Chinese President Xi Jinping has forwarded a congratulatory letter to participants of the third Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations and the inaugural World Conference of Sinologists. In his letter, President Xi underscored the necessity of furthering the implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative, an initiative he personally proposed.
Xi pointed out that humanity’s lengthy historical journey has allowed different nations to foster unique and symbol-laden civilizations. He further emphasized the critical importance of reciprocal exchanges and mutual learning among these diverse civilizations. This interaction, according to Xi, would offer invaluable spiritual guidance to mankind, helping address the significant challenges of the era and facilitating collective advancement.
In his communication, President Xi made clear China’s willingness to cooperate with all interested parties to advocate for universal values such as peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom. Implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, according to him, is a critical step in this direction. He emphasized that through cultural exchanges, mutual understanding, and coexistence, feelings of estrangement, clashes, and superiority could be transcended, enabling human civilizations to progress together.
The president also expressed his hope for sinologists worldwide to serve as bridges between Chinese and other civilizations. He urged them to redouble their efforts to foster a deeper understanding between China and the rest of the world, fostering friendship and cooperation.
The Global Civilization Initiative was proposed by President Xi during the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting in March. It emphasizes respect for civilization diversity, advocacy for shared human values, appreciation for the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and enhancement of international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.
The Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia (ACHA), formally established in April and initiated by China along with nine other countries, is one of the major practices under the Global Civilization Initiative. With its current 13 member states and five observers, the alliance aims to protect Asian cultural heritage and deepen exchanges among Asian civilizations, thereby contributing to the prosperity of the world’s civilization garden.
A recent poll conducted by CGTN in March revealed that the core principles of the Global Civilization Initiative have gained broad recognition globally. The survey showed 80.3% of respondents believing in the positive impact of civilization diversity on world development. A significant 85% felt humanity should foster a cooperative future, while an impressive 89.6% called for countries to bolster dialogue and cooperation with openness and tolerance, with a higher percentage of 93.7% in developing countries. These figures underscore the universal appeal of the Global Civilization Initiative, underlining its potential to foster a shared and interconnected future for mankind.
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