Deeply Grasping the Civilizational Realm of the Global Civilization Initiative

On March 15, 2023, at the High-Level Dialogue between the Communist Party of China and World Political Parties, General Secretary Xi Jinping explicitly proposed and profoundly elaborated the Global Civilization Initiative, whose main content is “jointly advocating respect for the diversity of world civilizations,” “jointly advocating the promotion of the common values of all humanity,” “jointly advocating the importance of civilizational inheritance and innovation,” and “jointly advocating strengthened international people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation.” The Global Civilization Initiative is another international public good proposed by China following the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. It is a Chinese answer, standing at the crossroads of historical progress, that profoundly responds to major questions such as “how different civilizations should coexist and where human civilization is headed.” Grasping the civilizational realm of the Global Civilization Initiative from the broad perspective that integrates history with reality, China with the world, and theory with practice is of great significance for advancing the process of human civilization and promoting the progress of human civilization.

2023年3月15日，习近平总书记在中国共产党与世界政党高层对话会上，明确提出并深刻阐释以“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”为主要内容的全球文明倡议。全球文明倡议是中国继全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议之后提出的又一国际公共产品，是站在历史前进的十字路口深刻回应“不同文明如何相处、人类文明何去何从”等重大问题的中国答案。从历史与现实相贯通、世界与中国相关联、理论与实际相结合的宽广视角，深刻把握全球文明倡议的文明境界，对于推进人类文明进程、促进人类文明进步具有重要意义。

I. The Global Civilization Initiative Is an Important Achievement of the Inheritance and Innovation of Chinese Civilization

一、全球文明倡议是中华文明传承创新的重要成果

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Chinese civilization is extensive and profound, with a long history. It is the unique spiritual identity of the Chinese nation, the foundation of contemporary Chinese culture, the spiritual bond that unites all Chinese people around the world, and also a treasure trove for China’s cultural innovation.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, “Speech at a Meeting to Commemorate the 120th Anniversary of the Birth of Comrade Chen Yun” (June 12, 2025). The original source is a speech from 2025; the quotation is representative of Xi’s consistent statements on Chinese civilization. The civilization of a country or nation is its collective memory, accumulating the rich deposits of past exploration and creation, bearing its deepest value pursuits and spiritual ethos, and providing deep guidance and rich nourishment for that country or nation to promote overall human progress in its own survival and development. As China’s answer to the world’s questions, the era’s questions, and history’s questions concerning the sustainable development of human civilization, the proposal of the Global Civilization Initiative is by no means accidental. It is rooted in the fertile soil of Chinese national culture and continues the national cultural genes, follows the laws of the evolution and development of human civilization, conforms to the trends of the times and the direction of historical progress, and is a creation of the era dedicated to seeking progress for humanity and common good for the world through upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground.

习近平总书记指出：“中华文明源远流长、博大精深，是中华民族独特的精神标识，是当代中国文化的根基，是维系全世界华人的精神纽带，也是中国文化创新的宝藏。”一个国家和民族的文明是一个国家和民族的集体记忆，积淀着过去探索和创造的丰厚积累，承载着最深沉的价值追求和精神风范，为这个国家和民族在自身生存发展中推动人类整体进步提供深层指引和丰富滋养。作为对人类文明永续发展的世界之问、时代之问、历史之问的中国之答，全球文明倡议的提出绝非偶然。它是扎根中华民族文化沃土和赓续民族文化基因，遵循人类文明演进和发展规律，顺应时代发展潮流和历史前进方向，在守正创新中致力于为人类谋进步、为世界谋大同的时代创造。

It marks the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization. Many important elements of fine traditional Chinese culture have jointly shaped the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization. In a development history spanning more than 5,000 years, long-standing and uninterrupted, the Chinese nation has produced and maintained a complete and continuous cultural system and developmental form, forming an excellent traditional culture that supports the nation’s endless vitality and enduring prosperity. These unique spiritual identities and crystallizations of wisdom constitute the cultural roots and spiritual lifeline of the Chinese nation, jointly shaping the outstanding characteristics of Chinese civilization: continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness. These determine that Chinese civilization is one that adheres to cultural subjectivity, upholds fundamental principles without being conservative, is diverse yet integrated, is eclectic and inclusive, and harmonizes the individual and the collective. The Global Civilization Initiative, rooted in the soil of Chinese civilization, is a Chinese solution that adheres to the stance of Chinese culture to promote the progress of human civilization. It is Chinese wisdom that combines the most basic cultural genes of the Chinese nation with the issues of human civilization and coordinates them with modern society. It inherits the spiritual qualities of valuing benevolence, emphasizing the people, upholding integrity, esteeming justice, promoting harmony, and seeking common good; the moral concepts of “do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself” and “in the practice of rites, harmony is the most valuable”; the social ideal of the world being for all and the world being one family; the tolerant character of embracing all things with virtue and seeking harmony without uniformity; and the way of interaction based on good faith, amity, and good neighborliness. These profoundly embody the worldview, view of the world, social view, and moral view accumulated by the Chinese nation in its long-term production and life. In the organic connection between China and the world, tradition and modernity, the Global Civilization Initiative, through the deep excavation, refinement, and display of fine traditional Chinese culture, manifests the distinctive features endowed by history upon Chinese civilization that differ from other civilizations, and reveals the outstanding advantages of the Chinese nation in gaining a firm foothold amidst the cultural currents of the world.

标注了中华文明的突出特性。中华优秀传统文化有很多重要元素，共同塑造出中华文明的突出特性。在5000多年源远流长、从未中断的发展历史中，中华民族产生和保持了完备而连续的文化体系与发展形态，形成了支撑民族生生不息、长盛不衰的优秀传统文化。这些独特的精神标识和智慧结晶，构成了中华民族的文化根脉和精神命脉，共同塑造出连续性、创新性、统一性、包容性、和平性的中华文明突出特性，决定了中华文明是坚守文化主体性的、守正不守旧的、多元一体的、兼收并蓄的、群己合一的文明。根植于中华文明土壤的全球文明倡议，是坚守中华文化立场促进人类文明进步的中国方案，是使中华民族最基本的文化基因与人类文明议题相结合、与现代社会相协调的中国智慧。它继承讲仁爱、重民本、守诚信、崇正义、尚和合、求大同的精神特质，“己所不欲，勿施于人”、“礼之用，和为贵”的道德理念，天下为公、天下一家的社会理想，厚德载物、和而不同的宽容品格，讲信修睦、亲仁善邻的交往之道等，深刻体现了中华民族在长期生产生活中积累的宇宙观、天下观、社会观、道德观。在中国与世界、传统与现代的有机衔接中，全球文明倡议以对中华优秀传统文化的深度挖掘、提炼、展示，彰显了历史赋予中华文明不同于其他文明的鲜明特色，昭示了中华民族在世界文化激荡中站稳脚跟的突出优势。

It advances the epochal innovation of Chinese civilization. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Reforming the old and establishing the new, advancing with the times is the eternal spiritual quality of Chinese civilization.” [2]2 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations” (May 15, 2019). Throughout history, one of the fundamental reasons why Chinese civilization has been able to continue unbroken and remain ever new, displaying enduring vitality, is precisely that Chinese civilization is one of reforming the old and establishing the new, shining with new brilliance day by day, rather than a stagnant, ossified, unchanging civilization. In the process of civilization’s evolution and development, the Chinese nation advocates change, innovation, and creation. It acts not only as an inheritor and disseminator of fine traditional Chinese culture but also as its promoter and innovator, upholding fundamental principles without being conservative, respecting antiquity without restoring it. With the spirit of “if you can improve yourself in a day, do so each day, and continue doing so day after day,” [3]3 A classical phrase from the *Book of Rites* (《礼记》), chapter “The Great Learning” (《大学》), traditionally attributed to Confucius’ disciple Zengzi. It emphasizes continuous self-renewal. it continuously supplements, expands, and perfects the connotations of fine traditional Chinese culture, making dialectical choices, discarding the dross and selecting the essential, discarding negative elements and inheriting positive ideas, thereby activating its creativity and vitality, and enhancing its influence and appeal. The Global Civilization Initiative, which has grown out of the long and splendid Chinese culture, is a vivid and realistic testament to the realization of the passing down and generational protection of Chinese civilization through advancing with the times and daring to innovate. Taking the Two Integrations [4]4 The Two Integrations (两个结合) refers to the integration of the fundamental tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of fine traditional Chinese culture. It is a key theoretical framework for adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. as its fundamental guideline and necessary path, it discerns the new characteristics and new demands of the times, grasps the new progress and new development of the times, promotes the integration of the fundamental tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, and, in their mutual compatibility and mutual achievement, masters cultural initiative, opens up space for innovation, and explores theoretical innovation and practical creation oriented towards the progress of human civilization. This important achievement of the life renewal and modern transformation of Chinese civilization highlights the historical confidence and cultural confidence of the Chinese nation in innovating through inheritance, promotes the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, and enables Chinese civilization to gain new modern strength and radiate new brilliance of the era.

推进了中华文明的时代创新。习近平总书记指出：“革故鼎新、与时俱进是中华文明永恒的精神气质。”纵观历史，中华文明之所以能够绵延不断且历久弥新，显示出恒久的生命力，根本原因之一就在于中华文明是革故鼎新、辉光日新的，而不是停滞僵化、千年如斯的文明。在文明的发展演进过程中，中华民族崇尚革新、创新、立新，既做中华优秀传统文化的继承者传播者，也做弘扬者创新者，守正不守旧、尊古不复古，以“苟日新，日日新，又日新”的精神不断对中华优秀传统文化的内涵加以补充、拓展、完善，辩证取舍、推陈出新，摒弃消极因素、继承积极思想，激活其创造力和生命力，增强影响力和感召力。从悠久灿烂的中华文化中长出来的全球文明倡议，正是在与时俱进、勇于创新中实现中华文明薪火相传、代代守护的鲜活现实明证。它以“两个结合”为根本遵循和必由之路，洞悉时代新特点新要求、把握时代新进步新发展，推进马克思主义基本原理同中华优秀传统文化相结合，在两者彼此契合、相互成就中掌握文化主动、打开创新空间，探索面向人类文明进步的理论创新和实践创造。这一中华文明生命更新和现代转型的重要成果，凸显了中华民族在传承中创新的历史自信和文化自信，推动了中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化和创新性发展，让中华文明获得新的现代力量、绽放出新的时代光彩。

It demonstrates the historical responsibility of Chinese civilization. Marx pointed out: “What a nation does as a nation, it does for human society.” [5]5 Karl Marx, “Critical Marginal Notes on the Article ‘The King of Prussia and Social Reform. By a Prussian’” (1844). In its long and glorious history of development, the Chinese nation created a broad and profound Chinese culture, accumulated deep and substantial civilizational wealth, added Chinese elements to the treasure house of world civilizations, and injected Chinese strength into the cause of human civilization. Historically, achievements of Chinese material, cultural-ethical, and political civilization, such as papermaking, gunpowder, printing, the compass, and philosophical concepts, profoundly influenced the process of human civilization’s development. After the Opium War, [6]6 The Opium War (1840–1842) was a military conflict between the Qing dynasty and Britain, triggered by trade disputes and British opium smuggling. It resulted in China’s defeat and the signing of the unequal Treaty of Nanking, marking the beginning of a century of foreign encroachment and internal decline. Chinese civilization was once tarnished, but the dream and pursuit of “making greater contributions to humanity” remained unchanged. Entering the New Era, [7]7 The New Era (新时代) refers to the period beginning with the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017, characterized by the establishment of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guiding ideology and the goal of building a modern socialist country in all respects. the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core took up the baton of history, closely adhering to the main line of serving national rejuvenation and promoting human progress, striving to create a new culture belonging to our era and build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. The modern civilization of the Chinese nation continues the root of fine traditional Chinese culture and the soul of Marxism, gains a firm foothold amidst the disputes between the ancient and the modern, the Chinese and the Western, stands proudly at the forefront with unwavering determination and courage, and provides wisdom and strength for addressing the strategic overall situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the changes unseen in a century in the world. [8]8 Changes unseen in a century (百年未有之大变局) is a key concept in Xi Jinping’s analysis of the current global situation, referring to the profound and rapid transformations in the international order, power structures, and technological landscape, which present both challenges and opportunities for China. The Global Civilization Initiative is rooted in the tradition of Chinese civilization, contains the essence of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, advocates and promotes the common values of all humanity, is the contemporary manifestation of the unique civilizational view of the Chinese nation, and is the Chinese expression of the view of human civilization in the 21st century. The Global Civilization Initiative is a great practice of the Chinese nation in the New Era contributing to the world with more vibrant civilizational achievements, fully demonstrating the historical responsibility of Chinese civilization.

展现了中华文明的历史担当。马克思指出：“凡是民族作为民族所做的事情，都是他们为人类社会而做的事情。”中华民族在漫长辉煌的发展史中创造了博大精深的中华文化，积淀了深沉厚重的文明财富，为世界文明宝库增添了中国成分，为人类文明事业注入了中国力量。历史上，造纸术、火药、印刷术、指南针、哲学理念等中华民族物质文明、精神文明和政治文明的成果，深远影响了人类文明发展的进程。鸦片战争以后，中华文明一度蒙尘，但“为人类作出更大贡献”的梦想和追求始终不变。进入新时代，以习近平同志为核心的党中央接过历史的接力棒，紧扣服务民族复兴、促进人类进步这条主线，努力创造属于我们这个时代的新文化，建设中华民族现代文明。中华民族现代文明赓续了中华优秀传统文化根脉和马克思主义魂脉，在古今中西之争中站稳脚跟，以岿然不动的定力和勇气傲立潮头，为应对中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局提供智慧和力量。全球文明倡议植根中华文明传统，内涵中华民族现代文明精髓，倡导弘扬全人类共同价值，是中华民族独特文明观的时代呈现，是21世纪人类文明观的中国表达。全球文明倡议是新时代中华民族以更有活力的文明成就贡献世界的伟大实践，充分展现了中华文明的历史担当。

II. The Global Civilization Initiative Is an Important Manifestation of Chinese-Path Modernization Creating a New Form of Human Civilization

二、全球文明倡议是中国式现代化创造人类文明新形态的重要彰显

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Chinese-path modernization is deeply rooted in fine traditional Chinese culture, embodies the advanced essence of scientific socialism, draws on and absorbs all outstanding achievements of human civilization, represents the direction of progress for human civilization, and presents a new picture different from the Western model of modernization; it is a completely new form of human civilization.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, “Speech at a Meeting to Commemorate the 120th Anniversary of the Birth of Comrade Chen Yun” (June 12, 2025). The original source is a speech from 2025; the quotation is representative of Xi’s consistent statements on Chinese civilization. As a historical process of transition from traditional to modern society and from traditional to modern civilization, modernization and human civilization are interwoven and proceed in parallel. In essence, the “question of modernization”—“what kind of modernization is truly needed, and how can it be achieved?”—is also a “question of civilization”: “what kind of modern civilization is truly needed, and how can it be realized?” The Western modernization that took the lead, while opening the door for humanity to enter modern civilization, has also, due to inherent maladies such as capital domination and class contradictions, given rise to crises like polarization and ecological degradation. In stark contrast, Chinese-path modernization is the broad road to building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation; it opens a new path for humanity to achieve modernization and inaugurates a new form of human civilization. The Global Civilization Initiative, born from the exploration and practice of Chinese-path modernization, is of one lineage with the new form of human civilization. It is an important manifestation of the civilizational outlook of Chinese-path modernization, and a major innovation that uses Chinese-path modernization to clear away the confusion of Western civilization, resolve the predicaments of the Western modern era, and promote the progress of human civilization.

习近平总书记指出：“中国式现代化，深深植根于中华优秀传统文化，体现科学社会主义的先进本质，借鉴吸收一切人类优秀文明成果，代表人类文明进步的发展方向，展现了不同于西方现代化模式的新图景，是一种全新的人类文明形态。”作为由传统社会向现代社会变迁、传统文明向现代文明转型的历史进程，现代化与人类文明相互交织、同向并行。本质上，“究竟需要什么样的现代化？怎样才能实现现代化？”的“现代化之问”，也是“究竟需要什么样的现代文明？怎样才能实现现代文明？”的“文明之问”。率先开启的西方现代化在打开人类迈向现代文明大门的同时，也由于资本主导、阶级矛盾等固有弊病而造成了两极分化、生态恶化等危机。与之鲜明对比，中国式现代化是强国建设、民族复兴的康庄大道，开辟的是人类迈向现代化的新道路，开创的是人类文明新形态。源于中国式现代化探索和实践的全球文明倡议，与人类文明新形态一脉相承，是中国式现代化文明观的重要彰显，是以中国式现代化廓清西方文明迷思、破解西方现代困局、推动人类文明进步的重大创新。

It delineates a picture of civilizational development characterized by inclusiveness and coexistence. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Civilizations have diversity, just as the diversity of species in the natural world together constitutes the source of life on our planet.” [2]2 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations” (May 15, 2019). The history of human development shows that the pluralistic coexistence of civilizations is the natural picture and “original state” of human life, an objective reality of human society, and a natural attribute of civilization itself. Every civilization is rooted in its own soil of survival, embodies the extraordinary wisdom and spiritual pursuits of a nation and its people, and has its own value for existence. Precisely because they are diverse and varied, human civilizations can be colorful and vibrant. On the issue of the development of human civilization, the Global Civilization Initiative upholds the basic concept of respecting the diversity of civilizations, adheres to the coexistence, co-prosperity, and co-flourishing of civilizations while opposing the transformation, replacement, or deprivation of civilizations, and advocates rationally viewing the differences and values of different civilizations, allowing human civilization to return to its true state of plurality. This breaks the mindset that “modern civilization equals capitalist civilization,” transcends the monistic view of civilization that “the river of civilization has only this one—the Western one,” and articulates China’s stance of respecting the historical paths of development of each civilization and safeguarding the right of civilizations to express themselves. It injects powerful guiding force into painting a new, richly varied picture of human civilization.

擘画了包容共存的文明发展图景。习近平总书记指出：“文明具有多样性，就如同自然界物种的多样性一样，一同构成我们这个星球的生命本源。”人类发展的历史表明，文明多元共存是人类生活的自然图景和“原生态”样貌，是人类社会的客观现实和文明本身的自然属性。每一种文明都扎根于自己的生存土壤，凝聚着一个国家和民族的非凡智慧和精神追求，都有自己存在的价值。也正因为是多元多样的，人类文明才能多姿多彩、生机盎然。在对待人类文明发展的问题上，全球文明倡议秉持尊重文明多样性的基本理念，坚守文明共生共存共荣、反对文明改造取代剥夺，主张理性看待不同文明的差异和价值，让人类文明回归多元的本真样态。这打破了“现代文明=资本主义文明”的思维定势，超越了“文明的河流只有西方这一条”的一元文明论，表明了尊重各文明发展历史道路、维护文明自我表达权力的中国立场，为绘就姹紫嫣红的人类文明新图景注入了强大的引领力。

It reshapes the pattern of civilizational interaction based on exchange and mutual learning. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “Exchange and mutual learning are the essential requirements for the development of civilizations.” [3]3 A classical phrase from the *Book of Rites* (《礼记》), chapter “The Great Learning” (《大学》), traditionally attributed to Confucius’ disciple Zengzi. It emphasizes continuous self-renewal. Civilizations become diverse through exchange, learn from each other through exchange, and develop through mutual learning. Looking at the grand historical panorama of different civilizations exchanging, learning from, and integrating with one another, the progress of civilization is always accompanied by the eclecticism of civilizations. In the process of exchange, mutual learning, and drawing on each other’s strengths—where there are only differences in regional characteristics, not distinctions of superiority or inferiority—civilizations gain a healthy capacity for metabolism and maintain vigorous vitality. Conversely, if they remain long-term self-enclosed and self-aggrandizing, civilizations will decline, collapse, and cease to exist. Western modernization is always immersed in a mindset and value system that prioritizes the West and sees it as dominant, viewing civilizations as isolated, exclusive, and hierarchical entities, emphasizing that civilizations are “either one or the other,” and that civilizational interaction means the “superior” Western civilization triumphs over, eliminates, or conquers other “alien” civilizations. With this as their spiritual core, theories such as the “theory of civilizational estrangement,” the “clash of civilizations,” and the “superiority of civilizations” repeatedly resurface and become rampant. As a powerful rebuttal to these erroneous arguments, the Global Civilization Initiative emphasizes replacing civilizational estrangement with civilizational exchange, civilizational conflict with civilizational mutual learning, and civilizational superiority with civilizational inclusiveness. It promotes a view of civilization based on equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, profoundly reveals the important role of civilizational exchange and mutual learning, and systematically elucidates the principles and methods that need to be upheld in civilizational exchange and mutual learning. This provides directional guidance for forming a new pattern and paradigm of civilizational interaction based on exchange and mutual learning.

重塑了交流互鉴的文明交往格局。习近平总书记指出：“交流互鉴是文明发展的本质要求。”文明因多样而交流，因交流而互鉴，因互鉴而发展。纵览人类历史这幅不同文明相互交流、互鉴、融合的宏伟画卷，文明的进步总是与文明的兼收并蓄相伴。在只有特色地域之别、没有高下优劣之分的交流互鉴、取长补短中，文明才有健康的新陈代谢能力，才能保持旺盛生命活力；反之，如果长期自我封闭、唯我独尊，文明就会走向衰落崩溃和生命停止。西方现代化总是沉醉在以西为尊、西方独大的思维方式和价值理念中，把文明看成孤立性的、排他性的、等级性的存在，强调文明“非此即彼”，文明交往就是“优等”的西方文明战胜、消灭或征服其它“异域”文明。以此为精神内核形成的“文明隔阂论”“文明冲突论”“文明优越论”等不时沉渣泛起、甚嚣尘上。作为对这些错误论调的有力回击，全球文明倡议强调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，弘扬平等、互鉴、对话、包容的文明观，深刻揭示了文明交流互鉴的重要作用，系统阐明了文明交流互鉴需要秉持的原则方法，为形成交流互鉴的文明交往新格局新范式提供了方向指引。

It points the way forward for civilizations to advance with confidence and self-reliance. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “In learning from each other, civilizations must adhere to proceeding from the actual conditions of one’s own country and nation.” [4]4 The Two Integrations (两个结合) refers to the integration of the fundamental tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of fine traditional Chinese culture. It is a key theoretical framework for adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. Civilizations are not static but dynamic and progressive, embodying a developmental logic from lower to higher stages, from simple to complex, and from backward to advanced. In the process of humanity’s evolution toward modern civilization, the pioneering Western modernization, because it represented the earliest path to modernization, was once regarded as a golden rule by late-developing countries, becoming a “template” or “model” to be copied wholesale, as if modernization meant Westernization and modern civilization meant Western civilization. However, not only does this modernization—centered on capital, characterized by polarization, materialistic expansion, and external expansion and plunder—face profound civilizational crises due to its congenital defects, with its self-negation becoming increasingly evident, but also few countries that have copied the Western model have successfully achieved the modern transformation of their civilization. History and practice have proven that the modern civilization of a country or nation cannot be a “transplanted peak” that ignores national conditions and history or discards cultural traditions. Wholesale copying, imitation, and dependency will only lead to maladaptation; only by taking root in the land where one was born and grows can one stand firm, remain stable, and go far. The Global Civilization Initiative, born from Chinese-path modernization, advocates for civilizational inheritance and innovation, emphasizes the renewal and continuation of civilizations rather than their rupture and elimination, and taking one’s own path rather than engaging in nihilism and blind obedience. It advocates placing the destiny of civilizations on the foundation of one’s own strength and firmly in one’s own hands. This grasps the general laws of the evolution of human civilization, reflects the unity of the universality and particularity of civilizational development, breaks the fixed formulas and patterns imposed on the world by Western civilization, and provides reference ideas and new choices for countries and nations to independently explore their own paths of civilizational progress.

指明了自信自强的文明前进道路。习近平总书记指出：“进行文明相互学习借鉴，要坚持从本国本民族实际出发。”文明不是静止不变而是动态渐进的，体现着从低阶段到高阶段、从简单到复杂、从落后到进步的发展逻辑。在人类向现代文明演进的过程中，先发的西方现代化因代表了最早的现代化道路，一度被后发国家奉为圭臬，成为被照抄的“模板”、“范本”，似乎现代化就是西方化、现代文明就是西方文明。然而，不但这种以资本为中心的、两极分化的、物质主义膨胀的、对外扩张掠夺的现代化，因其先天性弊病而面临着深重的文明危机、自身否定性愈显，而且鲜有复制西方模式的国家能成功实现文明的现代转型。历史和实践证明，一个国家和民族的现代文明不可能是不顾国情历史、抛弃文化传统的“飞来峰”，全盘照搬、模仿依附只会水土不服，扎根自己产生和成长的大地才能立得住、站得稳、行得远。生发于中国式现代化的全球文明倡议，倡导文明传承和创新，强调文明更新赓续而不是断裂消灭、走自己的路而不是虚无盲从，主张把文明的命运放在自己力量的基点上、牢牢掌握在自己手中。这把握了人类文明演进的一般规律，反映了文明发展共性和个性的统一，破除了西方文明强加给世界的定式定理，为各国各民族独立自主地探索文明前进道路提供了思路参考和全新选择。

III. The Global Civilization Initiative is an important pillar for deepening and substantiating the building of a community with a shared future for mankind

三、全球文明倡议是推动构建人类命运共同体走深走实的重要支撑

Marx and Engels pointed out: “The degree to which each individual is liberated is identical to the degree to which history has completely transformed into world history.” [5]5 Karl Marx, “Critical Marginal Notes on the Article ‘The King of Prussia and Social Reform. By a Prussian’” (1844). The objective, will-independent process of history transforming into world history makes nations and countries increasingly a community of shared future, where one is in the other and the other is in the one. In today’s world, on the one hand, the global nature of human interaction is deeper and broader than ever before, the interconnections and interdependence among countries are more frequent and closer than ever before, and the historical trend of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit is unstoppable. On the other hand, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, and humanity once again stands at a historical crossroads of critical choice. Facing the epochal question of “What is wrong with the world, and what should we do about it?”, the proposal of the Global Civilization Initiative comes at the right time. It proceeds from the height of human civilization, deeply grasps the inherent requirements and civilizational mission of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and promotes the people of all countries to move forward hand in hand on this correct path of building a community with a shared future for mankind. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, it is necessary

马克思恩格斯指出：“每一个单个人的解放的程度是与历史完全转变为世界历史的程度一致的。”历史向世界历史转变这一客观的、不以人的意志为转移的运动过程，使得各民族和国家越来越成为你中有我、我中有你的命运共同体。当今世界，一方面，人类交往的世界性比过去任何时候都更深入、更广泛，各国相互联系和彼此依存比过去任何时候都更频繁、更紧密，和平、发展、合作、共赢的历史潮流不可阻挡；另一方面，百年未有之大变局加速演进，世界进入新的动荡变革期，人类又一次站在关键抉择的历史路口。面对“世界怎么了，我们怎么办”的时代课题，全球文明倡议的提出正当其时。它是从人类文明高度出发，深刻把握构建人类命运共同体的内在要求和文明使命，推动各国人民在构建人类命运共同体这条人间正道上携手前行。正如习近平总书记所指出的，要“践行全球文明倡议，为推动构建人类命运共同体注入深厚持久的文化力量”。

It enriches the civilizational connotation of building a community with a shared future for mankind. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind does not mean replacing one system with another, nor replacing one civilization with another. Rather, it means that countries with different social systems, different ideologies, different histories and cultures, and different levels of development share interests, share rights, and share responsibilities in international affairs.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, “Speech at a Meeting to Commemorate the 120th Anniversary of the Birth of Comrade Chen Yun” (June 12, 2025). The original source is a speech from 2025; the quotation is representative of Xi’s consistent statements on Chinese civilization. Civilization is one of the basic dimensions for insight into the historical development of mankind. A history in which the material and spiritual production and consumption of all countries become worldwide is also a history in which various civilizations collide and merge, exchange and dialogue, and jointly create rich, diverse, and distinctive common wealth of mankind in universal interaction. From the perspective of civilization, the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, formed in the spatiotemporal field of world history, is a new type of civilizational view that emphasizes that mankind shares a common destiny, shares honor and disgrace, and shares weal and woe. It is born for civilization; it is the inevitable choice in today’s world, where the future and destiny of all countries and nations are closely linked, the objective need for civilizational exchange and integration becomes stronger, and its breadth, speed, and depth continuously increase, accelerate, and deepen. It thrives through civilization; it is the necessary path to building a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness, and clean and beautiful, where different civilizations appreciate each other’s beauty, share beauty, and achieve harmony in diversity. The Global Civilization Initiative is inherently consistent with the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, and is the integration, expansion, and deepening of the civilizational connotation of building such a community. This latest achievement, aimed at building a civilizational community where all things grow together without harming each other, and all paths run parallel without contradicting each other, profoundly addresses the major issue of human civilizational development: “whether it is conflict or dialogue, confrontation or cooperation.” It comprehensively summarizes the historical experiences and lessons of civilizational interaction and coexistence, actively explores and systematically constructs the principles and directions for achieving harmonious, orderly, and mutually illuminating coexistence of different civilizations. In grasping the laws, reflecting the demands, and responding to the times, it has laid a solid civilizational foundation and consolidated the civilizational roots for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

丰富了构建人类命运共同体的文明内涵。习近平总书记指出：“推动构建人类命运共同体，不是以一种制度代替另一种制度，不是以一种文明代替另一种文明，而是不同社会制度、不同意识形态、不同历史文化、不同发展水平的国家在国际事务中利益共生、权利共享、责任共担。”文明是洞察人类历史发展的基本维度之一，一部一切国家物质的、精神的生产和消费都成为世界性的历史，也是一部各种文明在普遍交往中碰撞融合、交流对话、共同创造丰富多彩而又各具特色的人类共有财富的历史。从文明的视域来看，在世界历史的时空场域下形成的人类命运共同体理念，是一种强调人类命运与共、荣辱与共、休戚与共的新型文明观。它为文明而生，是在各国各民族前途命运紧密相连的今天，文明交流交融的客观需要愈加强烈，广度、速度和深度不断加大、加快、加深的必然选择；因文明而兴，是在不同文明各美其美、美人之美、美美与共中建设持久和平、普遍安全、共同繁荣、开放包容、清洁美丽的世界的必由之路。全球文明倡议与人类命运共同体理念内在契合，是构建人类命运共同体文明内涵的集成、拓展和深化。这一指向构建一个并育而不相害、并行而不相悖的文明共同体的最新成果，深刻关切“是冲突还是对话、是对抗还是合作”的人类文明发展重大课题，全面总结文明交往相处的历史经验和教训，积极探索和系统建构实现不同文明和谐有序、交相辉映的原则路向，在把握规律、反映诉求、回应时代中为构建人类命运共同体厚植了文明底蕴、夯实了文明根基。

It consolidates the civilizational consensus for building a community with a shared future for mankind. As the core of civilization, values condense and represent the essence of ideology, spirit, and culture, and are the internal yardstick for judging the overall level of civilization and the basic basis for its degree of development. Using “universal values” to tailor various civilizations, believing that meeting Western standards is acceptable, while failing to meet them means being backward and obsolete, deserving criticism and attack, will only lead human civilization into the abyss of conflict and exclusion. The Global Civilization Initiative points to the common cause, common ideal, and common pursuit of mankind, and holds high the banner of the common values of all mankind: peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom. This value system, which is fundamentally different from and comprehensively surpasses “universal values,” is an ideological achievement distilled from the values of various countries and nations, meeting the needs of the times. It truly embodies the common interests and value consensus of all mankind, reflects the greatest common denominator of value concepts universally recognized by different civilizations, and fundamentally aligns with the direction of the world’s people in jointly creating a bright future for mankind. It provides the deepest and most enduring strength for consolidating the civilizational consensus and enhancing civilizational identity in building a community with a shared future for mankind.

凝聚了构建人类命运共同体的文明共识。作为文明的内核，价值观凝结和代表了思想意识和精神文化的精华，是评判文明整体层次的内在标尺和发展水平的基本依据。用“普世价值”来裁剪各种文明，认为符合西方标准就行，不符合西方标准就是落后的陈旧的，就要批判、攻击，只会把人类文明引向冲突、排他的歧路深渊。全球文明倡议指向人类的共同事业、共同理想、共同追求，高扬和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由的全人类共同价值旗帜。这一与“普世价值”存在根本不同、对其全面超越的价值体系，是从各国各民族价值观中提炼出来的、契合时代发展需要的思想成果，真正体现了全人类的共同利益和价值共识，反映了不同文明普遍认同的价值理念的最大公约数，从根本上符合世界人民共创人类美好未来的前进方向，为凝聚构建人类命运共同体的文明共识、增强文明认同提供了最深沉、最持久的力量。

It guides the civilizational practice of building a community with a shared future for mankind. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Building a community with a shared future for mankind is a historical process. It cannot be achieved overnight, nor will it be smooth sailing. It requires long-term and arduous efforts.” [2]2 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations” (May 15, 2019). Today, as the wheels of globalization roll forward and humanity has become a whole, no country can retreat into a self-isolated island. However, it must also be clearly recognized that humanity is in an era of intertwined crises and increasing risks. Cold War mentality, power politics, and the like remain prevalent; threats such as public health issues and terrorism continue to spread; unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise. Building a community with a shared future for mankind still has a long way to go. This requires seeking answers from civilization and using the progress of human civilization to resolve the deficits in peace, development, security, and governance. The Global Civilization Initiative is a scientific guide with practical power. China is both an advocate and a doer. Under the guidance of the Global Civilization Initiative, China has hosted the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting, the CPC and World Political Parties Summit, the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the Liangzhu Forum, the Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations, the China Internet Civilization Conference, and others. It has initiated the Boao Forum for Asia, the Ancient Civilizations Forum, and vigorously promoted people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation with partner countries. These Chinese actions to implement the Global Civilization Initiative demonstrate to the world China’s broad-mindedness and sense of responsibility in striving to promote the development of human civilization. They inject powerful civilizational momentum into creating a new situation of mutual promotion and common progress among civilizations and into enriching the garden of world civilizations. They illuminate the civilizational path for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and for turning the people’s aspiration for a better life into reality.

引领了构建人类命运共同体的文明实践。习近平总书记指出：“构建人类命运共同体是一个历史过程，不可能一蹴而就，也不可能一帆风顺，需要付出长期艰苦的努力。”在全球化车轮滚滚向前、人类已经是一个整体的今天，没有哪个国家能够退回到自我封闭的孤岛。但也应清醒地认识到，人类处在一个危机交织叠加、风险日益增多的时代，冷战思维、强权政治等依然盛行，公共卫生、恐怖主义等威胁持续蔓延，单边主义、保护主义等日益抬头，构建人类命运共同体还任重道远。这就要向文明要答案，以人类文明进步破解和平赤字、发展赤字、安全赤字、治理赤字。全球文明倡议是具有实践伟力的科学指南，中国既是倡导者也是实干家。在全球文明倡议的引领下，中国举办亚洲文明对话大会、中国共产党与世界政党高层对话会、中国共产党与世界政党领导人峰会、“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛、良渚论坛、文明交流互鉴对话会、中国网络文明大会等，发起博鳌亚洲论坛、文明古国论坛等，大力推动同伙伴国家的人文交流合作。这些落实全球文明倡议的中国行动，向世界展现了中国为促进人类文明发展而努力的博大胸怀和责任担当，为开创文明互促共进新局面、繁荣世界文明百花园注入了强大的文明动力，为推动构建人类命运共同体、把各国人民对美好生活的向往变成现实照亮了文明大道。

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “The Communist Party of China is a party that seeks happiness for the Chinese people and also strives for the progress of human endeavors.” [3]3 A classical phrase from the *Book of Rites* (《礼记》), chapter “The Great Learning” (《大学》), traditionally attributed to Confucius’ disciple Zengzi. It emphasizes continuous self-renewal. As the world’s largest political party, the Communist Party of China has, since its founding, shouldered the historical mission of realizing national rejuvenation and caring for humanity as a whole. Over the long course of a century, it has always correctly understood and handled its relationship with the outside world from the perspectives of the general trend of human development, the overall pattern of world change, and the grand history of China’s development. In the vast spatiotemporal dimension, it has thought about and grasped the synchronized progress of national rejuvenation and human advancement, leading the people to successfully embark on, advance, and expand the path of Chinese-path modernization, creating a new form of human civilization, and writing a new Chinese chapter in the spectrum of human civilization. Facing the current historical circumstances where mutual connections and global problems are both unprecedented, the Communist Party of China, with a strong historical subject consciousness that synchronizes the destiny of the Chinese people with that of the world’s people, and the Chinese Dream with the world dream, has proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, which represents the direction of progress for human civilization. Consistently standing on the right side of history and the side of human progress, it further demonstrates China’s responsibility and actions in adhering to the world outlook and methodology of embracing the world to coordinate the “two overall situations,” [4]4 The Two Integrations (两个结合) refers to the integration of the fundamental tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of fine traditional Chinese culture. It is a key theoretical framework for adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. effectively manifesting its “greatness.” It has set a shining example for political parties around the world in shouldering the epochal mission of promoting the progress of human civilization, by closely integrating their own development with that of their countries, nations, and humanity. The Global Civilization Initiative centrally reflects the Communist Party of China’s global vision and concern for the future of humanity, mirrors the global perspective and mission of China as a responsible major country, and indicates that the Chinese nation has reached a new height in its historical consciousness and historical initiative to promote the progress of human civilization through its own civilizational rejuvenation.

习近平总书记指出：“中国共产党是为中国人民谋幸福的党，也是为人类进步事业而奋斗的党。”作为世界上最大的政党，中国共产党自成立起就肩负实现民族复兴和关照人类整体两个维度的历史使命，在百年的历史长河中，始终从人类发展大潮流、世界变化大格局、中国发展大历史正确认识和处理同外部世界的关系，在宏阔的时空维度中思考把握民族复兴和人类进步的同向携行，领导人民成功走出、推进和拓展中国式现代化道路，创造了人类文明新形态，书写了人类文明谱系中浓墨重彩的中国新篇章。面对当今彼此联系和全球性问题均前所未有的历史境遇，中国共产党又以强烈的把中国人民的命运与世界人民的命运、中国梦与世界梦同频共振的历史主体意识，提出代表人类文明发展进步方向的全球文明倡议，一如既往地站在历史正确的一边、站在人类进步的一边，更加展现坚持以胸怀天下的世界观和方法论统筹“两个大局”的中国担当和中国作为，切实彰显“大的样子”，为世界各国政党在自身发展同国家、民族、人类的发展紧密结合中，担负起推动人类文明进步时代使命树立了光辉典范。全球文明倡议集中反映了中国共产党人以世界眼光关注人类前途命运的天下情怀，折射出中国作为负责任大国的全球视野和使命担当，表明中华民族以自身文明复兴推动人类文明前进的历史自觉和历史主动达到了新高度。

(Authors: Qin Long: Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee, Vice President, and Professor of Tianjin Normal University; Li Weiguang: Researcher and Postdoctoral Fellow at the Tianjin Base of the Research Center for the Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, Tianjin Normal University)

（作者：秦龙：天津师范大学党委常委、副校长、教授；李维光：天津市中国特色社会主义理论体系研究中心天津师范大学基地研究员、博士后）

Online Editor: You Heng

网络编辑：有恒