The Chinese path to modernization is a new model for human advancement
In history, Chinese civilization was the world leader for a long period as the gem on the crown formed by the convergence of civilizations of all Asian countries. The introduction of Chinese civilization became a catalyst for the socio-economic development and progress of these countries and regions. The cultural circle of Chinese characters in East Asia is living proof of this statement.
Chinese civilization is extensive and profound because it was formed through absorbing other external civilizations. From the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, religions like Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism were introduced to China successively via the Silk Road. Buddhist culture exerted an extensive and far-reaching influence on Chinese philosophy, literature and art. Meanwhile, Chinese culture transformed the rational factors and beneficial contents of Buddhist culture and then reinvented them for further self-development. Buddhist culture has become part of traditional Chinese culture.
Christianity, which was introduced to China during the period from the 16th century to the 18th century, added new blood to Chinese civilization. Chinese people knew the earth is round from it. The world outlook on undeveloped tribes and the developed nation (China) was disintegrated in a moment. A colorful western world was presented to scholars in the Ming and Qing Dynasties comprehensively through the knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, painting and logic; at the same time, the Chinese translations of Thomas Aquinas’ works brought the Greek philosophy of Aristotle and Plato to China.
After the century-long humiliation in modern times, the Chinese nation opened a new era immediately from the founding of the People's Republic of China. The achievements made over more than 40 years since the reform and opening-up allow China to move closer to the center stage of the world. How to understand the re-emergence of Chinese civilization and how it will coexist harmoniously with the western civilization and other civilizations have become a topic of times. Against this background, President Xi Jinping has put forward the new civilization outlook of mutual learning among civilizations.
In 2014, President Xi Jinping paid a visit to the general headquarters of UNESCO and delivered a speech in which he pointed out that “Civilizations have become richer and more colorful with exchanges and mutual learning. Such exchanges and mutual learning form an important drive for human progress and global peace and development.” This view reveals the significance of mutual learning among civilizations and the rule in the development of civilization as well as the important function of civilization in the world’s peaceful development.
It is undeniable that such fierce collisions as violence, war and conquest can be found in exchanges of human civilization, but there were peaceful exchanges among civilizations in the history of humanity. Some scholars in the west think it is extremely difficult or even impossible for human civilization to exchange peacefully, and conflicts among civilizations will dominate today’s world. However, the thought on mutual learning and harmony among civilizations responds to it strongly. It points out clearly that conflicts among civilizations can be avoided, offers concrete methods for solving differences among civilizations, and explains that such differences are inevitable and reasonable.
The Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China points out that “Chinese modernization is socialist modernization pursued under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. It contains elements that are common to the modernization processes of all countries, but it is more characterized by features that are unique to the Chinese context. It is the modernization of a huge population. It is the modernization of common prosperity for all. It is the modernization of material and cultural-ethical advancement. It is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. It is the modernization of peaceful development.”
Chinese modernization is also the modernization of sticking to humanity's common values. Just as what the Report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China call upon all countries to hold dear humanity's shared values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, promote mutual understanding and forge closer bonds with other peoples, and join forces to meet all types of global challenges.
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