Deeply Comprehending the Value Implications of the Global Civilization Initiative

General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed and profoundly elaborated on the Global Civilization Initiative at the High-Level Dialogue between the Communist Party of China and World Political Parties, pointing out that “we are willing to work with the international community to open up a new situation of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, cultural integration, and mutual understanding among the people of all countries, so that the garden of world civilizations will be a riot of color and full of vitality.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, "Jointly Advocating the Global Civilization Initiative," speech at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting, March 15, 2023. Civilizations communicate because of diversity, learn from each other through communication, and develop through mutual learning. The Global Civilization Initiative deeply aligns with the international community’s common aspiration for the harmonious coexistence and shared flourishing of diverse civilizations, and has received widespread attention and active support from all sides since its proposal. At events such as the “Understanding China” International Conference, the Liangzhu Forum, and the Taihu World Cultural Forum, political leaders from many countries have highly praised the Global Civilization Initiative, believing that it respects the exploration of different peoples for their own development paths, is highly consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and helps replace hegemonic thinking with dialogue and cooperation.

习近平总书记在中国共产党与世界政党高层对话会上提出并深刻阐释了全球文明倡议，指出“我们愿同国际社会一道，努力开创世界各国人文交流、文化交融、民心相通新局面，让世界文明百花园姹紫嫣红、生机盎然”。文明因多样而交流，因交流而互鉴，因互鉴而发展。全球文明倡议深刻契合国际社会对于多种文明和谐共生、美美与共的共同愿望，自提出后获得各方广泛关注和积极支持。在“读懂中国”国际会议、“良渚论坛”、太湖世界文化论坛等场合，多国政要高度评价全球文明倡议，认为全球文明倡议尊重不同国家人民对自身发展道路的探索，与联合国宪章宗旨和原则高度契合，有助于推动以对话合作取代霸权思维。

In today’s world, the changes unseen in a century are accelerating, multiple challenges and crises are intertwined and turbulent, various ideological currents surge and clash, and human society faces unprecedented challenges. The “clash of civilizations” theory and the “superiority of civilizations” theory have resurfaced, exacerbating estrangement between different civilizations. Resolving the prominent contradictions and problems facing humanity requires relying on material means to overcome difficulties and, even more, relying on spiritual strength to rectify the mind and cultivate sincerity.

当今世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，多重挑战和危机变乱交织，各种思潮激流涌荡，人类社会面临前所未有的挑战。“文明冲突论”“文明优越论”沉渣泛起，加剧不同文明间的隔阂。化解人类面临的突出矛盾和问题，需要依靠物质手段攻坚克难，更需要依靠精神力量诚意正心。

Standing at the crossroads of where human civilization is headed, the Global Civilization Initiative embodies China’s stance, China’s values, and China’s style, demonstrates an international vision and global pattern that embraces the world and draws on the strengths of others, contributes Chinese wisdom to guiding the development and progress of world civilization, and holds great guiding and referential significance for enhancing exchanges and mutual learning among human civilizations and advancing the process of human civilization development. We must deeply comprehend the value implications of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture in advocating exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and work together with countries around the world to strive to paint a magnificent picture of harmonious coexistence and mutual enrichment among world civilizations.

站在人类文明何去何从的十字路口，全球文明倡议体现了中国立场、中国价值和中国风格，展现了胸怀天下、博采众长的国际视野和世界格局，为引领世界文明发展进步贡献了中国智慧，对于增进人类文明交流互鉴、推进人类文明发展进程具有重大指导意义和借鉴意义。我们要深刻领悟习近平文化思想倡导文明交流互鉴的价值意蕴，与全球各国一道，努力绘就世界文明和谐与共、交相辉映的绚丽画卷。

When flowers bloom in spring, the garden is splendid. The Global Civilization Initiative takes the “four joint advocacies” as its main content, namely: jointly advocating respect for the diversity of world civilizations, jointly advocating the promotion of the common values of all humanity, jointly advocating the emphasis on the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and jointly advocating the strengthening of international people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation. [2]2 Xi Jinping, speech at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting, March 15, 2023. Only by adhering to the “four joint advocacies” can we join hands to solve major issues concerning the future of the world and the destiny of humanity, and promote the progress of human civilization.

繁花春满园，群生则锦绣。全球文明倡议以四个“共同倡导”为主要内容，即共同倡导尊重世界文明多样性、共同倡导弘扬全人类共同价值、共同倡导重视文明传承和创新、共同倡导加强国际人文交流合作。唯有坚持四个“共同倡导”，才能携手解决攸关世界未来和人类前途命运的重大问题，促进人类文明进步。

Jointly advocate respect for the diversity of world civilizations, continuously enriching the colorful garden of human civilizations.

共同倡导尊重世界文明多样性，不断丰富姹紫嫣红的人类文明百花园。

Respecting the diversity of world civilizations is an important prerequisite for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. A single flower does not make spring; a hundred flowers in bloom bring spring to the garden. [3] Diversity is a basic feature of human civilization and also the source of its charm. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We should jointly advocate respect for the diversity of world civilizations, adhere to equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness among civilizations, transcend civilizational estrangement through civilizational exchange, transcend civilizational clashes through civilizational mutual learning, and transcend civilizational superiority through civilizational inclusiveness.” There are over 200 countries and regions, more than 2,500 ethnic groups, and numerous religions in the world. Different histories and national conditions, different ethnic groups and customs, have nurtured different civilizations. In the long river of history, many civilizations have complemented and enhanced each other, making important contributions to the progress of human civilization.

尊重世界文明多样性，是文明交流互鉴的重要前提。一花独放不是春，百花齐放春满园。多样性是人类文明的基本特征，也是人类文明魅力所在。习近平总书记指出：“我们要共同倡导尊重世界文明多样性，坚持文明平等、互鉴、对话、包容，以文明交流超越文明隔阂、文明互鉴超越文明冲突、文明包容超越文明优越。”世界上有200余个国家和地区、2500多个民族和多种宗教。不同历史和国情、不同民族和习俗，孕育了不同文明。在漫长的历史长河中，众多文明彼此交相辉映、相得益彰，为人类文明进步作出了重要贡献。

The development of civilization is not predetermined, balanced, unidirectional, or achieved overnight, but advances continuously in the dialectical interaction between diversity and identity. Civilizations are neither superior nor inferior; they differ only in characteristics and regions. 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 civilizations. Human history is a grand picture of different civilizations exchanging, learning from, and integrating with each other. Each civilization is rooted in its own soil, embodies the extraordinary wisdom and spiritual pursuits of a nation or country, and has its own value of existence. Differences between civilizations should not become the root of world conflicts, but should become the driving force for the progress of human civilization. By breaking down barriers to interaction, eliminating estrangement in exchanges, mutually drawing on the nutrients of wisdom, and making civilizational diversity a source of vitality and driving force for world development, the garden of world civilizations can be colorful and vibrant, and continuously create new civilizational achievements.

文明的发展并非预定的、均衡的，也不是单向度、一蹴而就的，而是在多样性与同一性的辩证互动中不断前行。文明没有高下、优劣之分，只有特色、地域之别。历史反复证明，任何想要改造、同化，甚至想以自己的文明取代其他文明的做法都不会成功，反而会给世界文明带来灾难。人类历史就是一幅不同文明相互交流、互鉴、融合的宏伟画卷。每一种文明都扎根于自己的生存土壤，凝聚着一个国家、一个民族的非凡智慧和精神追求，都有自己存在的价值。文明差异不应成为世界冲突的根源，而应成为人类文明进步的动力。打破交往壁垒、消除交流隔阂，相互汲取智慧养分，让文明多样性成为世界发展的活力和动力之源，这样世界文明百花园才能万紫千红、生机盎然，才能不断创造新的文明成果。

Jointly advocate the promotion of the common values of all humanity, continuously injecting civilizational strength to promote global prosperity and development.

共同倡导弘扬全人类共同价值，持续注入推动全球繁荣发展的文明力量。

Promoting the common values of all humanity is the conceptual guidance for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Civilizations are not only diverse but also share commonalities. Each civilization is a crystallization of beauty, and all beautiful things have points in common. “All things grow together without harming each other, and the ways run parallel without contradicting each other.” [4] The development of civilizations requires both respect for their respective differences and the promotion of common values. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We should jointly advocate the promotion of the

弘扬全人类共同价值，是文明交流互鉴的理念指引。文明不仅具有多样性，也具有共通性。每一种文明都是美的结晶，一切美好的事物都有相通之处。“万物并育而不相害，道并行而不相悖。”文明发展既需要尊重各自差异，也需要弘扬共同价值。习近平总书记指出：“我们要共同倡导弘扬全人类共同价值，和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由是各国人民的共同追求，要以宽广胸怀理解不同文明对价值内涵的认识，不将自己的价值观和模式强加于人，不搞意识形态对抗。”近年来，全球和平赤字、发展赤字、安全赤字、治理赤字加重。个别国家肆意干涉别国内政，挑动冲突对抗。弘扬共同价值不等于追求“普世价值”。长期以来，西方凭借先发优势将西方价值包装为“普世价值”，不仅没有给广大发展中国家带来进步与发展，反而在全球制造了动荡与混乱。究其根源就在于“普世价值”并非“普世”，其实质奉行的是西方中心主义的不平等价值观，以“唯我独尊”“文明优越”来看待世界多元文明。

The pursuit of world civilization development is the common values of all mankind, which have been accumulated over the long course of history. They condense the value consensus of different human civilizations, reflect the greatest common divisor of value concepts universally recognized by people of all countries, and provide a credible value bond for the broadest unity of the international community. Countries differ in history, culture, systems, and levels of development, but the common values of all mankind are the common pursuit of people of all countries. Only by gathering and promoting the value consensus of different human civilizations with a broad mind, not imposing one's own values and models on others, and not engaging in ideological confrontation, can we jointly eliminate cultural barriers in real life, jointly break down the spiritual barriers that hinder human communication, and jointly inject strong civilizational momentum into world prosperity and development.

世界文明发展追求的是全人类共同价值，这是世界文明在漫长历史长河中积淀而成的。凝聚着人类不同文明的价值共识，反映了世界各国人民普遍认同的价值理念的最大公约数，为国际社会实现最广泛的团结提供了可信的价值纽带。各国历史、文化、制度、发展水平不尽相同，但全人类共同价值是各国人民的共同追求。以宽广胸怀凝聚弘扬人类不同文明的价值共识，不将自己的价值观和模式强加于人，不搞意识形态对抗，我们才能共同消除现实生活中的文化壁垒，共同打破阻碍人类交往的精神隔阂，共同为世界繁荣发展注入强大文明动力。

Jointly advocate valuing civilizational inheritance and innovation, fully tapping the contemporary value of each country's history and culture.

共同倡导重视文明传承和创新，充分挖掘各国历史文化的时代价值。

Valuing civilizational inheritance and innovation is the source of momentum for civilizational exchanges and mutual learning. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We should jointly advocate valuing civilizational inheritance and innovation, fully tapping the contemporary value of each country's history and culture, and promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of each country's excellent traditional culture in the process of modernization." [1]1 Xi Jinping, "Jointly Advocating the Global Civilization Initiative," speech at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting, March 15, 2023. The sustainable development of civilization requires not only passing down the torch and guarding it from generation to generation, but also adapting to the times and bringing forth the new through the old. Inheritance is the protection of the foundation of civilization, and innovation is the driving force of civilizational development. All civilizations existing in the world today have withstood the test of long history, continuing the spiritual bloodline of different countries and nations, and becoming a powerful spiritual force that unites countries and nations. The development of human civilization is not water without a source, nor a tree without roots. Every civilization has its own historical soil in which it is rooted, with unique customs, traditions, and values that have been preserved through the baptism of historical storms. History is their root and soul; a civilization that cuts off its history has no vitality. The best inheritance of history is to create new history; the greatest respect for human civilization is to create a new form of human civilization. Blindly clinging to the past will emasculate the vitality of civilization and will be abandoned by the surging tide of the times.

重视文明传承和创新，是文明交流互鉴的动力之源。习近平总书记指出：“我们要共同倡导重视文明传承和创新，充分挖掘各国历史文化的时代价值，推动各国优秀传统文化在现代化进程中实现创造性转化、创新性发展。”文明永续发展，既需要薪火相传、代代守护，更需要顺时应势、推陈出新。传承是对文明根基的保护，创新是文明发展的动力。当今世界存在的各种文明，都经过了漫长历史考验，延续着不同国家和民族的精神血脉，成为凝聚国家和民族的强大精神力量。人类文明的发展不是无源之水、无本之木。任何一种文明都有自身扎根的历史土壤，有特有的习俗、传统和价值观，它们经历史风霜的洗礼而留存。历史是它们的根和魂，割断历史的文明没有生命力。对历史最好的继承，就是创造新的历史；对人类文明最大的礼敬，就是创造人类文明新形态。一味固守会阉割文明的生命力，将会被滚滚向前的时代潮流所抛弃。

The reason Chinese civilization, enduring through the ages, has become the only long-standing civilization that has never been interrupted is precisely because it has continuously elevated itself by responding to the times and adapting to changes, forming a spiritual temperament of discarding the old and embracing the new, and advancing with the times. This has provided rich spiritual nourishment for the ceaseless vitality and flourishing of the Chinese nation. China is like this, and so is the world.

中华文明之所以历久弥新，成为唯一没有中断的源远流长的文明，就是因为它始终在应时处变中不断升华，形成了革故鼎新、与时俱进的精神气质。这为中华民族生生不息、欣欣向荣提供了丰厚精神滋养。中国是这样，世界亦如是。只有充分挖掘各国历史文化的时代价值，推动各国优秀传统文化在现代化进程中实现创造性转化、创新性发展，才能激活文明进步的源头活水，不断创造出跨越时空、富有永恒魅力的文明成果。

Jointly advocate strengthening international people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation, and join hands to paint a new picture of human civilization where beauty is shared by all.

共同倡导加强国际人文交流合作，携手共绘美美与共的人类文明新画卷。

Strengthening international people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation is the necessary path for the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations. All living organisms require metabolism, otherwise life will cease. The same is true for civilizations; if they remain self-enclosed for a long time, they will inevitably decline. Only through exchange, mutual learning, and drawing on each other's strengths can different civilizations maintain vigorous vitality. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We should jointly advocate strengthening international people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation, explore the construction of a global network for civilization dialogue and cooperation, enrich the content of exchanges, expand cooperation channels, promote mutual understanding and affinity among the people of all countries, and jointly promote the development and progress of human civilization." [2]2 Xi Jinping, speech at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting, March 15, 2023. International people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation can deepen political mutual trust, economic and trade exchanges, and practical cooperation between countries only when based on mutual understanding and respect among different civilizations, thereby continuously consolidating the social and public opinion foundation for promoting the building of a new type of international relations.

加强国际人文交流合作，是文明交流互鉴的必由之路。一切生命有机体都需要新陈代谢，否则生命就会停止。文明也是一样，如果长期自我封闭，必将走向衰落。不同文明只有交流互鉴、取长补短，才能保持旺盛生命活力。习近平总书记指出：“我们要共同倡导加强国际人文交流合作，探讨构建全球文明对话合作网络，丰富交流内容，拓展合作渠道，促进各国人民相知相亲，共同推动人类文明发展进步。”国际人文交流合作只有立足于不同文明间的相互理解和尊重，才能深化国家间政治互信、经贸交往、务实合作，不断夯实推动构建新型国际关系的社会和民意基础。

Faced with the current volatile and intertwined international situation, should we move towards common prosperity or conflict and confrontation? Should we move towards innovation and progress or stagnation and regression? Countries need to make rational choices. Only by committing to promoting the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations can we advance the progress of human civilization. From hosting the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, to hosting the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, to hosting the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting, China actively promotes equal dialogue, exchange, mutual learning, and mutual inspiration among the civilizations of the world, gathering the mighty force for building a community with a shared future for mankind through the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations. In advancing the construction of Chinese-path modernization, which is a new form of human civilization, we must adopt a broad mind that embraces all rivers, break down the barriers to cultural exchange; adopt an inclusive attitude, absorb the nutrients of other civilizations; eliminate misunderstandings and curb conflicts through exchange, learn from and integrate with each other and achieve common development through exchange, thereby tightening the bonds of state-to-state exchanges, building bridges for people-to-people communication, and continuously writing a new chapter of the world's diverse civilizations.

面对当前变乱交织的国际形势，是走向共同繁荣还是冲突对抗？是走向革新进步还是停滞倒退？需要各国作出理性抉择。只有致力于推动文明交流互鉴，才能促进人类文明进步。从举办亚洲文明对话大会，到举办“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛，再到举办中国共产党与世界政党高层对话会，中国积极促进世界各国文明开展平等对话、交流互鉴、相互启迪，以文明交流互鉴汇聚构建人类命运共同体的磅礴合力。在推进作为人类文明新形态的中国式现代化建设中，我们要以海纳百川的宽广胸怀，打破文化交往的壁垒；以兼收并蓄的态度，汲取其他文明的养分；在交流中消弭误解、遏制冲突，在交流中借鉴融合、共同发展，进而拉紧国与国交往的纽带，架起人与人沟通的桥梁，不断谱写世界多彩文明的新篇章。

The four "jointly advocate" points of the Global Civilization Initiative discard the law of the jungle, transcend power hegemony and zero-sum games, and open up a new path of win-win cooperation, joint contribution and shared benefits for the development of civilization. On the new journey, we must always adhere to seeking progress for mankind and seeking common ground for the world, work together with the people of all countries, act as advocates, promoters, and practitioners of the exchange and mutual learning of human civilizations, and promote the common development, common prosperity, and common progress of Chinese civilization and the civilizations of all countries in the world.

全球文明倡议的四个“共同倡导”摒弃了丛林法则，超越了强权独霸、零和博弈，开辟了一条合作共赢、共建共享的文明发展新道路。新征程上，我们要始终坚持为人类谋进步、为世界谋大同，同世界各国人民一道，做人类文明交流互鉴的倡导者、推动者和践行者，推动中华文明和世界各国文明共同发展、共同繁荣、共同进步。

(The author is Vice President and Researcher of the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences)

（作者系云南省社会科学院副院长、研究员）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心