Roundup: Experts hail think tank report on synergization of civilizations

BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) — A recently-released report on the synergization of civilizations is of theoretical innovative significance as it advocates for the inclusive co-existence of different civilizations while transcending historical, cultural, geographic and institutional differences, experts worldwide said.
Titled “On the Synergization of Civilizations — A Chinese Perspective,” the report, unveiled Wednesday in Guangzhou, the capital city of south China’s Guangdong Province, was issued by Xinhua Institute, a high-end think tank of Xinhua News Agency.
Released at Sun Yat-sen University, the report puts forward the concept of civilizational integration, which embodies values centered on humanity, integrity and innovation, mutual learning through exchange, shared destiny and harmonious coexistence.
In China’s view, synergization of civilizations does not mean that one civilization plays a dominant role. It, however, provides a mode of cooperation such as mutually beneficial cooperation and exchange of ideas, which is particularly important in the context of globalization, said Serik Korzhumbayev, editor-in-chief of Delovoy Kazakhstan newspaper.
China calls on countries around the world to respect differences, learn from each other, and cooperate for win-win results, added Korzhumbayev.
Haider Qasim Al-Tamimi, head of the Institute of Historical Research at the Bayt Al-Hikma, a think tank in Iraq, believes that a society can only develop and prosper if it is open, inclusive, and willing and accustomed to exchanging ideas and learning from other countries.
He noted that in the modern civilizational process of the humanities, the concept of “boundaries” has been redefined, and it no longer means division, but rather the integration of oneself with others.
Noting that our world can fully accommodate different countries and civilizations, the report said that the true path for humanity lies in mutual respect for shared development and in cooperation for win-win outcomes through seeking common ground while reserving differences.
The experts believe that the theory on the synergization of civilizations carries Chinese wisdom and solutions, and contributes to addressing global common challenges.
Luo Siliang, a professor at the School of Marxism of Sun Yat-sen University, said that the concept of the synergization of civilizations effectively counters various misleading views in today’s global discourse, such as the “clash of civilizations,” “end of history,” and “civilizational superiority.”
It holds important practical significance for constructing a civilizational narrative system of Chinese modernization and for promoting the exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations, Luo said.
This report highlights the importance of mutual learning among civilizations, said Purnima Anand, president of the BRICS International Forum. “Diversity of civilizations is a gift and the key to the future, and it should be cherished and protected in the present.”
“Amid the increasingly tense global geopolitical landscape, the think tank report released by Xinhua News Agency contributes to addressing the common challenges faced by human civilizations,” said Tursunali Kuziyev, first deputy director of the Agency for Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan.
The exchange and integration of civilizations is an ongoing process that requires the active participation and support of people from all countries, he added.
“As tensions between civilizations continue to deepen, China is offering the world a new path of synergization of civilizations that seeks to overcome conflicts and differences through dialogue and cooperation,” said Korzhumbayev. ■