On July 3, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the Third Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations and the First World Sinologists Conference, sparking enthusiastic responses from attending Sinologists and experts. Participants engaged in lively discussions around President Xi's letter and China's propositions on exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng attended the opening ceremony and delivered an important speech.
Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) served as the host of the Third Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations and the First World Sinologists Conference, with Party Secretary Ni Haidong and President Duan Peng attending the opening ceremony.
On the afternoon of July 4, the Third Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations and the First World Sinologists Conference successfully concluded.
Assistant Minister Zhu Rui of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee presided over the closing ceremony and delivered a summary. BLCU President Duan Peng, former Irish Prime Minister and Co-Chair of the International Action Council Bertie Ahern, former UN Under-Secretary-General Erik Solheim, UNESCO Executive Board Chairperson Tamara Rastovac Siamashvili, and Director Liu Chengyong of the China National Archives of Publications and Culture attended and delivered addresses.
Assistant Minister Zhu Rui of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee delivered the closing summary. Zhu Rui stated that the conference extensively heard Sinologists' insights on strengthening exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and modernization development, coalescing core roles of openness, inclusivity, unity, collaboration, and mutual learning. At the same time, guests unanimously recognized the importance of the Global Civilization Initiative, providing guidance for jointly achieving human modernization and development. The platforms of the Dialogue and World Sinologists Conference are seen as important roles in ideological integration, anticipating that human civilizations will bloom on more dialogue platforms. General Secretary Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter to the conference inspires confidence in strengthening China-foreign exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. The innovative aspect of this conference is its integration with the First World Sinologists Conference, providing a platform for Sinologists worldwide to exchange and cooperate, deepening understanding of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and their rich connotations, calling on Sinologists to actively serve as envoys bridging civilizations and promoting development through academic research and cultural exchanges.
After the conference closure, the Center for World Sinology will release the World Sinology Development Report to make new contributions to promoting high-quality development of global Sinology.
Zhu Rui grandly announced that the Fourth Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations and the Second World Sinologists Conference will be held at an appropriate time.
President Duan Peng stated that President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to this conference and personally sent a congratulatory letter, which is profound in intent, deep in thought, and full of affection. It fully reflects the high emphasis and cordial care of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core for Sinologists' work, and embodies President Xi's earnest hopes and earnest instructions for promoting exchanges and mutual learning among human civilizations through global Sinology. Vice President Han Zheng's attendance and speech at the conference fully demonstrate the Chinese government's strong support for Sinologists' work.
President Duan Peng pointed out that at this conference, Sinologists and scholars from nearly 100 countries worldwide jointly explored various topics related to Sinology and exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, sharing academic practices and research achievements. Based on dimensions such as cross-cultural communication, cultural diversity, and mutual learning among civilizations, they conducted candid, rational, and constructive discussions, which are of both theoretical and practical significance. This will undoubtedly have a positive and widespread academic impact on the world's in-depth elaboration of China and China's deep perception of the world, making it a sincere, cooperative, and forward-looking international academic event.
On the occasion of parting, President Duan Peng put forward two expectations to the attending Sinologists:
Strengthen innovative exchanges to share civilization achievements. Sinology has historically spanned regions, languages, and cultures, requiring to some extent the fusion of borders, ethnicities, and regions. He hopes Sinologists will continue to actively expand academic fields, share resources, and exchange knowledge to promote the prosperous development of Sinology research. At the same time, widely promote academic achievements to deepen more foreign people's understanding of Sinology culture, serving as active disseminators of Chinese culture.
Promote inclusive differences for harmonious cultural coexistence. Promote united and harmonious development among different civilizations through inclusive mutual learning. He hopes Sinologists will strengthen cooperation in various cultural fields, promoting mutual respect, equal treatment, learning from each other's strengths, common progress, and prosperity among different civilizations and cultures.
President Duan Peng stated that as the host, BLCU will take this conference as an opportunity to deeply advance Sinologists' work, vigorously promote global Sinology development, and accumulate deeper Sinologist strength for the next conference.
Finally, President Duan Peng extended an invitation to world Sinologists to join the Center for World Sinology. President Duan said that the Center for World Sinology is dedicated to providing Sinologists and translators with a comprehensive platform for academic exchanges and research. The Center looks forward to exploring the vast world of Sinology with Sinologists and jointly witnessing a new landscape of human civilization exchanges and mutual learning.
Addresses and Summaries
South African University Senior Lecturer Tan Zheli, in summarizing the first forum, pointed out that diverse civilizations exist in the world, and shaping China's international image on the world stage faces many challenges. To truly tell Chinese stories well requires participation from people in other countries, promoting mutual affinity among peoples of all nations.
ActionAid China Chairman Qiu Zhonghui summarized the second academic forum. He mentioned that the forum discussed the importance of shared values, emphasizing forming global shared values through explorations in culture, language, philosophy, history, business, and medicine. He called for advocating civilization diversity and achieving shared values through cooperation and dialogue.
Director Ahmed Ghoneim of the Egyptian National Museum of Civilization, in summarizing the third forum, mentioned three issues: the loss and death of cultural heritage, the inheritance of civilizational heritage, and the importance of revitalizing cultural heritage and strengthening education. He emphasized the need to economically adjust and enhance the value of civilizational cultural heritage, promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and understanding differences and similarities among civilizations.
Pakistan National University of Languages Lecturer Rashida summarized the fourth forum. She believed an important question is how to convey China's ideological civilization to ordinary people in various countries. She emphasized that unity can achieve development and progress, and global Sinologists share the same ideas. She quoted Kalinin's famous saying, “Teachers are engineers of the human soul and inheritors of human civilization,” highlighting the important role of teachers in promoting exchanges and mutual learning among human civilizations.
Former Irish Prime Minister and Co-Chair of the International Action Council Bertie Ahern stated that President Xi Jinping's proposed Global Civilization Initiative provides direction for achieving inclusive coexistence and exchanges among different civilizations.
Former UN Under-Secretary-General Erik Solheim emphasized that platforms must be built on mutual respect, calling for respecting the diversity of world civilizations and stressing that humanity should unite to jointly address global issues such as climate change, pandemics, and economic recovery.
UNESCO Executive Board Chairperson Tamara Rastovac Siamashvili mentioned UNESCO's vision of building peace in human minds. He emphasized that dialogue, exchanges, and mutual learning provide broad platforms for peoples of all countries to understand other civilizations.
Director Liu Chengyong of the China National Archives of Publications and Culture stated that editions are mediums and witnesses of Chinese civilization inheritance. He looks forward to more in-depth exchanges and collisions between Chinese civilization and civilizations worldwide, continuously strengthening cultural exchanges and cooperation with Sinologists from various countries, promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and pushing Chinese civilization to make greater contributions to human civilization progress.
During the conference, BLCU university leaders attended various academic units and forums.
Sinologists Discuss and Comprehend the Spirit of President Xi Jinping's Important Congratulatory Letter
On July 3, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the Third Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations and the First World Sinologists Conference. President Xi's attention to Sinologists greatly inspired everyone, filling Sinologists with confidence in future academic research work. After the opening ceremony, under the organization and leadership of BLCU President Duan Peng and Director Xu Baofeng of the Center for World Sinology, over 30 Sinologists from around the world engaged in discussions to study and comprehend the spirit of President Xi Jinping's important congratulatory letter.
Former Chilean Ambassador to China Reyes Matta pointed out that the World Sinologists Council, through establishing two-way dialogues, presents a credible image of China to the world, holding significant meaning for developing good relations among ethnic groups, countries, and civilizations; Professor Aziz from Al-Azhar University in Egypt stated that President Xi's letter inspires the global Sinology community. As scholars studying Chinese culture, Sinologists should make more active efforts for world countries to enhance understanding, friendship, and cooperation, becoming envoys bridging civilizations; Aliyev from Azerbaijan said he has worked in China for many years, and this World Sinologists Conference is the largest-scale Sinology academic activity, successfully establishing the Azerbaijan Sinology Center in Qingdao, which is particularly inspiring. Azerbaijan should learn from China how to disseminate its own culture to promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations; Yulia, currently studying at BLCU's School of Sinology and Chinese Studies, spoke on behalf of international students, saying that participating in this conference gave her a deeper understanding of Sinologists' glorious mission. Upon returning to the BLCU campus, she will redouble her efforts in learning and become an outstanding Russian Sinologist in the future.
China National Archives of Publications and Culture Exchange Day
On the morning of July 3, on the eve of the opening of the Third Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations and the First World Sinologists Conference, the China National Archives of Publications and Culture Exchange Day was held. BLCU President Duan Peng, Director Liu Chengyong of the China National Archives of Publications and Culture, and Director Xu Baofeng of the Center for World Sinology attended the discussion.
(Edited by: Wang Junyi)
