Sinologists from 23 countries explore 'Chinese approach to ethnic unity in diversity' in Beijing

(ECNS) -- The International Conference on Studies of the Community for the Chinese Nation, the parallel session of the Second World Conference of Sinologists, was held on Wednesday at the Palace of China Ethnic Cultures in Beijing.

Themed "Decoding China: Unity in Diversity and the Chinese Path", the Conference attracted 31 international sinologists from 23 countries including the United States, Australia, Argentina, Denmark and Iceland.

At the Conference, Chinese and foreign experts discussed the paths of constructing political communities in multi-ethnic countries, and explored the governance experience of multi-ethnic countries such as China, especially in terms of the economy, society and culture.

Besides, they also recounted the history and reality of friendly communication between China and the Global South, and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Experts said that Chinese civilization, known for its openness and inclusiveness since ancient times, acknowledges and respects cultural diversity and the diverseness of civilizations.

Paul Tembe, a senior researcher at the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute of the University of South Africa, believes that the theories of nation-states and civilization-states provide different perspectives for understanding national identity. Nation-states emphasize territory and citizenship, while China, as a civilization-state, places more emphasis on the continuity of civilization and the pursuit of common values.

Pedro Henrique Vigné Alvarez de Steenhagen, a lecturer at Fudan University, proposed that the national identity emphasized by China not only strengthens China's national unity, but also promotes harmonious co-existence of various ethnic groups and the mutual learning among different civilizations in the world.

Ivica Bakota, an associate professor at Capital Normal University, took the breakup of Yugoslavia as an example and pointed out that all countries should safeguard national identity and resolve internal conflicts to ensure national stability and prosperity.

Experts also said holding dialogue between China and the West has a long-standing history and far-reaching influence.

Carsten B. Thøgersen, former Consul-General of Denmark in Shanghai and foreign dean of Copenhagen Business Confucius Institute, believes that China has long focused on the intertwined, overlapping global crisis and the new period of world turbulence and transformation so as to conform to the trend of the times as well as meet the needs of the times. Since China's reform and opening-up in the 1970s to the Belt and Road Initiative and the Three Global Initiatives, China has continuously put forward "Chinese wisdom and Chinese approach" to the world.

Roland Boer, a visiting professor at School of Philosophy, Fudan University, pointed out that commonality is manifested as people's interdependent relationship, and thus building a community is to meet people's practical need. The concept of "a community with a shared future for mankind" proposed by China embodies the essence of the community theory in Marxism in the new era.

Before the Conference, the Sinologists also visited the "Exhibition of Cultural Relics and Ancient Books on Forging a Strong Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation." This exhibition, with more than 1,500 cultural relics and ancient books, comprehensively presents the history of development of the Chinese nation as well as the archaeological evidence of exchanges, interaction and integration among Chinese ethnic groups.