General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping attended the high-level dialogue between the Communist Party of China and the world's political parties on March 15, and proposed a global civilization initiative for the first time in his keynote speech. This is China's contribution of Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to promote a higher level of international cooperation. From the young Egyptians who “checked in” at the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo to the professor at the Center for Mutual Learning of Civilizations at the University of Athens who received a letter from the Chinese leader, from the Iraqi think tank scholar to the president of the Italian New Silk Road Promotion Association, the Global Civilization Initiative has aroused strong resonance . A French historian once said that the most fascinating time among human adventures may be when the civilizations of Greece and other countries meet Chinese civilization. This is because Chinese philosophy not only emphasizes the relationship between man and nature, but also emphasizes the relationship between man and man. relation. When mankind is facing various crises in the era of globalization, China's sincere appeal has become a heavy chapter in the "Symphony of Destiny".
"Contributing to the exchange and mutual learning of global civilizations is an unshirkable responsibility"
"The ancient city of Luxor enjoys the reputation of 'Egyptian open-air museum'. On January 21, 2016, Luxor ushered in distinguished oriental guests." Mamduha Damati, former minister of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, and the Global Times "The reporter recalled: "When Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the temple along the main road, I was responsible for the explanation. The two heads of state walked and listened, and talked about the characteristics of the ancient civilizations of Egypt and China, and recalled the long history of Egypt and China. exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.”
Speaking of the global civilization initiative proposed by Chinese leaders, Damati believes that this initiative aims to emphasize that in today's world where the future and destiny of all countries are closely linked, different civilizations coexist inclusively, communicate and learn from each other, and are of great importance to promoting the modernization process of human society and making the world civilized. The Hundred Gardens have become more colorful and vibrant, which has an irreplaceable role. He told reporters: "Looking forward to the post-epidemic era, both China and Egypt will strengthen the protection and inheritance of rich cultural heritage, and continue to promote connectivity between countries and regions."
"Thanks to China for actively participating in the reconstruction of Iraq and giving us a lot of economic assistance and technical support." Looking back on the past, Tamimi, director of the History Research Institute of the Iraqi think tank "Wisdom Palace", said excitedly about the ancient times in an interview with the "Global Times" reporter. The Mesopotamian civilization and Chinese civilization have many things in common, such as their own unique characters and writing systems, and both are committed to promoting the development of science and technology, philosophy, literature and art.
On the ancient Silk Road, famous historical cities such as Baghdad are also important witnesses of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Since China and Iraq signed a cooperation document on the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" in 2015, China's participation in the construction of infrastructure such as power stations and cement plants has contributed to improving the living standards of the Iraqi people. During this period, China and Iran have maintained good cooperation within the framework of the "Ancient Civilization Forum" and "World Ancient Civilization Protection Forum". Tamimi said: "In the eyes of the Iraqi people, China's concept of seeking development for the world, seeking common ground and building a community with a shared future for mankind is of great significance."
Recently, President Xi replied to representatives of well-known Arab artists who participated in the "Art Meeting on the Silk Road" tour to China, encouraging artists to create more masterpieces of art that reflect China-Arab friendship and make new contributions to enhancing the friendship between the Chinese and Arab peoples. Artists from Tunisia, Yemen, Morocco, Lebanon and other countries said after seeing the replies, "Although Arab countries and China are geographically far apart, we have similar values. The cooperation has laid a solid foundation." On April 3, Ahmed Nawal, a professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Helwan University in Egypt, held the "Art Convergence on the Silk Road-Exhibition of Collected Works by Famous Chinese and Arab Artists" and the Dialogue between Chinese and Arab Artists in Cairo During the salon event, it was stated that exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations are the basis for enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between peoples of all countries. "As important representatives of different civilizations, Afghanistan and China will definitely make positive contributions to exchanges and mutual learning among global civilizations. This is our unshirkable responsibility."
"Take history as a mirror, learn from each other, and provide solutions"
Both China and Greece are countries with ancient civilizations, and both have created glorious histories for the development and progress of human civilization. On October 15, 2014, President Xi Jinping presided over a symposium on literature and art work and delivered an important speech: "The German philosopher Jaspers wrote in the book "The Origin and Goal of History" that from 800 BC to BC 200 years is the "Axial Age" of human civilization, a period of major breakthroughs in the spirit of human civilization. At that time, civilizations such as ancient Greece, ancient China, and ancient India produced great thinkers. The ideological principles they put forward shaped different cultural traditions. And it has always affected human life. This passage is very profound and insightful. Throughout the ages, the reason why the Chinese nation has had a status and influence in the world is not due to militarism or external expansion, but the strength of Chinese culture Charisma and appeal.”
During President Xi's state visit to Greece in November 2019, he and the Greek leaders jointly advocated exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Subsequently, China and Greece actively implemented the leaders' consensus and prepared to build the China-Greece Civilization Mutual Learning Center. At the beginning of this year, five Greek scholars, including Professor Vildakis of the Department of Philosophy and History of Science at the University of Athens, jointly wrote a letter to Chinese leaders, talking about their high recognition of the concept of civilization advocated by President Xi, and introducing the center's preparations and development plans. In February this year, President Xi replied to Greek scholars and congratulated the establishment of the China-Greece Center for Mutual Learning of Civilizations. After receiving the reply letter from the Chinese leader, the Greek scholars were very happy and moved. Vilvidakis is the chairman of the Steering Committee of the China-Greece Civilization Mutual Learning Center. He has visited China many times. He was deeply impressed by the enthusiasm of young students in Chinese universities for the study of Greek traditional culture. He told the "Global Times" reporter that the heritage of Greek and Chinese civilizations has had an impact on the cultures of Europe, Asia and other parts of the world over the long history, and now the Global Civilization Initiative will also help mankind cope with various crises in the era of globalization. Vilvidakis said that Greek and Chinese civilizations have many similarities, such as "human beings pursue harmony through rational reflection". He believes that, no matter in China or Greece, philosophy is not just a theoretical career aimed at knowledge, but a comprehensive way of life that guides our behavior. Vilvidakis said that the Greeks support the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and he even believes that this concept can be developed into a model of civilization for all mankind.
Chrysafis, a history teacher at a public high school in Athens, said that the establishment of the China-Greece Civilization Mutual Learning Center reminded him of the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by Chinese leaders. concern for the common well-being of the people. Over the years, Greece, as a key country participating in the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative, has carried out in-depth cooperation with China in infrastructure construction, economy and trade, culture and sports, education and scientific research, etc., taking advantage of China's rapid development.
According to Vilvidakis, the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has made remarkable progress, and he hopes that more exchanges will extend to the fields of drama, archaeology and art history. When it comes to the cultural exchanges between China and Greece, there is a story about three generations of a family fighting for it is very meaningful. In November 2019, President Xi published a signed article entitled "Let the wisdom of ancient civilizations guide the future" in the Greek "Daily". The article states, "Three generations of Chinese translator Luo Niansheng's family have devoted themselves to the translation and research of Greek literature and drama, and have made important contributions to enhancing the friendship between the two peoples." Luo Niansheng was awarded the "Highest Literary and Art Award" by the Athens Academy of Sciences. His son Luo Jinlin has rehearsed more than 10 ancient Greek plays such as "Oedipus the King", and his granddaughter Luo Tong is also committed to Greek literature, drama translation research and stage practice. It has made important contributions to enhancing the friendship between the Chinese and Greek peoples. Luo Tong and the Global Times reporter talked about President Xi's visit to the Acropolis Museum. At that time, President Xi stopped to watch in front of the "Contemplative Athena" relief, and mentioned the Chinese idiom "Stop the fight and become the weapon". Luo Tong believes that in today’s ever-changing international society, China and Greece, as historical leaders in the fields of humanities and ideology, have the responsibility to “use history as a mirror and each other’s mirrors” to provide solutions for the common problems facing mankind at present and in the future. Provide solutions based on historical experience.
"Different from the theory of clash of civilizations, China advocates harmony without diversity, and the United States and the United States"
Strengthening exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations cannot be separated from the participation of every ordinary citizen. On Ibn Battuta Street not far from the pyramids, there is the famous Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo. Every time a Global Times reporter goes there, he sees many young Egyptians learning Chinese and Chinese martial arts at the center. Some Egyptian youths said that the more they know about China's history, culture, economy and social development, the more interested and curious they are about China. As China-Egypt economic and trade cooperation continues to strengthen, they hope to develop in China or join Chinese companies in the future.
The inauguration ceremony of the Online Chinese Class at Aegean University in Greece was held a few days ago, and 3,000 students are currently participating in the study. The chairman of the student union of the Department of Social Sciences at Aegean University and a Greek female student who is currently in the fourth grade of the department, Lezkidu told the Global Times reporter that she and many students participated in the Chinese class. This project has built a bridge for the communication between Greek and Chinese cultures . Although it is difficult to learn Chinese, the students believe that Chinese will be a universal language in the future. Like the Egyptian youths who participated in the activities at the China Cultural Center in Cairo, Greek youths such as Lezkidu also said that both traditional Chinese culture and the rapid development of China are attractive to them, so they will overcome difficulties in the process of learning Chinese ,face the challenge. Some Greek youths also hope to have the opportunity to go to China or work in Chinese companies after learning Chinese well. Lezkidu said that through contacts with Chinese and Chinese friends, Greeks will soon realize that the essence of Chinese traditional values are "kindness" and "respect". As more and more young Greeks learn Chinese, everyone will have more and more recognition of Chinese culture in the future.
During the interview, the "Global Times" reporter also recorded many "beauty and beauty together" stories. In the spring of 2021, overseas Chinese living in Athens established a literary and artistic organization called "Sino-Greek Chinese Theater Alliance". In just two years, they have created two "Chinese and Greek Combinations" - a stage play that combines traditional Chinese myths and ancient Greek myths and legends. Wang Wanping, head of the China-Greece Chinese Theater Alliance, told the Global Times reporter that last year, the alliance cleverly "grafted" the story of Asclepius, the ancient Greek god of medicine, with the legend of Xu Xian and the White Snake into "New Legend of the White Snake". On the stage, I received a lot of messages from Greek audiences on social platforms. Some viewers asked where they could learn Chinese, some asked how they could buy traditional Chinese clothing, and some asked how to travel to West Lake. Wang Wanping said that when she saw these sincere messages, she felt sincerely that she had done a meaningful thing, a good thing that really spread Chinese culture and strengthened mutual learning between East and West. She believes that the premise of cultural exchange is to respect each other. This "respect" is not simply politeness and politeness, but to actively listen to and learn from the other party's excellent culture, and to have a certain degree of understanding of the other party's culture. Only on this basis can we tell our own stories well and realize effective "cultural comminicate".
In 2019 and 2022, the National Museum of China will hold the exhibitions "Return--Exhibition of Lost Cultural Relics Returned by Italy" and "Origin of Italy--Exhibition of Ancient Roman Civilization" which not only attracted a large number of domestic audiences, but also attracted the attention of the Italian New Silk Road Promotion Association. President Francesco Maringio's attention. In an interview with the "Global Times" reporter, Ma Linjiao said that both Italy and China have ancient civilizations and have unique insights into modernization. It promotes economic, trade, people-to-people and cultural exchanges between countries and mutual learning among civilizations, and provides reference for other countries, especially developing countries, to move towards modernization. He said: "Different from the theory of clash of civilizations that was popular in Western academic circles before, China advocates exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and has also recently proposed a global civilization initiative. On the premise of respecting the diversity and equality of world civilizations, China advocates harmony without diversity, and beauty and beauty for all." way of communicating.”
Wang Yiwei, deputy dean of the Xi Jinping Institute of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times reporter that the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind contains rich Chinese wisdom. The revolutionary tradition of the Chinese Communists for more than a hundred years has matured from the rich diplomatic practice since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially since the reform and opening up, and the latest global civilization initiative is also a concrete manifestation of China's diplomatic philosophy.