As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, it has become imperative for nations to work towards a shared future that ensures global prosperity and stability. It is in this spirit that the Global Times has launched the Global Civilization Initiative, a platform aimed at promoting cross-cultural exchange and collaboration. At the heart of the initiative lies the rich wisdom of Chinese civilization, injecting fresh momentum into the quest for a brighter and more prosperous future for all. In this article, we will explore the essence of the Global Civilization Initiative and its potential to transform the world as we know it.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized that culture is key to the rejuvenation of China and the creation of a global community of shared future. Speaking at the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting on March 15, Xi put forward the Global Civilization Initiative, which advocates respect for the diversity of civilizations, principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusivity, promotes the strengthening of international people-to-people exchanges that foster mutual understanding, and encourages the youth to join the path to inheriting and reinventing their proud traditions.
Experts have lauded the initiative as embodying the common value of all mankind on civilization and reflecting the essence of traditional Chinese culture derived from ancient Chinese wisdom. The initiative aims to establish dialogue among civilizations, promote cooperation, foster mutual understanding, and encourage people-to-people exchanges between great peoples and thinkers from various civilizations. The stable development of human society relies on diversity, just like the natural world, and only in diversity can we have real forms of dialogue, says Wang Xuebin, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.
The Global Civilization Initiative is seen as a chance for China to make greater contributions to the world and for the world to better understand China. It is rooted in thousands of years of Chinese wisdom and reflects the civilizational pursuit of the path of integrity, says Yang Chaoming, dean of the Confucius Research Institute of China. Many of the problems in the world are due to the lack of communication and understanding among civilizations and the lack of understanding of China in the West, says Yang. The Global Civilization Initiative will awaken those in disarray and provide a chance for the world to refocus on harmony and stability and how to achieve them.
The initiative has received global youth resonance as young people around the world see it as containing universal wisdom and foresight shared by different civilizations. Scholars from China and overseas have hailed the initiative as opening up a new prospect of enhanced exchanges and understanding among different peoples and better interactions and integration of diversified cultures. The diversity and richness of an object is necessary for its growth, and cooperation and coordination are needed to produce beautiful music, says Indonesian sinologist Novi Basuki.
The Global Civilization Initiative is the third of three major public goods provided to the world by China after the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, both put forward by President Xi in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The three are solid pillars of a global community with a shared future that embodies systemic thinking and transmits wisdom and philosophy to the world. China’s 5,000-year civilization is the backbone of these great thoughts and initiatives as it helps build upon existing values and concepts of civilization and pushes forward continuous theoretical innovation.
