Translated with AI
What role can exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations play in an era of global transformation and instability unseen in a century? At the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Dialogue of Civilizations on the theme of “Preserving the Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development,” CGTN and Renmin University of China jointly conducted a survey of 12,000 respondents from 41 countries. The survey showed that respondents widely recognized exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations as an important driving force for human development and for promoting world peace and development. They positively assessed the key role of cultural heritage and innovation in advancing human modernization. The global civilization initiative put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping has become a broad consensus on solving global problems.
From Consensus to Action: Global Civilization Initiative Gains Widespread Recognition
As another important social concept introduced by China to the international community after the Initiative for Global Development and the Initiative for Global Security, the Global Civilization Initiative has been widely recognized by respondents from all over the world as its basic tenets represent China’s approach to solving global problems. In the survey, 90.8% of respondents agreed that respect for the diversity of civilizations is a fundamental principle of the international community. 90.2% believe that solving global problems requires joint efforts by all countries as no country can be left unaffected. 88.5% believe that cultural innovation and cultural heritage preservation are equally important, and 89.4% call for strengthening international cultural exchanges to promote mutual understanding among peoples.
The survey results show that respondents around the world unanimously recognize the critical importance of maintaining an independent development path. 88.8% of respondents believe that all countries have an inalienable right to determine their own development paths and social systems in accordance with their national circumstances. Of the 41 countries surveyed, the ten countries that most strongly support this principle are in the Global South. 87.7% of respondents believe that differences in culture and values should not be a reason for international conflict. 86.6% of respondents consider attempts to forcefully change the cultural traditions of other countries to be disrespectful.
From Preservation to Innovation: China's Modernization Enriches Understanding of Modernization
Throughout the modernization of human society, exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations have always played an indispensable role. In the survey, 89.8% of respondents agreed that exchanges between different cultures are conducive to the overall progress of mankind, with 91.8% of respondents in the 18-24 age group and 91.6% of those in the 25-34 age group agreeing with this. 85.9% of respondents believe that the modernization practices of different countries enrich the diversity of human civilizations. 89.4% of respondents agree that international people-to-people exchanges are conducive to enhancing mutual understanding among the peoples of all countries.
China's successful modernization practice in recent years has continually enriched the international community's understanding of modernization. According to the survey, 83.4% of respondents believe that each country's modernization path should be based on its own cultural traditions. 87.1% of respondents believe that modernization does not mean abandoning traditions, but rather their innovative development, and 88.5% believe that cultural innovation and the preservation of traditions are equally important. 82.9% of respondents believe that modern development theories should be integrated into countries' own cultural traditions.
From Media to Tech: Innovation Seen as a Hallmark of Chinese Culture
In assessing the characteristics of Chinese culture, 60.6% of respondents consider innovation to be its most important feature. Among them, technological innovation occupies a special place. 77.2% of respondents pay great attention to Chinese technologies and their application, which exceeds the interest in the Chinese lifestyle, traditional culture and popular culture. In the field of access channels to information about Chinese culture, digital media platforms, closely integrated with technological progress, occupy a dominant position. Chinese social media, film and TV content, as well as technological products and services, are becoming powerful tools for the dissemination of Chinese culture.
The survey shows that 81.6% of respondents believe that China's global cultural influence and soft power are rapidly growing, with approval rates exceeding 80% among respondents aged 44 and under. 75.4% of respondents affirm that Chinese civilization has made significant contributions to the development of world civilizations. 70.6% of respondents acknowledge that Chinese civilization opens up new prospects for global governance, with approval rates reaching 73.5% among 18-24 year-olds, 75.8% among 25-34 year-olds, and 73% among 35-44 year-olds.
