A Chinese Proposal for Promoting Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations

On March 15, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping, in his keynote speech titled “Joining Hands on the Path of Modernization” at the High-Level Dialogue between the Communist Party of China and World Political Parties, first proposed the Global Civilization Initiative. Today, when the future and destiny of all countries are closely linked, and standing at the crossroads of where human civilization is headed, China has put forward the Global Civilization Initiative, offering a Chinese proposal for the inclusive coexistence, exchange and mutual learning of different civilizations. Together with the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, it forms a complete system of global initiatives with rigorous logic and rich content. The Global Civilization Initiative breaks the Western narrative of civilizational conflict among nations, re-answers the question of how different civilizations can coexist, promotes the joint construction of a spiritual home for humanity on the basis of principles such as equality and inclusiveness, and fosters inclusiveness and mutual learning among all civilizations.

2023年3月15日，习近平总书记在出席中国共产党与世界政党高层对话会并发表题为《携手同行现代化之路》的主旨讲话中首次提出全球文明倡议。在各国前途命运紧密相连的今天，站在人类文明何去何从的十字路口，中国提出全球文明倡议，提出不同文明包容共存、交流互鉴的中国方案，与全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议共同组成一整套逻辑严密、内涵丰富的全球倡议体系。全球文明倡议打破了西方讲述的国家间文明冲突叙事，重新回答了不同文明如何共处问题，推动各国在平等、包容等原则的基础上共建人类精神家园，促进各种文明包容互鉴。

The Western-Centric Paradigm of Civilizational Exchange and Its Defects

西方中心的文明交流范式及其缺陷

For a long time, the “clash of civilizations” theory proposed by American scholar Samuel Huntington has had considerable currency in the West, replacing political, economic, military and other factors with civilization, and interpreting differences and divergences among civilizations as the primary cause of international conflict. The fundamental defect of the “clash of civilizations” theory lies in its presupposition of a paradigm of civilizational exchange based on conflict and the ultimate outcome of conflict among nations.

一直以来，美国学者亨廷顿提出的“文明冲突论”在西方颇有市场，以文明替代政治、经济、军事等因素，将文明间差异与分歧解读为引发国际冲突的首要原因。“文明冲突论”的根本缺陷在于事先预设了文明冲突的交流范式以及国家间冲突的最终结果。

From the perspective of its theoretical origins, after the Cold War the confrontation between the US and Soviet blocs ended, the process of economic globalization accelerated continuously, the economic interdependence of countries around the world grew steadily, and peace and development became the themes of the era. It was against this backdrop that Huntington proposed the “clash of civilizations” theory in 1993, providing new ideas for the United States to continue bloc confrontation, seeking new enemies for the US to maintain its hegemony, and intending to sustain its control over its allies and the entire Western world. This runs counter to the trend of the times.

从理论缘起看，冷战后美苏集团对抗终结，经济全球化进程不断加速，世界各国经济相互依赖不断增强，和平与发展成为时代主题。亨廷顿在此背景下于1993年提出“文明冲突论”，为美国继续开展集团对抗提供新思路，为美国护持霸权寻找新的敌人，意图维持其对盟友及整个西方世界的掌控力，是逆时代潮流而行。

From the perspective of its theoretical conception, Huntington exaggerated the danger of civilizational differences. Different places of origin and vastly different historical processes have led civilizations to develop different forms; different civilizations are not destined to clash, and human history has witnessed many civilizations coexisting peacefully for long periods. In reality, conflicts and confrontations in international society are often the result of multiple factors working together.

从理论构想看，亨廷顿夸大了文明差异的危险性。不同的发源地与迥异的历史进程使文明发展出不同形态，不同文明并非注定产生冲突，人类历史上曾经历过诸多文明长时间的和平共处。而实际上，国际社会中的纷争与对抗往往是多种因素共同作用的结果。

From the perspective of its theoretical content, Huntington’s division of seven civilizations is overly simplistic and crude, and carries a tinge of bloc antagonism. He delineates the West as a civilizational bloc centered on the United States, proposing that within a civilizational bloc there is a tendency toward convergence; he distinguishes six other civilizations from Western civilization, suggesting that conflicts may arise among different civilizations. Huntington denies the possible reality of divergence and centrifugal tendencies between Western countries and the United States, and presupposes that conflicts may erupt along the fault lines between other civilizations and Western civilization.

从理论内容看，亨廷顿对七种文明的划分过于简单粗暴，且带有集团对立色彩。将西方划定为一个以美国为核心的文明集团，提出文明集团内趋于聚合；分出六种文明与西方文明相区别，提出不同文明间可能存在冲突。亨廷顿否定了西方各国与美国分化离心的可能现实，并预先设想了其他文明与西方文明的断裂带可能爆发冲突。

Beyond the “clash of civilizations” theory, the Western view of civilization also provides another paradigm for civilizational interaction, namely the “civilizational superiority” theory. By making so-called judgments of superiority and inferiority between Western and non-Western civilizations, it asserts that Western civilization is superior to other civilizations in terms of values, development models, and so on. This Western “civilizational superiority” theory is essentially a theory of civilizational hierarchy, profoundly influencing the international interactions of Western countries.

在“文明冲突论”之外，西方文明观还为文明交往提供了另一种范式，即“文明优先论”。通过对西方文明与非西方文明进行所谓的优劣判断，提出西方文明在价值、发展模式等方面优于其他文明。这种西方“文明优先论”本质是一种文明等级论，深刻影响着西方国家的国际交往活动。

The “civilizational superiority” theory takes Western political systems, social governance, economic models, and historical culture as universally applicable criteria for judgment, displaying an arrogant mentality of “civilizational superiority.” Some US and Western countries, relying on the Western-dominated international system, export Western civilization to other countries and regions through the process of globalization, unilaterally influencing the indigenous civilizations of those countries and regions, which easily triggers conflict and confrontation in international society.

“文明优先论”将西方的政治制度、社会治理、经济模式、历史文化作为具有普遍适用性的评判标准，呈现出“文明优越”的傲慢心态。部分美西方国家依赖西方主导的国际体系，借由全球化过程将西方文明输出至其他国家和地区，单向影响其他国家和地区的本土文明，极易引发国际社会冲突与对抗。

The Transcendence of the Western Paradigm by the Global Civilization Initiative

全球文明倡议对西方范式的超越

General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed that we should “replace civilizational estrangement with civilizational exchange, civilizational clashes with civilizational mutual learning, and civilizational superiority with civilizational inclusiveness,” profoundly elucidating the transcendent value of the Global Civilization Initiative in promoting equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness among different civilizations.

习近平总书记提出，要“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”，深刻阐明了全球文明倡议推动不同文明平等、互鉴、对话、包容的超越性价值。

Transcending the Western paradigm of civilizational estrangement and conflict with the concept of civilizational exchange and mutual learning. The Global Civilization Initiative advocates achieving the overall progress of human civilization through mutual integration and drawing on each other’s strengths. In today’s world, with the resurgence of conservatism and populism, some countries are erecting obstacles to people’s cross-border exchanges and interactions. By “decoupling” inter-civilizational relations from inter-state political relations, the Global Civilization Initiative breaks down artificially created barriers to civilizational exchange, encourages people from different civilizational backgrounds to interact and communicate, and by offering a path for friendly coexistence among the world’s different civilizations, affirms the guiding value of civilizational exchange and mutual learning for solving the difficult problems of the times and jointly advancing toward modernization.

以文明交流互鉴理念超越西方的文明隔阂冲突范式。全球文明倡议主张在相互交融借鉴中实现人类文明的总体进步。当今世界，保守主义与民粹主义回潮，部分国家为人们跨国交往交流增设障碍。全球文明倡议通过将文明间关系与国家间政治关系“解绑”，打破人为设置的文明交流壁垒，鼓励不同文明背景的人们交流互动，通过向世界不同文明提出友好共处之道，肯定了文明交流互鉴对破解时代难题、共同向现代化迈进的指引性价值。

Transcending the Western paradigm of civilizational superiority with the concept of civilizational equality and inclusiveness. The Global Civilization Initiative does not exclude or disparage any civilization; it maintains that there is no hierarchy of superior and inferior among civilizations, and regardless of a country’s size, strength, wealth or poverty, it provides all civilizations with opportunities for equal dialogue. In today’s world, faced with complex and diverse global challenges, some countries continue to stoke ideological confrontation, aiming to fashion so-called “freedom and human rights” into universal values, creating obstacles to the exchange and integration of civilizations. The Global Civilization Initiative rejects civilizational monism, affirms the uniqueness of different civilizations, advocates tolerance of differences among civilizations, and transcends “universal values” with the common values of all humanity, providing conceptual support for the harmonious coexistence of different civilizations. The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution proposed by China to establish an International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, designating June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, seeking consensus and cultivating friendship through civilizational exchange.

以文明平等包容理念超越西方的文明优越范式。全球文明倡议不排斥或贬低任何一种文明，主张文明不存在高低优劣之分，不论各国大小、强弱、贫富，为所有文明提供平等对话的机会。当今世界，面临纷繁复杂的全球性挑战，部分国家仍不断渲染意识形态对抗，意在将所谓“自由人权”打造为普适性价值，为各文明交流交融制造阻碍。全球文明倡议拒绝文明一元论，肯定不同文明的独特性，主张包容各文明差异，以全人类共同价值超越“普世价值”，为不同文明和谐共处提供理念支撑。第七十八届联合国大会一致通过中国提出的设立文明对话国际日决议，将6月10日设立为文明对话国际日，通过文明交流找寻共识、培育友谊。

Building a Spiritual Home of Harmony in Diversity

构建和而不同的精神家园

As a new paradigm for civilizational interaction, the Global Civilization Initiative provides key guidance for addressing global challenges and solving global problems, offers important ideas for avoiding civilizational conflict and promoting mutual inspiration among civilizations, and has distinct global guiding significance.

全球文明倡议作为文明交往新范式，为应对全球性挑战、解决全球性问题提供了关键指引，为避免文明冲突、推动文明相互启迪提供了重要思路，具有鲜明的世界性指导意义。

Implementing the Global Civilization Initiative requires the joint efforts of all parties. Governments of all countries should reject exclusive value-based diplomacy guided by the concept of narrow great-power confrontation, and provide policy support and space for activities for cultural exchange and cooperation among countries. The Global Civilization Initiative advocates strengthening intergovernmental coordination and jointly exploring mechanisms for cultural cooperation. International organizations and international cooperation mechanisms should practice true multilateralism, reject the rhetoric of civilizational superiority and civilizational estrangement, and build bridges for equal interaction among civilizations. China consistently adheres to the principles of mutual respect, equal treatment, openness and inclusiveness, and mutual learning in civilizational interaction, exchange and integration, providing institutional support and financial support for civilizational exchange and mutual learning, and helping countries address the similar challenges they face.

落实全球文明倡议需要各方共同努力。各国政府应拒绝以狭隘大国对抗理念为指导的排他性价值观外交，为国家间文化交流与合作提供政策支持和活动空间。全球文明倡议提倡强化政府间协调，共同探索文化合作机制。国际组织与国际合作机制应践行真正的多边主义，拒绝文明优越与文明隔阂论调，为各国文明平等交往牵线搭桥。中国始终坚持相互尊重、平等相待、开放包容、互学互鉴的文明交往交流交融原则，为文明交流互鉴提供机制支撑与资金支持，助力各国解决所面临的相似挑战。

The Global Civilization Initiative is the necessary path for jointly building a spiritual home for humanity. Diversity and variety are the inherent nature of human civilization; the construction of a common spiritual home should not exclude any civilization. Unlike the actions of certain countries that focus primarily on content in other civilizations that is not applicable to the present era and label it “backward,” the Global Civilization Initiative encourages the creative transformation and innovative development of the excellent traditional culture within each civilization, protecting the pluralistic character of human civilization. China consistently works together with all countries, guided by the Global Civilization Initiative, to actively promote international people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation, jointly explore the contemporary value of traditional culture, and jointly help human civilization radiate new vitality.

全球文明倡议是共建人类精神家园的必由之路。多姿多彩是人类文明的本色，共同精神家园的搭建不应抛开任何一种文明。不同于个别国家主要关注其他文明中不适用当今时代的内容，并为其贴上“落后”标签的行径，全球文明倡议鼓励对各文明中的优秀传统文化进行创造性转化与创新性发展，保护人类文明的多元性特征。中国始终坚持与世界各国一道，以全球文明倡议为指导，积极推进国际人文交流合作，携手挖掘传统文化的当代价值，共同助力人类文明焕发新生机。

Online editor: Paul

网络编辑：保罗