Experts Gather in Beijing to Foster Dialogue among Civilizations
The Inter-civilizational Communication and Global Development Forum, hosted by the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, opened in Beijing on November 7.
The three-day event, themed “Traditions of Civilization and Paths to Modernization,” attracted around 150 politicians, entrepreneurs, think tank experts, scholars, cultural celebrities, and diplomatic envoys from more than 30 countries to discuss issues concerning communication among civilizations and global development.
Three sub-forums on the civilizational communication between China and Europe, China-central Asia modernization development and leadership building, and China-arab civilization exchange and modernization development, as well as a round-table discussion, were held during this forum.
During the forum, Zheng Bijian, founding chairman of the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, said in his speech that exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations is the fundamental way for all countries to follow a path of modernization based on their own characteristics.
Hailing China’s role in promoting dialogue among civilizations, John Thornton, chair emeritus of the U.S. Brookings Institution, said that understanding is a necessary condition for countries to see each other’s points of view, and in such a way as to advance any number of important agendas.
Cultural and social diversity of different civilizations should be regarded as a form of wealth, said Jose Luis Centella, president of the Communist Party of Spain, in a speech delivered via video.
Based on this, a new world order that is just, united, and composed of different countries and societies will be built, Centella added.
Yves Leterme, former prime minister of Belgium, said in a video speech that China and the European Union represent a convergence of civilizations that embrace the ideals of multipolarity and economic globalization, and both of them affirm their commitment to multilateral governments.
Leterme also hailed the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative proposed by China, and pointed out that in the field of green development China has made excellent contributions to the global agenda.