The way of coexistence among different civilizations

Between the late 20th century and early this century, the conflict of civilization and dialog of civilization has become a hot topic of conversation in today's world. This is a refraction of the global situation after the Cold War, as well as mankind's thinking of its own destiny.

Human civilization is manifested as different civilization systems that are born out of different geological and humane environments and so have their specific contents and forms. This is a basic Marxist outlook on human development, as well as a historical fact recognized by many sociologists.

Humanity is facing a world with different civilizations, how should various civilizations get along with each other has all along been a question difficult for human beings to resolve. In the age of economic globalization, in the era when the Earth becomes increasingly "small", it has become more urgent to seek a solution to this question.

Recently, Chinese President Hu Jintao noted at the UN Summit: "In the spirit of equality and openness, we should safeguard the diversity of civilization, promote the democratization of international relations, concert our efforts to construct a harmonious world that embraces all kinds of civilization", expressing China's principled view and basic idea on this issue.

First, the diversity of civilization represents not only the basic characteristic of human society, but also the basic drive for the progress of human civilization.

Not long ago, the international community passed an international convention on protecting biological diversity, which shows that mankind has realized the extreme importance of the diversity of living things in safeguarding the natural ecology. Such an outlook can also be used to approach civilization. Humanity should also realize that the variety of civilization is of extreme importance to safeguarding mankind's social ecology. Humanity's past and present show that among different civilization systems there exists the phenomenon of mutual exchange, merger and influence, such close association has become an important driving force for the development of different civilization systems. The system of human civilization must be diversified and open, only then can it have the vigor to live on without end.

Second, different civilization systems should hold an attitude of equality and mutual respect. Any kind of civilization system has its inherent requirement of heredity and self-existence, which is irreproachable. Different civilizations are required to respect each other, only then can conflicts be avoided. Development of civilization is differentiated in the early or late order, without the distinction of superiority and inferiority that should be the consensus of humankind. In human history, the conquering and invasion of one civilization by another is disastrous and immoral. In modern world history, European colonialists' invasion and occupation of the America is a typical conquer of civilization. This writer once visited an ancient Indian remains in Peru, a tourist guide of Spanish descendant gave a detailed description of the calamity caused by Spanish colonialists in those years, and sternly condemned the act of conquering civilization. This shows that the subjugation of civilization is morally intolerable in the world and cannot be forgiven by even the descendants of the conqueror.

Third, different civilization systems should hold an attitude of learning from each other's merits to make up for each other's deficiencies, they should not assume the air of self-importance and adamantly exclude other civilizations. "Harmony without uniformity" should become a normal state of coexistence among different civilizations. The process of the formation of Chinese civilization is also a process of the blending of different cultures and the "peace-harmony" idea formed in the process is of enlightenment significance to the world of today.

Today, humankind is moving toward a historical juncture of development. How to carry on self-existence, and how to carry on coexistence, has become a historic topic for different civilizations and different nations. "Building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity " is both the good wish of humanity since ancient times and a practical choice of humankind today.

Carried on the front page of People's Daily Overseas Edition, September 26, this article is translated by People's Daily Online