4月26日,刘光源特派员在《南华早报》发表题为《全球文明倡议:让世界文明百花园群芳竞艳》的英文署名文章,深入宣介倡议四个“共同倡导”核心理念,呼吁各国相互尊重、平等相待、携手同行,通过倡议为世界持续注入稳定性和新希望。文章25日亦在该报网页版刊登。全文如下:
全球文明倡议:让世界文明百花园群芳竞艳
今年3月,习近平主席首创性提出全球文明倡议,成为中国向世界提供的又一重要公共产品。倡议强调四个共同倡导——“尊重世界文明多样性”“弘扬全人类共同价值”“重视文明传承和创新”“加强国际人文交流合作”,蕴含对不同文明的尊重,以及对不同文明发展权利的支持,充分彰显习主席深厚的天下情怀和中国作为负责任大国的历史担当。
——多样文明,而非优劣之分。
世界上有200多个国家和地区,2500多个民族和多种宗教,文明多样性是人类社会的基本形态。然而,长期以来,个别国家信奉“西方中心主义”,贬低、否定他国文明,这种唯我独尊的“文明观”将人类社会推向冲突对抗的境地。
文明绝无高低优劣之分,只有姹紫嫣红之别。习主席曾如此形容文明的多样平等:“正如中国人喜欢茶而比利时人喜欢啤酒一样,茶的含蓄内敛和酒的热烈奔放代表了品味生命、解读世界的两种不同方式。但是,茶和酒并不是不可兼容的,既可以酒逢知己千杯少,也可以品茶品味品人生”。在“文明优越论”“文明冲突论”等杂音不时泛起的今天,中国倡导坚持文明平等,更显弥足珍贵。
——共同价值,而非强加于人。
“吹灭别人的灯,并不会让自己更加光明;阻挡别人的路,也不会让自己行得更远。”各国人民对美好生活的向往是一致的。然而,现实中个别国家无视本国民主失序、治理失效,将其价值标榜为“普世价值”,强迫别国接受,并以此为幌子肆意干涉别国内政,给别国人民带来无尽灾难。
当今世界面临多重危机挑战,各国人民对和平发展的期盼更加殷切,对公平正义的呼声更加强烈,对民主自由的追求更加坚定。中国倡导的全人类共同价值顺应世界人民共同呼声,超越了意识形态、社会制度和发展水平差异,有助于促进各国人民相知相亲,携手应对全球挑战。
——传承创新,而非固守其成。
优秀传统文化是一个国家、一个民族传承发展的根本,如果丢弃了,就割断了精神命脉。中华优秀传统文化讲究和合、崇尚仁爱、坚守诚信、重视民本,既有鲜明中国特色,也蕴含解决当代人类难题的重要启示,具有永恒时代价值,需大力弘扬、传承创新。
中国高度重视中华优秀传统文化的创造性转化、创新性发展,近年来深入开展文化资源普查,推动文化保护传承走深走实;推出一系列传统文化主题纪录片、电视节目,赋予传统文化现代表达形式;积极推广孔子学院、欢乐春节等文化交流品牌项目,增进各国人民对中国文化的了解,对各国优秀传统文化传承发展具有重要借鉴意义。
——交流合作,而非相互隔绝。
千百年来,纵使高山荒原阻挡,各国人民的友好交往从未止步。当今世界,人类生活在同一个地球村,一荣俱荣、一损俱损,文明交融、互学互鉴更是时代大势、人心所向。任何阻挠正常往来、煽动民意对立的操作都终将因违背人民利益而失败。
中国始终是世界文明交流互鉴的倡导者和实践者。从玄奘西行到鉴真东渡,从郑和下西洋到古丝绸之路的和平延伸,从“一带一路”倡议的提出到中国共产党与世界政党高层对话会的举办,中国不断与世界各国紧密合作,让文明交流互鉴成为推动人类社会进步的动力、维护世界和平的纽带。
一百多年来,香港从偏安一隅的小渔村发展成为享誉世界的国际大都市,“狮子山精神”在内的中华文化基因得以传承弘扬,中西文化在此深度交流融合。目前,60多万外籍人士在港安居乐业,各项艺术文化盛事在港落地,香港成为不同文明包容共存的生动缩影,也是全球文明交流对话的理想之地。国家“十四五”规划明确提出,支持香港发展成为中外文化艺术交流中心,体现中央对港高度重视与坚定支持。
万物并育而不相害,道并行而不相悖。世界文化只有包容开放、不拒百川,方为大江大海,澎湃繁荣。全球文明倡议是“中国发起”,更是“大家一起”。我坚信,只要各国相互尊重、平等相待、携手同行,全球文明倡议将为变乱交织的世界源源不断注入稳定性,带来新希望!
China's Pride in its civilisation stems from belief in equality
With the common good in mind, President Xi Jinping last month proposed the Global Civilisation Initiative, advocating respect for the diversity of civilisations, adherence to the values common to all humanity, support for the innovative development of civilisations, and stronger people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.
Behind these four tenets lies China’s belief in the equality of all human civilisations. As a responsible major country, it supports the right of every civilization to develop.
The Global Civilisation Initiative is a public good in the mould of the recently announced Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative.
China chooses equality over superiority.
Our world has more than 200 countries and regions and many thousands of ethnic groups and religions. Diversity enriches human civilisation, but an egocentric view that belittles other civilisations will push human society to the brink of conflict and confrontation.
In a speech at the College of Europe in Belgium in 2014, President Xi described the equality of civilisations in this way: “The Chinese people are fond of tea and the Belgians love beer. To me, the moderate tea drinker and the passionate beer lover represent two ways of understanding life and knowing the world, and I find them equally rewarding.”
When good friends meet, he said, they may drink some tea together, or have some beer.
At a time when the antiquated thesis of a “clash of civilisations” is resurfacing, China’s emphasis on the equality of civilisations is ever more needed for a peaceful world.
China chooses common values over universal values.
As Xi put it in his speech in March: “One will not be seen in a more favourable light by blowing out others’ lamp; nor will they go farther by blocking others’ paths.”
All humanity share the same desire for a better life and we need to work in concert towards that goal. Nonetheless, some countries assert their own views as “universal values” despite the failures of their democracy and governance, and poke their noses into others’ internal affairs, wreaking havoc for others.
Today’s world is facing multiple crises and challenges. More than ever, people yearn for peace and development, and fairness and justice, and aspire to have democracy and freedom. These are the common human values that China advocates.
They rise above the differences in ideology, social system and stage of development, and will help to build a closer bond between different peoples.
China chooses innovation over stagnation.
A nation’s traditional culture is the bedrock of its development, without which progress would not be possible. Traditional Chinese values such as harmony, benevolence, honesty and a people-centred outlook must endure as they not only represent the cultural genes of China, but also contain insight to solve global challenges today.
China sets great store by adapting its traditional culture to the changing times. Over the years, the Chinese government has carried out in-depth surveys of China’s cultural resources, launched documentaries and TV programmes on traditional cultures, and promoted flagship cultural projects such as the Confucius Institutes and spring festival celebrations to enhance the world’s understanding of Chinese civilisation.
China chooses cooperation over isolation.
History has shown that geographical distance and travel inconvenience are no deterrent to people-to-people exchanges. Even more so today, in a global village, people want to learn from one another. Any attempt to impede interaction or incite rivalry will fall through because it goes against the interests of the people.
China has always been an advocate for cultural exchange. From the travels of eminent Tang dynasty monks Xuanzang and Jianzhen to spread Buddhist teachings to the seven great voyages of admiral Zheng He in Ming China, from the cultural exchanges along the ancient Silk Road to the Belt and Road Initiative and the convening of high-level dialogue between the Communist Party of China and political parties around the world, China has been working closely with other countries to make mutual learning a driving force for human progress and world peace.
In the course of Hong Kong’s transformation from a fishing village to a global metropolis over the past century, the Chinese cultural gene of the “Lion Rock spirit” has endured, and Chinese and Western cultures have left their mark on the city.
As a home to more than 600,000 foreigners and a place hosting a variety of artistic and cultural events, Hong Kong is a model showcase of the coexistence of different cultures, and an ideal location for dialogue between global civilisations.
China’s 14th five-year plan supports Hong Kong in developing into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, showing the central government’s expectation of and great confidence in the city. Hong Kong will have much to contribute to human civilisations.
The ocean is vast because it admits all rivers. In the similar vein, to make the garden of world civilisations vibrant, all flowers should flourish.
China’s proposed Global Civilisation Initiative needs the support of all countries. As the world is becoming more volatile, we must learn how to work together to fix it, and I firmly believe that the initiative is a viable pathway to lead the world to a better future.