China finds solution to civilization coexistence: think tank report

BEIJING -- The Global Civilization Initiative introduced by China offers a profound answer in regard to how different civilizations should coexist, according to a think tank report released on Tuesday.

The world is currently facing persistent value conflicts, with the diversity of civilizations under threat, according to the report titled "Promoting the Development and Progress of Human Civilization through Exchange and Mutual Learning," released by Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with Xinhua News Agency.

Anti-globalization sentiments are on the rise, accompanied by a resurgence of protectionism, isolationism and populism. These trends have not only disrupted but, in some cases, dismantled global cultural cooperation mechanisms, deepening misunderstandings, alienation and hostility between different cultures, the report said.

In response to the changes facing the development of global civilization, China has proposed the Global Civilization Initiative. This initiative advocates for respecting the diversity of world civilizations, promoting universal human values, putting emphasis on the inheritance and innovation of civilization, and strengthening international cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

To implement the initiative, China has established a number of platforms for dialogue. In recent years, China has hosted events such as the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, and promoted 16 multilateral exchanges and cooperation mechanisms including the Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Culture, according to the report.

China has been stepping up efforts to promote the inheritance and innovation of world civilization, sharing its experience in the protection, inheritance and utilization of cultural heritage with the world, the report said.

It highlighted China's efforts in promoting international cultural heritage cooperation, including assistance in heritage preservation projects regarding Cambodia's Angkor Monuments and Mongolia's Bogd Khan Palace, as well as its participation in joint archaeological projects in over 10 countries, including Egypt and Kenya.

China has also fulfilled its commitment to opening wider to the world in terms of people-to-people exchanges. The report cited official data as saying that China has implemented unilateral visa-free policies for 38 countries since 2024 and improved payment convenience and travel environments for inbound tourists. In 2024, China received about 20.1 million visa-free entries by foreigners, a year-on-year increase of 112 percent.

In June 2024, the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted China's proposal to establish the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, designating June 10 as its annual observance. This has fully demonstrated that the Global Civilization Initiative aligns with the trends of the times and meets the needs of the era, the report said.