Chinese President Xi Jinping has been committed to fostering exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations to enhance global trust and understanding, strengthening the civilizational foundation for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Xi's efforts in this regard include the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), which he proposed at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting in March 2023.
"As the future of all countries is closely connected, tolerance, coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations play an irreplaceable role in advancing humanity's modernization process and making the garden of world civilizations flourish. Here, I wish to propose the Global Civilization Initiative," said Xi while addressing the event via video link.
He called for jointly advocating respect for the diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, the importance of civilizational inheritance and innovation, and robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, so as to provide China’s solutions and the force of civilization to advance the progress of human civilizations and achieve common prosperity.
Following the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, the GCI is another public good that China has provided to the world in the new era, further broadening the path toward a community with a shared future for mankind.
The exhibition titled "Tang China -- A Cosmopolitan Dynasty (7th-10th Century)," which recently concluded in Paris, France, exemplified China's efforts to promote exchanges between civilizations.
Featuring more than 200 sets of exquisite Chinese cultural relics on display for over three months, the exhibition captivated local visitors with the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty and ignited their enthusiasm for Chinese culture.
Xi wrote a preface for the exhibition, emphasizing the importance of drawing inspiration from history and culture to deepen people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning, as well as to strengthen cooperation in cultural heritage protection.
"Should each treasure what of its own is beautiful, what is different but beautiful can be shared," he said in the preface.
Xi has highlighted the significance of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations on multiple occasions, demonstrating his wisdom and foresight in promoting the harmonious coexistence of diverse civilizations.
As early as 2014, Xi first introduced China's philosophy on civilization in the new era to the world at UNESCO headquarters, advocating exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
Since proposing the GCI, he has put forward additional initiatives and action plans to promote global civilizational exchanges.
At the China-Central Asia Summit in May 2023, he invited five Central Asian countries to participate in the implementation of the Cultural Silk Road project to enhance dialogue among civilizations.
At the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in May 2024, he expressed China’s willingness to work with the Arab side to make China-Arab relations a model of harmonious coexistence between civilizations.
Xi proposed the Partnership Action for Mutual Learning among Civilizations to jointly advance modernization at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in September 2024.
At the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, he called for efforts to build a BRICS committed to closer people-to-people exchanges, with all BRICS members acting as advocates for harmonious coexistence among civilizations.
Guided by Xi Jinping's diplomatic thought, China continues to build platforms for dialogue and exchanges among civilizations, including the Understanding China Conference, the Liangzhu Forum, the World Congress of Classical Studies, and the Journey Through Civilizations global tour.
China's proposals for promoting civilizational exchanges and mutual learning have gained widespread recognition and support from the international community.
In June 2024, the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a resolution proposed by China to establish the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. Recently, the official English website for the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations was launched.
By advocating equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness among civilizations, China has worked with all parties to advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind in civilization.
Over the past 10 years, China has built six alliances among international theaters, museums, art festivals, libraries, art galleries, and tourist cities; organized cultural exchange events with other countries; established the China-Greece Center for Mutual Learning of Civilizations; and hosted the Global South Media and Think Tank Forum.
Young people from other countries have been invited to participate in study and exchange activities in China, while the 240-hour visa-free transit policy has been implemented to facilitate personnel exchanges.
As it continues to promote dialogue and exchanges among youth, think tanks, political parties, and media, China is building more bridges of friendship and understanding around the world.
Xi advances civilizational exchanges with concrete proposals
