China highlights role of inter-civilization exchanges

The new Chinese leadership is laying greater emphasis on inter-civilization exhanges and mutual learning in a bid to promote human progress and world peace.

During his Europe tour in late March, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for global efforts to boost exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations and to achieve harmonious coexistence between them.

Inter-civilization exchanges and mutual learning should be given a full play as a bridge of friendship among peoples, a driving force behind human progress, and a strong bond for world peace, Xi said in a speech delivered at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

Different civilizations should strengthen exchanges and mutual learning based on "diversity, equality and inclusiveness", he said.

The three-point proposal not only embodies an ancient oriental civilization's reflections on history and reality, but also is a key of wisdom to opening a new chapter for exchanges and integration among civilizations in the era of globalization.

Xi said the Chinese civilization originated from Chinese soil and developed rapidly thanks to continuous interaction and mutual learning with other civilizations.

"The Chinese civilization, together with the rich and colorful civilizations created by the people of other countries, will provide mankind with the right cultural guidance and strong motivation," he added.

In fact, inter-civilization exchanges and mutual learning have greatly enriched the material and spiritual life of both Chinese and other people across the world.

"We should learn from various civilizations for wisdom and nourishment, which will serve as a pillar of strength and consolation for the soul, so that we can work together to tackle the challenges facing mankind," said the Chinese president.

His remarks not only showed China's readiness to share its wisdom with the rest of the world, but also expressed its concern about the ever-changing international situation.

"Civilizations have come in different colors, and such a diversity has made exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations relevant and valuable," Xi said.

In the 21st century, different civilizations should coexist on the basis of exchanges and mutual learning, instead of a biased judgement, either brickbats or undue praises, of one particular civilization.

"Civilizations are equal, and such equality has made exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations possible," he said.

All civilizations have their respective strengths and shortcomings, and there is no perfect civilization in the world, nor is there a civilization that is devoid of any merit.

"No one civilization can be judged superior to another," he said.

Xi's Europe tour, with an in-depth knowledge about Chinese and Western cultures, showed a style of both self-confidence and modesty, and demonstrated an equal attitude of modern China toward the rest of the world.

With the world consisting of different cultures, races, skin colors, religions and social systems, the people of various countries have become members of an intimate community of shared destiny.

Against the backdrop of increasing globalization and informatization and China's peaceful rise, the Chinese civilization will be full of growing charm and make more contributions to humankind.

"Civilizations are inclusive, and such inclusiveness has given exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations the needed drive to move forward," Xi said.

History and reality show that hatred and clashes are caused not by a particular civilization itself, but by a lack of tolerance toward other civilizations.

"If all civilizations can uphold inclusiveness, the so-called 'clash of civilizations' will be out of the question and the harmony of civilizations will become a reality," the Chinese president noted.

The preamble to the Constitution of UNESCO, inscribed on a stone tablet in front of the UN headquarters, declares: "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed."

Prosperity and coexistence of human civilization will be defended in the minds of men through exchanges and mutual learning based on diversity, equality and inclusiveness, which is also China's ardent aspiration for common progress with other civilizations.