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Luan Yali and Han Pengtao: Insights into the Historical Orientation, Basic Connotation, and Construction Path of Modern Chinese Civilization

Xi Jinping Thought (New Era)

Civilization is an important indicator for measuring the developmental level of a nation; the prosperity and flourishing of civilization are closely linked to the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Since the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the effective development of work regarding the construction of civilization. At the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development, he issued the call of the times to "build a modern Chinese civilization." The conceptual transition from "Chinese civilization" to "modern Chinese civilization" is the inevitable result of the Party's understanding of the construction of civilization moving from the abstract to the concrete. Generally speaking, Chinese civilization includes all the material and spiritual wealth created and accumulated by the Chinese nation over more than five thousand years of history. It is primarily divided into two developmental stages: traditional Chinese civilization and modern Chinese civilization. Modern Chinese civilization refers primarily to the sum of the material and spiritual civilizations created collectively by the masses under the leadership of the Party during the construction of Chinese-path modernization. It both contains the general attributes of traditional Chinese civilization and highlights the temporal characteristics of Chinese-path modernization, possessing distinct national style and national features. The epochal proposition of building a modern Chinese civilization effectively resolves the developmental dilemmas of Western modernization and provides a new paradigm for the development of civilization to promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity and to forge a new pattern of global civilizational exchange. Based on the context of the New Era, conducting a scholarly interpretation of the historical positioning, basic connotation, and construction path of modern Chinese civilization is of great practical significance.

I. Accurately Grasping the Historical Positioning of Modern Chinese Civilization

Modern Chinese civilization manifests as a multi-dimensional and three-dimensional civilizational form, representing the culmination of all civilizational achievements in modern construction, including material, spiritual, political, social, and ecological civilizations. Starting from the diachronic developmental process of Chinese civilization—which connects the past, the reality, and the future—helps in accurately grasping the historical positioning of modern Chinese civilization in the New Era and continuously increasing active consciousness in building a modern Chinese civilization.

1. Modern Chinese civilization is rooted in the historical accumulation of Chinese civilization

In terms of its "essence," modern Chinese civilization is a civilization that carries the unique ideology, culture, and value pursuits of the Chinese nation. Over the long river of five thousand years of history, the Chinese nation has given birth to the broad and profound Chinese civilization, which "has not only had a profound impact on China's development but has also made significant contributions to the progress of human civilization." Chinese civilization "deposits the deepest spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation and represents the unique spiritual identity of the Chinese nation." Through long-term historical practice, the Chinese nation has formed a relatively complete outlook on the universe, the world [1], and morality, distilling the fine traditional Chinese culture with powerful historical resonance, which constitutes an important component of modern Chinese civilization. For example, regarding human existence and development, ancient China proposed the way of conducting oneself through "great virtue carries all things" [2] and "self-discipline and social commitment" [3], taking self-cultivation and noble virtue as life pursuits. In the governance of the family and the state, concepts and methods such as "appointing only the capable" [4] and "abolishing the old to establish the new" [5] were promoted, forming a prosperous and stable political civilization for a time. In external exchanges, it sought ways for different cultures and ethnic groups to coexist, demonstrating a great national image with the open-mindedness of "when the Great Way prevails, the world is for the public" [6]. In modern times, Chinese civilization encountered unprecedented darkness and disaster, and the Communist Party of China resolutely shouldered the historical mission of rejuvenating Chinese civilization. For over a hundred years, the Party has led the people of all ethnic groups to achieve great victories in revolution, construction, and reform, successfully promoting Socialism with Chinese Characteristics into the New Era. The distinct revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture of the Chinese nation were nurtured during this process. Whether they are the crystallizations of revolutionary culture—such as the Lei Feng spirit, the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" spirit, and the Long March spirit—or advanced socialist culture—including the Core Socialist Values, the common ideal of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and the lofty ideal of Communism—all are important ideological sources for the continuous generation and refinement of modern Chinese civilization.

The generation and development of modern Chinese civilization take Chinese civilization as its profound historical foundation. As the ideological crystallization generated and accumulated by the Chinese nation in the long river of history, Chinese civilization has been passed down through generations, staying fresh over time. It has formed many important ideological achievements in different historical periods, which will continuously assist in the construction of modern Chinese civilization during the in-depth advancement of Chinese-path modernization.

2. Modern Chinese civilization is nurtured in the great practice of Chinese-path modernization

To accurately locate modern Chinese civilization historically, one must grasp its current historical stage of development. Since the New Era, "the Party has led the people in successfully departing on the path of Chinese-path modernization, creating a new form of human civilization." This clearly outlines the contemporary civilizational coordinates of Chinese-path modernization.

The report to the 20th CPC National Congress further clarified the central task of the entire Party in the New Era, emphasizing "using Chinese-path modernization to comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." Chinese-path modernization profoundly embodies the ideological and cultural essence of Chinese civilization and has achieved a comprehensive transcendence of the modern path of the West. It possesses rich and distinct temporal connotations, providing a context for the development of the times for the construction of a discourse system for modern Chinese civilization. Promoting and expanding Chinese-path modernization is a process in which civilization is continuously created, perfected, and deepened; its essence lies in building a modern Chinese civilization. As a new type of civilization produced on the basis of the "Two Combinations" [7], Chinese-path modernization is a progressive civilization that continuously upholds the fundamentals and breaks new ground while inheriting traditional Chinese civilization. It has achieved the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilizations in the New Era, and its basic connotation profoundly reflects that the construction of modern Chinese civilization is a developmental model of coordinated progress. As a new type of modernization path opened by the Party leading the people through long-term practical exploration, Chinese-path modernization always adheres to the fundamental position of being "people-centered," striving to meet the people's needs for a better life and to achieve common prosperity. Modern Chinese civilization is the civilizational crystallization grown on the path of Chinese-path modernization, supported by the most united and powerful spiritual force, and it can gain broad support and endorsement from the masses. "The high degree of identification and active participation of the broad masses in the construction of modern Chinese civilization is the fundamental measure for advancing its construction." The power of the masses fundamentally builds the practical foundation for building a modern Chinese civilization and constitutes the prerequisite for its effective advancement.

Modern Chinese civilization is the civilizational form of Chinese-path modernization and the concentrated expression of Chinese culture in the New Era. Promoting and expanding Chinese-path modernization, as an important task of the New Era, clarifies the historical stage upon which modern Chinese civilization currently stands and provides the realistic growth space for its construction.

3. Modern Chinese civilization is oriented toward the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation

Modern Chinese civilization originates from the practice of modernization and is fundamentally consistent with the goals of achieving civilizational rejuvenation and national rejuvenation. To fully exert the epochal value of modern Chinese civilization in the New Era, it must be placed within the bright prospects of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, with continuous historical creation carried out within the continuous development of society. "Cultural rejuvenation and the heights and achievements it reaches possess greater competitiveness and vitality than economics or politics"; the comprehensive rejuvenation of Chinese civilization is an internal requirement for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Considering the current state of our country's civilizational development, the contemporary influence of Chinese civilization does not yet fully match its economic developmental strength. How to enhance the international influence of Chinese civilization and speed up the construction of a discourse system for modern Chinese civilization has become an urgent epochal issue to be resolved. The Western system of civilizational discourse has long held a dominant position globally, serving as a reference for many countries in their construction of civilization. However, Chinese-path modernization has created a new civilizational form of modern Chinese civilization, opening a brand-new path for civilizational construction in the New Era with a high degree of cultural confidence. Through adapting to the New Era and aligning with social development, Chinese civilization has realized the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, creating incredibly precious civilizational achievements and greatly enhancing its global influence. As a "people-oriented" civilization, the developmental direction of modern Chinese civilization is fundamentally consistent with the original aspiration and founding mission of "seeking happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation." The people are always the practical subjects and the beneficiary subjects of civilizational construction, which profoundly reflects its "people-centered" value rationality. Furthermore, modern Chinese civilization can promote the prosperity and development of more high-level material and spiritual civilizations, both consolidating the material foundation for building a socialist cultural power and providing the ideological guarantee for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, steadily marching toward the goal of the prosperous development and comprehensive rejuvenation of Chinese civilization.

Modern Chinese civilization and the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation are organically unified; the two are coupled in their value demands and developmental directions. Building a modern Chinese civilization is an important fulcrum for advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, enriching the choice of paths for the development of human civilization, and will write a magnificent chapter of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation within the comprehensive rejuvenation of Chinese civilization.

II. Scientifically Understanding the Basic Connotation of Modern Chinese Civilization

Building a modern Chinese civilization is an important historical task in promoting and expanding Chinese-path modernization. Based in the New Era, analyzing the basic connotation of modern Chinese civilization with historical thinking and a global perspective is the theoretical consciousness required to complete this important historical task.

1. Modern Chinese civilization is a Chinese civilization based in the New Era

Modern Chinese civilization can be summarized as "the sum of civilizational achievements that have historically developed continuously and been innovatively created within the whole of Chinese civilization"; it is the contemporary representation of Chinese civilization after five thousand years of historical development. As an important component of the world civilizational system, Chinese civilization is the only civilization in the world that has never been interrupted. It refers primarily to the sum of the production modes, value concepts, and all material and spiritual wealth created by the Chinese nation, the essence of which is embodied in fine traditional Chinese culture. Chinese civilization once stood at the forefront of the world, leading the developmental direction of global civilization and adding a brilliant stroke to the history of human civilization. Viewed as a whole, Chinese civilization, through thousands of years of inheritance and development, has successfully given birth to the new civilizational form of modern Chinese civilization. Modern Chinese civilization takes Chinese civilization as its basic color and absorbs the ideological essence condensed during the developmental process of Chinese civilization.

Modern Chinese civilization profoundly grasps the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization, vividly demonstrating a developmental connection that is in the same line as fine traditional Chinese culture, and presents a clear value trajectory in the New Era. Modern Chinese civilization highlights the prominent continuity of Chinese civilization; it is rooted in the deep historical soil of Chinese civilization, and through a dialectical grasp of history, reality, and the future, it establishes a high degree of historical and cultural confidence, unswervingly following its own path. Modern Chinese civilization upholds the prominent innovation of Chinese civilization; with an attitude of arduous struggle, it continuously breaks new ground, distinctly demonstrating the practical character of "upholding fundamentals without being archaic, and respecting the past without returning to the past" [8], injecting powerful spiritual strength for accelerating the modern transformation of Chinese civilization. Modern Chinese civilization maintains the prominent unity of Chinese civilization; amidst the risks and challenges of civilizational construction in the New Era, it remains firm in common ideals, establishes correct values, and gathers the epochal strength of all ethnic groups for united struggle. Modern Chinese civilization deepens the prominent inclusivity of Chinese civilization; with a spirit of "a hundred rivers flowing into the sea," it actively promotes exchange and mutual learning between different nations and countries, continuously absorbing the beneficial achievements of global civilizational development. Modern Chinese civilization upholds the prominent peacefulness of Chinese civilization; it courageously shoulders the heavy responsibilities of the times, continuously promotes the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, actively responds to and participates in improving global governance, and contributes Chinese wisdom to world peace and development.

2. Modern Chinese civilization is a modern civilization that leads Chinese-path modernization

As the basic goal of civilizational construction in the New Era, modern Chinese civilization concentrates all civilizational achievements of Chinese-path modernization. "The essence of modernization is the creation and transformation of civilization." The continuous opening of the path to building a modern Chinese civilization is unified with the practical process of Chinese-path modernization promoting the comprehensive development of material, spiritual, political, social, and ecological civilizations. It achieves an organic combination and two-way interaction between Chinese civilization and Chinese-path modernization. "Modern civilization is generated within the modernization movement." It is necessary to profoundly recognize that Chinese-path modernization is a historical process, striving to realize a situation where "Chinese-path modernization endows Chinese civilization with modern power, while Chinese civilization endows Chinese-path modernization with profound depth." Starting from the reality of the construction of Chinese-path modernization, we must continue the essence of traditional Chinese civilization, rationally absorb the finest achievements of human civilization, and create a new form of civilization through the vivid practice of building a modern Chinese civilization.

As the systemic form of civilization within Chinese-path modernization, the modern civilization of the Chinese nation demonstrates a practice-oriented approach toward all-round construction, centrally reflecting the essential requirements of Chinese-path modernization. Advancing and expanding Chinese-path modernization encompasses various fields including the economy, politics, culture, society, and ecological civilization[9]; likewise, building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation requires the comprehensive and coordinated development of all social spheres. This civilization arises from the reality of modernization involving a huge population; it is committed to building a New Era civilization belonging to the community of the Chinese nation, ensuring that the fruits of civilization benefit people of all ethnic groups across the country. The modern civilization of the Chinese nation points toward the developmental goal of common prosperity for all, continuously meeting the people's needs for a better life while accelerating the construction of New Era civilization. It conforms to the objective requirements for the coordinated development of material and spiritual civilizations, achieving a comprehensive transcendence of Western paths to modernization through the positive interaction and synergistic development of the two. It upholds the ecological concept of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, effectively securing the sustainable development of nature and society by leading in resource conservation and environmental protection. Furthermore, it holds high the distinct banner of the path of peaceful development, taking the common values of humanity as its basic guiding principle and actively promoting exchange and mutual learning among civilizations through mutual benefit, win-win cooperation, and consultation.

3. The Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation as a New Type of Civilization Promoting Human Social Progress

The modern civilization of the Chinese nation is a landmark of the era in terms of human civilizational progress. Its developmental goals accord with the Marxist view of civilization, constituting a new type of civilization that unifies historical necessity (conformity to laws) with purposeful human agency (conformity to goals). Western capitalist societies were the first to initiate modernization, which to some extent promoted the progress of human society. However, their inherent nature of aggression, expansion, and profit-seeking consistently led to the one-sided development of the modernization path, resulting in a "civilization amid crude barbarism," where contradictions—between civilization and barbarism, progress and backwardness—became increasingly acute. The scientific worldview and methodology of Marxism provide the ideological soul of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, guiding its general direction and providing the fundamental intellectual orientation for humanity to escape the current predicament of civilizational development. Starting from the material production of real human beings, Marx pointed out that human civilization is the result of free and conscious practical activity; he revealed the historical limitations of capitalist civilization and critiqued the capitalist path of "universal civilization." As a scientific truth that embodies a historical concern for all humanity, the Marxist view of civilization fundamentally determines that the modern civilization of the Chinese nation possesses an inherent global vision for promoting the development of human civilization.

Rooted in the unique historical and cultural soil of the Chinese nation and rationally absorbing all the outstanding achievements of human civilization, the modern civilization of the Chinese nation effectively addresses era-defining questions such as "whither human civilization?" and "how should human civilization develop?" with vigorous vitality. By consistently standing at the forefront of the times to absorb the latest achievements of human civilization and thus enriching and perfecting itself, it provides basic value guidance for the peaceful coexistence and common development of all civilizations in the world. Adhering to the principle of "maintaining a global perspective" [10], and driven by a sense of historical responsibility and initiative as a civilizational power and a major cultural nation, it promotes the building of a community with a shared future for humanity—a crucial objective for the modern civilization of the Chinese nation on the global stage. In a certain sense, "the modern civilization of the Chinese nation is generated through the process of building a community with a shared future for humanity"; it is an inherent requirement for promoting human progress in the New Era, providing a new developmental paradigm for contemporary civilizational interaction and the deepening of international relations. Through this process, the content of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation is continuously enriched and deepened, achieving the organic unity of theory and practice and forming a comprehensive and logically self-consistent discourse system of modern civilization, becoming an important component of the new form of human civilization.

III. Rationally Exploring the Path to Building a Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation

The analysis and interpretation of the historical positioning and basic connotation of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation must ultimately be implemented in the specific practice of civilizational construction. It is essential to uphold the Party's overall leadership, take the "Two Combinations" as the practical principle, and actively engage in civilizational dialogue with all countries on the basis of upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground, thereby shaping a new developmental pattern and discourse system for the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

1. Upholding the Leadership of the Communist Party of China to Ensure the Correct Direction of New Era Civilizational Construction

The leadership of the CPC is the greatest strength of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the fundamental requirement for building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation; it directly impacts the practical direction and ultimate success of civilizational construction in the New Era. For over a century, the CPC has followed a glorious path of struggle in the continuous construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. "Upholding the Party's overall leadership is the only path to upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics," fundamentally guaranteeing that the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation advances in the right direction. From the perspective of historical materialism, the CPC has, through long-term practice, driven the great transformation of Chinese civilization from "civilization eclipsed by dust" to "civilizational rejuvenation." The CPC not only consistently believes in and practices the scientific truths of Marxism but also actively inherits and promotes outstanding traditional Chinese culture, acting as the leadership core that guides the masses in building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Therefore, the inherent requirement for building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation is to take the CPC as the leadership core and unswervingly maintain the Party's fundamental political stance.

Since the beginning of the New Era, the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has comprehensively advanced the Great New Project of Party Building, further tempering a global major party characterized by purity and advanced nature, providing the fundamental guarantee and endogenous drive for building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation. Standing at the commanding heights of social history, the CPC has profoundly summarized the characteristics of the development of Chinese civilization in this era, using rigorous systematic thinking to coordinate the civilizational development concepts of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan. By continuously striving to achieve national prosperity and the people's happiness, it has won the heartfelt support of the masses. The whole Party must always keep in mind our original aspiration and founding mission, advance the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics with a spirit of enterprise, and continuously improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics to ensure that the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation moves forward in the correct direction.

Upholding the CPC's leadership is the fundamental prerequisite for building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation. Only by firming up our fundamental political stance, continuously strengthening the "Four Consciousnesses,"[11] bolstering the "Four Confidences,"[12] and achieving the "Two Upholds," can we truly realize spiritual independence and autonomy, and carve out our own path of civilizational development under the leadership of the CPC.

2. Implementing the "Two Combinations" to Ensure the Steady and Long-term Progress of the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation

The "Two Combinations" have allowed Chinese civilization to regain its vitality in the New Era, successfully opening a path for civilizational construction within Chinese-path modernization. "Combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and with outstanding traditional Chinese culture is the only path," and it is also an important practical principle for building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

The construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation primarily involves two theoretical threads: the Marxist "soul-conduit" (魂脉 húnmài) and the "root-conduit" (根脉 gēnmài) of outstanding traditional Chinese culture. These two are not separate paths running in isolation; rather, through their organic combination, they jointly shape a New Era civilizational form with Chinese characteristics and Chinese style. In using the "Two Combinations" to bolster the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, the primary task is to adhere to Marxism as the guiding ideology. As a scientific worldview and methodology, Marxism can be organically combined with China's developmental reality and fits perfectly with the essential connotations of outstanding traditional Chinese culture. It has answered and resolved a series of important historical questions and is the developmental truth for guiding the Chinese nation forward, as proven by the history of Chinese revolution, construction, and reform. History proves that only by persisting in using the methodologies of dialectical materialism and historical materialism to solve problems in the process of civilizational development can we push the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism to new frontiers.

Furthermore, we must place greater emphasis on realizing the "Second Combination" [13]. As a major historical task, building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation objectively reflects the possibility and necessity of combining the basic tenets of Marxism with outstanding traditional Chinese culture. As the crystallization of the collective wisdom of the Chinese nation, outstanding traditional Chinese culture and the scientific truths of Marxism are coupled in their connotations and value orientations. They have "created a new, organically unified cultural lifeform," establishing the theoretical prerequisite for building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. The "Two Combinations" constitute the fundamental practical requirement for this construction. We must grasp the organic unity of subjectivity and modernity in the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation through the "Two Combinations," enhance our historical initiative with a high degree of cultural confidence and self-awareness, "continuously cultivate and create a New Era socialist culture with Chinese characteristics," and promote the further deepening of the temporal connotations of Chinese civilization.

3. Upholding the Fundamentals and Breaking New Ground to Activate the Vitality of the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation

Upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground (shǒuzhèng chuàngxīn) is the genetic code for the continuous opening of new frontiers in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism, and the source of power for the enduring renewal of Chinese civilization. "Only by not forgetting history can we open up the future; only by being good at inheritance can we be good at innovation." The modern civilization of the Chinese nation is precisely the result of nurturing within this framework.

Upholding the fundamentals and breaking new ground contains two requirements. "Upholding the fundamentals" (shǒuzhèng) means grasping the "root-conduit" of outstanding traditional Chinese culture, continuing the historical and cultural essence of Chinese civilization, and respecting and practicing the objective requirements of civilizational development while inheriting the national spirit. It reflects the independent and autonomous spirit of the Chinese nation. To build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation, we must first uphold the "fundamental" essence of Chinese civilization. As the developmental goal of upholding the fundamentals, "breaking new ground" (chuàngxīn) refers to proceeding from the current era's background and social development conditions to continuously promote the creative transformation and innovative development of outstanding traditional Chinese culture, creating a new form of human civilization led by the Chinese nation in the New Era. We "uphold the fundamentals" in order to better "break new ground"; this scientific method builds a bridge connecting history, reality, and the future.

General Secretary Xi Jinping, standing at the historical height of the development of the Chinese nation, has profoundly summarized the prominent characteristics of Chinese civilization, revealed the laws of the evolution of Chinese civilization over five thousand years, and issued a new call to the whole of society to build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation. We must "comprehensively and deeply understand the history of Chinese civilization," actively participate in the protection of outstanding traditional Chinese cultural heritage, proactively tap into the essence of Chinese cultural wisdom, and increase support for civilizational construction projects. Furthermore, both the basic tenets of Marxism and outstanding traditional Chinese culture possess an inherent openness to development; their realization of innovative development through mutual unification is not only possible but necessary. Upholding the fundamentals does not mean sticking stubbornly to existing cultural achievements; it requires a proactive and enterprising spirit to further promote cultural innovation. By doing so, we can ensure that "the old is used to serve the present" and "the new is brought forth from the old," continuously enriching the temporal connotations of Chinese civilization and further promoting innovation in both theory and practice.

4. Strengthening Civilizational Exchange and Mutual Learning to Enhance the International Influence of the Modern Civilization of the Chinese Nation

The international influence of a civilization is an important manifestation of a country’s comprehensive national strength. "The beauty of a thick soup lies in the coordination of different ingredients." In building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation, we must adhere to the "theory of mutual learning among civilizations," maintaining our own independence while actively absorbing the outstanding achievements of other civilizations, leading the realization of the common values of all humanity, and continuously enhancing our international influence.

The modern civilization of the Chinese nation is a contemporary manifestation of the concepts of "civilizational exchange, mutual learning, and coexistence." A key reason it can transcend "civilizational barriers, conflicts, and superiority" lies in the open and inclusive developmental characteristics of Chinese civilization. "There is no conflict between different civilizations; there is only a lack of eyes to appreciate the beauty of all civilizations." The modern civilization of the Chinese nation guides the construction of Chinese-path modernization while remaining closely attuned to the reality of human civilizational development in the New Era. It rejects the Western binary thinking of "zero-sum games" and leads the world in building a community with a shared future for humanity where "all things beautiful coexist in harmony" (měi měi yǔ gòng). Only by upholding the inclusive spirit of Chinese civilization and promoting and improving global governance based on the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, can we better build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation that faces the world and truly realizes the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Since ancient times, the Chinese nation has possessed an open mind characterized by inclusiveness and "seeking common ground while reserving differences." We are "adept at learning the good things of others and transforming them into our own." We must continuously promote cultural innovation in our interactions with other civilizations, adopting an open and inclusive attitude to rationally absorb all advanced civilizational achievements. "Civilizations become full of vitality through exchange and mutual learning." In this process, we must always remain firm in our stance on the development of Chinese civilization, adhering to the principle of "taking ourselves as the mainstay and making foreign things serve China." With a high degree of cultural confidence, we must promote the self-reliance and self-improvement of Chinese civilization, effectively exerting the powerful appeal and guiding force of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.

The modern civilization of the Chinese nation continues to develop and perfect itself through exchange and mutual learning with the civilizations of all countries in the world. In the New Era, we must accelerate the construction and continuous enrichment of the discourse system for the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. This allows the whole world to share in the achievements of building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation and presents to the world an image of China that is "credible, lovable, and respectable" [14].

In summary, the objective requirements for building a leading country in socialist culture and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation necessitate the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. The modern civilization of the Chinese nation profoundly grasps the historical depth of Chinese civilization and the temporal height of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It comprehensively transcends the shackles of the development models of traditional Western civilization, guiding the advancement and expansion of Chinese-path modernization at the ideological level. It also provides a fundamental framework for constructing a community with a shared future for humanity characterized by "sharing beauty with one another" [15] and for continuously creating a new form of human civilization. The modern civilization of the Chinese nation both contains the essence of the traditional civilizational thought of the Chinese nation and remains fundamentally consistent with the goals of Chinese-path modernization and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; it is a progressive civilization that links history, reality, and the future. On the new journey of the New Era, the determination of hundreds of millions of Chinese people to realize civilizational and national rejuvenation is Peerlessly firm, and the path to building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation is Peerlessly bright. We must continuously promote innovation in the discourse system of Chinese civilization, inject powerful developmental vitality into the construction of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, and realize at an early date the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, marked by a comprehensive civilizational renaissance.

Source: Theoretical Circles (理论界, Lilun Jie), October 23, 2024. Web Editor: Jing Mu.