China-based think tank report: "Clash of civilizations” is certainly not predetermined

Good afternoon. Xinhua Institute, a think tank of Xinhua News Agency, issued a report on 文明交融论 the synergization of civilizations on Wednesday. As many of you might know, Xinhua Institute sponsored Got China, a YouTube talk show on China featuring Liu Yang and me.

I have received the Chinese full-text version and the English version of the foreword of the report.

According to Xinhua, the Synergization of Civilizations is a thesis that embodies values centered on humanity, integrity and innovation, mutual learning through exchange, shared destiny and harmonious coexistence. It advocates for the inclusive coexistence of different civilizations while transcending historical, cultural, geographic and institutional differences.

The report advocates for the inclusive co-existence of different civilizations while transcending historical, cultural, geographic and institutional differences.

It drew my attention as the foreword of the report mentioned

修昔底德陷阱”并非必然，“文明冲突”绝非宿命

The “Thucydides Trap” is not an inevitability, and the “clash of civilizations” is certainly not predetermined.

I believe this aligns with China's current perspective on geopolitical tensions. The introduction further notes:

中华文明的交融理念以及文明实践给予世界重要启示：“人类只有肤色语言之别，文明只有姹紫嫣红之别，但绝无高低优劣之分……我们应该秉持平等和尊重，摒弃傲慢和偏见，加深对自身文明和其他文明差异性的认知，推动不同文明交流对话、和谐共生。”我们应当立足于自身文化主体性谋求长远发展，推动优秀传统文化在现代化进程中焕发新生。

The concept of harmonious coexistence within Chinese civilization offers significant insights for the global community: “Human beings are different only in terms of skin color and the language used. No civilization is superior over others ...What we need is to respect each other as equals and say no to hubris and prejudice. We need to deepen understanding of the difference between one's own civilization and others', and work to promote interaction, dialogue and harmony among civilizations.” Each civilization should pursue long-term development grounded in the subjectivity of its own culture, revitalizing exceptional traditional practices throughout the modernization process.

The highlighted section is from the keynote speech by Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations on May 15, 2019. It brought to mind a recent discussion I had with an overseas China watcher. We explored how Chinese civilization has never sought to impose its culture on others. The Chinese people recognize and respect cultural differences.

The report includes four parts: Synergization and Cultivation of Civilizational Genes, Synergization Forms Civilizational Demeanor, Synergization Highlights Value Propositions, and Synergization Shapes the Future of Civilization. Xinhua has published a mind map summarizing the four parts (Chinese).

I have uploaded the Chinese version of the report on Google Drive for you to download and will put the English full-text version here once I get it.

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