the protection of cultural heritage in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, from Khiva, Uzbekistan From the protection and restoration of historical monuments in ancient cities to the joint archeology of the ancient city of Copan, the Mayan civilization site in Honduras... As of October last year, China had carried out 33 cultural relics assistance projects with 17 countries co-building the "Belt and Road".
Ramos, head of the Honduran side of the project "Archaeology of the Copan Site of the Mayan Civilization Center and Mesoamerican Civilization Research" of the Institute of Archeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that Chinese experts have brought new research methods and technologies and are good at analysis. This is because they He has accumulated rich experience in the study of Chinese civilization.
Mustafa Sakir, an Egyptian archaeological expert and the Egyptian team leader of the China-Egypt joint archaeological project at the Mentu Temple in Luxor, said that China not only attaches importance to the inheritance and innovation of civilization, but is also willing to share its experience with other countries and promote excellence in all countries. Traditional culture achieves innovative development in the process of modernization.
At the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum, experts from China are restoring and inventorying the Chinese cultural relics in the museum's collection in preparation for holding an exhibition of related Chinese cultural relics.
According to Ralf Seprak, curator of the Asian Heritage Exhibition of the museum, the significance of the project goes far beyond the restoration of cultural relics, but also to building a bridge for cultural exchanges between Sri Lanka and China.
Strengthening international cultural exchanges and cooperation is an important way to implement the global civilization initiative.
From education, health, art, tourism to dialogue and exchanges between youth, think tanks, political parties, and media, China and other countries have made great progress in people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation, and the mutual learning between civilizations has become increasingly brilliant.
Rahmantala Osman, the African Union representative in China, said: "The Global Civilization Initiative embodies Chinese wisdom and brings China's dialogue with other civilizations in the world to a new level."
Provides a new perspective for mankind, that is, all mankind is a community with a shared future
At the beginning of the new year in 2024, three major exhibitions: "AlUla - the Miracle Oasis of the Arabian Peninsula", "Historical Encounters - Exchange Exhibition of Ancient Civilizations between China and West Asia" and "Glorious Persia - The Essence of Iranian Cultural Relics" will be held in the Palace Museum with the audience The meeting focused on the exchanges and mutual learning between the ancient civilizations of China and West Asia, revealing that the civilizational concepts of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and tolerance formed along the Silk Road have the charm to travel through time and space.
Diversity is the true nature of human civilization.
Only by seeking wisdom and gathering strength through tolerance, mutual coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations can we promote solutions to the various challenges facing mankind.
Through the long lens of history, President Xi Jinping pointed out the direction of the future and destiny of mankind: "To move towards a community with a shared future, we must insist on inclusiveness, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations."
"Human history is a magnificent picture of mutual exchanges, mutual learning, and integration of different civilizations. We must respect all civilizations, treat each other as equals, learn from each other, be inclusive, and promote the creative development of human civilization." September 2015, At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, President Xi Jinping clearly outlined the overall layout and path of the "five-in-one" approach to building a community with a shared future for mankind, which includes "promoting exchanges among civilizations that are harmonious but different and inclusive."
"The construction of the 'Belt and Road' should promote mutual understanding, mutual respect and mutual trust among countries through the exchange of civilizations to transcend civilizational barriers, the mutual learning of civilizations to transcend civilizational conflicts, the coexistence of civilizations to transcend civilizational superiority." President Xi Jinping called for the "One Belt and One Road" to be built into a country of civilizations. road, gathering the synergy of civilizations to promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Over the past 10 years, cooperation in education, science and technology, culture, health, sports, media, tourism and other fields has been carried out extensively, and the "Belt and Road" has become a broad avenue for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
From calling on China and Latin America to "become a model of harmonious coexistence and mutual promotion of different civilizations" to advocating "building a bridge of common prosperity among civilizations to connect the two major civilizations of China and Europe"; From the "wheel-driven" BRICS cooperation structure to the promotion of building a humanistic community within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization... China has helped the integration and symbiosis of different civilizations in the world to deepen, demonstrating China's openness and confidence in the new era.
Vervidakis, a professor at the Department of Philosophy and History of Science at the University of Athens in Greece, believes that as the world faces rising unilateralism and increasing uncertainty, international public goods such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China , placing exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations in an important position and becoming an important driving force in promoting international exchanges and cooperation.
Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank and former President of Brazil, believes: "Respect different cultural backgrounds, respect the diversity of civilizations, and seek shared development and common prosperity. The series of ideas and propositions proposed by China have strong appeal and provide a platform for mankind. A new perspective, that is, all mankind is a community with a shared future.”
Chinese-style modernization gives Chinese civilization modern power, and Chinese civilization gives Chinese-style modernization a profound foundation.
Today, China is comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation with Chinese-style modernization, and promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. China's future and destiny are closely linked to the future and destiny of mankind.
“Establishing a new civilizational benchmark for human modernization”, “Providing a multi-civilization perspective to explain the differences in modernization among different countries”, “Opening up a new path of civilizational development through win-win cooperation, joint contribution and shared benefits”... The international community believes , the successful practice of Chinese-style modernization breaks the myth of "modernization = Westernization" and effectively demonstrates that there is more than one road to modernization. Human civilization is diverse and colorful. Countries can develop various paths based on their own cultural heritage and actual national conditions. A unique path to modernization.
The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China stated: “We must expand our world vision, have a profound insight into the trend of human development and progress, actively respond to the common concerns of people of all countries, contribute to solving common problems facing mankind, and learn from and absorb all excellent human civilizations with a broad mind that is open to all rivers. results and promote a better world.”
Promote the global development initiative and commit to jointly creating a development pattern that benefits all, balance, coordination and inclusiveness, win-win cooperation, and common prosperity; implement the global security initiative, uphold a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept, and promote the forging of swords into plowshares. , share weal and woe; propose a global civilization initiative, adhere to the civilizational concept of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and tolerance, and create an atmosphere of equal and inclusive civilizational exchanges...Chinese-style modernization will be promoted and expanded in positive interactions with other countries around the world, and contribute to world peace Strengthen our strength and provide opportunities for the development of all countries.
Abdul Rashid Na'ala, Vice President of the University of Abuja, Nigeria, said that the Global Civilization Initiative and other initiatives have proven the power of cooperation and the common responsibility of all countries in promoting the process of human modernization, and will contribute to promoting the process of human modernization and building the destiny of mankind. The community injects strong impetus.
According to Sosiyara, the first vice-chairman of the Central Foreign Affairs Committee of the Cambodian People's Party, Chinese-style modernization has created a development path of its own, which is rooted in China's national conditions and traditional culture.
"Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, Chinese-style modernization will surely continue to move forward based on the brilliant achievements it has made and make greater contributions to the progress of human civilization."
Izzat Saad, Director of the Egyptian Foreign Affairs Council, said that China has embarked on a unique path to modernization and has proposed a series of initiatives and propositions based on mutual respect. It not only respects the diversity of world civilizations, but also respects the people of all countries. development aspirations and choices, which is conducive to deepening an equal, open, and cooperative global partnership and providing more and more effective solutions to global development challenges.
Shenyuta, Director of the China and Asia-Pacific Cooperation Bureau of the General Directorate of Asia, Africa and Latin America of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, believes that the Global Civilization Initiative is conducive to strengthening international cooperation and overcoming global challenges, and is an important step towards building a more stable and harmonious international society.
Civilization is like water, moistening things silently.
Promoting exchanges, integration, and mutual learning among various human civilizations is the only way to make the world more beautiful and people of all countries live better lives.
China will join hands with other countries to implement the global civilization initiative, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and jointly create a better prospect for world modernization.
(People's Daily reporter Gong Ming, Liu Lingling, Yang Yi and reporter Shen Xiaoxiao participated in the interview)