Hou Sheng: Deeply Understanding the Values and Significance of the Global Civilization Initiative
General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed and profoundly expounded upon the Global Civilization Initiative at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting, noting: "We are ready to work with the international community to open up a new prospect of enhanced people-to-people exchanges, cultural integration, and closer bonds between peoples, so that the garden of world civilizations becomes colorful and full of vitality." Civilizations exchange because of diversity, learn from each other because of exchange, and develop because of mutual learning. The Global Civilization Initiative profoundly aligns with the shared aspiration of the international community for the harmonious coexistence of multiple civilizations where "each treasures its own beauty and also the beauty of others." [1] Since its inception, it has garnered widespread attention and active support from various parties. At venues such as the "Understanding China" International Conference, the "Liangzhu Forum," and the Taihu World Cultural Forum, political dignitaries from many countries have spoken highly of the Global Civilization Initiative. They believe it respects the exploration of diverse development paths by people of different countries, aligns closely with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and helps promote the replacement of hegemonic thinking with dialogue and cooperation.
In today's world, the changes unseen in a century are accelerating; multiple challenges and crises are interwoven with volatility, and various trends of thought are surging, presenting human society with unprecedented challenges. Assertions of the "clash of civilizations" and "civilizational superiority" have resurfaced like dregs [2], exacerbating estrangement between different civilizations. Resolving the prominent contradictions and problems facing humanity requires relying on material means to tackle difficulties, but even more so, it requires relying on spiritual strength to "sincerely purify the mind." [3]
Standing at a crossroads concerning the direction of human civilization, the Global Civilization Initiative embodies the Chinese position, Chinese values, and Chinese style. It demonstrates an international field of vision and global perspective that embraces the world and draws on the strengths of all [4], contributing Chinese wisdom to leading the progress of world civilization. It holds significant guiding and referential importance for enhancing exchange and mutual learning between civilizations and advancing the developmental process of human civilization. We must profoundly grasp the value implications of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture in advocating for civilizational exchange and mutual learning, and work with all nations to strive toward painting a magnificent picture of world civilizations coexisting in harmony and splendor.
"When flowers bloom together, spring fills the garden; when all living things flourish, beauty abounds." [5] The Global Civilization Initiative consists primarily of four "joint advocacies": jointly advocating for respect for the diversity of world civilizations; jointly advocating for promoting the common values of humanity; jointly advocating for prioritizing the inheritance and innovation of civilizations; and jointly advocating for strengthening international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. Only by adhering to these four "joint advocacies" can we work together to resolve major issues concerning the future of the world and the destiny of humanity, thereby promoting the progress of human civilization.
Jointly advocating for respect for the diversity of world civilizations to continuously enrich the colorful garden of human civilization.
Respecting the diversity of world civilizations is an essential prerequisite for exchange and mutual learning. A single flower does not make a spring, while one hundred flowers in bloom fill the garden with spring. Diversity is a fundamental characteristic of human civilization and the very source of its charm. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We should jointly advocate for respect for the diversity of world civilizations. We should stay committed to the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness among civilizations, and let cultural exchanges transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcend clashes, and inclusiveness transcend feelings of superiority." There are over 200 countries and regions, more than 2,500 ethnic groups, and multiple religions in the world. Different histories, national conditions, ethnicities, and customs have given birth to different civilizations. Throughout the long course of history, numerous civilizations have shone upon and complemented one another, making significant contributions to the progress of human civilization.
The development of civilization is not predetermined or balanced, nor is it one-dimensional or achieved overnight; rather, it moves forward in the dialectical interaction between diversity and identity. Civilizations do not differ in terms of status or quality, but only in terms of characteristics and geography. History has repeatedly proven that any attempt to transform, assimilate, or even replace other civilizations with one's own will not succeed, but will instead bring disaster to world civilization. Human history is a grand tapestry of exchange, mutual learning, and integration among different civilizations. Every civilization is rooted in its own soil, embodying the extraordinary wisdom and spiritual pursuits of a country or nation; each has its own inherent value. Civilizational differences should not be the root of world conflict, but rather the driving force for human progress. By breaking down barriers to interaction, eliminating obstacles to exchange, and drawing spiritual nourishment from one another, we can make civilizational diversity the source of vitality and momentum for world development. Only then can the garden of world civilizations be colorful and vibrant, continuously creating new civilizational achievements.
Jointly advocating for promoting the common values of humanity to continuously inject civilizational power into global prosperity and development.
Promoting the common values of humanity provides the conceptual guidance for exchange and mutual learning between civilizations. Civilizations possess not only diversity but also commonality. Every civilization is the crystallization of beauty; all beautiful things share commonalities. "All living things grow together without harming one another; ways are pursued in parallel without interfering with one another." [6] The development of civilization requires both respect for individual differences and the promotion of common values. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We should jointly advocate for the common values of humanity. Peace, development, equity, justice, democracy, and freedom are the common aspirations of all peoples. We should approach different civilizations' perceptions of value with an open mind, refrain from imposing our own values or models on others, and avoid ideological confrontation." In recent years, the global deficits in peace, development, security, and governance have intensified. Certain countries wantonly interfere in the internal affairs of others and incite conflict and confrontation. Promoting common values is not the same as pursuing "universal values." For a long time, the West has leveraged its first-mover advantage to package Western values as "universal values." This has not only failed to bring progress and development to the vast number of developing countries but has instead created turmoil and chaos globally. The root cause is that "universal values" are not truly universal; their essence follows an unequal value system of Western-centrism, viewing the world’s pluralistic civilizations through the lens of "self-importance" and "civilizational superiority."
The development of world civilization pursues the common values of humanity, which have been accumulated throughout the long course of world civilizational history. They embody the value consensus of different human civilizations, reflecting the greatest common denominator of value concepts generally recognized by people of all countries. They provide a credible value bond for the international community to achieve the broadest possible unity. While histories, cultures, systems, and development levels vary across countries, the common values of humanity remain the shared pursuit of all peoples. Only by consolidating the value consensus of different human civilizations with an open heart—not imposing our own values or models on others and not engaging in ideological confrontation—can we jointly eliminate cultural barriers in real life, break the spiritual estrangement hindering human interaction, and inject powerful civilizational momentum into world prosperity and development.
Jointly advocating for prioritizing the inheritance and innovation of civilizations to fully tap into the contemporary value of the history and culture of all countries.
Prioritizing civilizational inheritance and innovation is the source of power for exchange and mutual learning. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We should jointly advocate for the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations. We should fully harness the contemporary value of the history and culture of all countries and promote the creative transformation and innovative development of their fine traditional cultures in the process of modernization." The sustainable development of civilization requires both the passing of the torch from generation to generation and the ability to adapt to changes and "weed through the old to bring forth the new." [7] Inheritance is the protection of civilizational foundations, while innovation is the driving force of civilizational development. The various civilizations existing in the world today have all stood the test of long history, continuing the spiritual lineage of different countries and nations and becoming a powerful spiritual force for national cohesion. The development of human civilization is not "water without a source or a tree without roots." Every civilization has its own historical soil, unique customs, traditions, and values, which have survived the baptism of historical hardships. History is their root and soul; a civilization that severs its history has no vitality. The best inheritance of history is to create new history; the greatest tribute to human civilization is to create a new form of human civilization. Blindly clinging to the past will emasculate the vitality of a civilization, leading it to be discarded by the advancing tide of the times.
The reason Chinese civilization has remained fresh over time—becoming the only enduring civilization that has never been interrupted—is that it has always sublimated itself through adapting to changes, forming a spiritual temperament of "discarding the old for the new" [8] and advancing with the times. This has provided rich spiritual nourishment for the Chinese nation's continuous and flourishing life. This is true for China and for the world. Only by fully tapping into the contemporary value of various histories and cultures and promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional cultures during the process of modernization can we activate the "living source water" [9] of civilizational progress and continuously create civilizational achievements that transcend time and space with eternal charm.
Jointly advocating for strengthening international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation to work together in painting a new picture of human civilization where beauty is shared.
Strengthening international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation is the essential path for civilizational exchange and mutual learning. All living organisms require metabolism; otherwise, life ceases. The same applies to civilizations. if they remain closed off for long periods, they will inevitably decline. Only through exchange, mutual learning, and drawing upon each other's strengths can different civilizations maintain robust vitality. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We should jointly advocate for robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. We should explore the building of a global network for dialogue and cooperation among civilizations, enrich the content of exchanges, expand cooperation channels, and promote mutual understanding and friendship between peoples, so as to jointly advance the progress of human civilization." International people-to-people cooperation can only succeed if it is based on mutual understanding and respect among different civilizations. Only then can it deepen political mutual trust, economic and trade exchanges, and pragmatic cooperation between states, continuously solidifying the social and public opinion foundations for building a new type of international relations.
Faced with the current volatile international situation, shall we move toward common prosperity or conflict and confrontation? Toward innovation and progress or stagnation and regression? Countries need to make rational choices. Only by committing to the promotion of civilizational exchange and mutual learning can we advance human progress. From hosting the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations to the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting, China has actively promoted equal dialogue, mutual learning, and mutual inspiration among civilizations, gathering a powerful force for building a community with a shared future for humanity. In advancing the construction of Chinese-path modernization as a new form of human civilization, we must break down barriers to cultural interaction with a broad mind that "accepts all rivers"; [10] we must absorb the nutrients of other civilizations with an inclusive attitude; we must eliminate misunderstandings and curb conflicts through exchange; and we must learn from each other and develop together through integration. In doing so, we will tighten the bonds of interaction between countries, build bridges of communication between people, and continuously write new chapters for the world's diverse civilizations.
The four "joint advocacies" of the Global Civilization Initiative reject the "law of the jungle," transcend hegemony and zero-sum games, and open a new path for civilizational development based on win-win cooperation, joint construction, and shared benefits. On the new journey, we must stay committed to seeking progress for humanity and common good for the world. [11] Together with the people of all countries, we will act as advocates, promoters, and practitioners of exchange and mutual learning among human civilizations, driving the common development, prosperity, and progress of Chinese civilization and all world civilizations.