In his important speech at the Symposium on Cultural Inheritance and Development, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the vastness of Chinese civilization is due to the openness and tolerance of Chinese culture since ancient times. Civilization is colorful because of exchanges, and enriched because of mutual understanding. The exchange of civilizations and mutual understanding is an important impetus for the advancement of human civilization and the peaceful development of the world, and is a sure way to make the world a more beautiful place and the better lives of people from all countries. We must uphold the spirit of openness and inclusiveness, take a more proactive approach to learning from all the outstanding civilizational achievements created by humankind, and promote the construction of a modern civilization for the Chinese nation in the midst of civilizational exchanges and mutual learning.

    1. Diversity of civilizations is the premise for exchanges and mutual understanding

The world is colorful. Just as the universe cannot have only one color, the world cannot have only one civilization, one social system, one mode of development and one value system. All countries and peoples have contributed to the development of human civilization. The diversity of different peoples and civilizations must be fully respected.

Respect for the diversity of civilizations and proper treat the civilizations of different countries and peoples are the prerequisites and cornerstones of civilizational exchanges and mutual understanding. The world today has a population of 8 billion, more than 200 countries and regions, over 2,500 nationalities and more than 5,000 languages. Different peoples and civilizations have their own characteristics. There are similarities and differences among civilizations, which are mixed rather than single and interdependent rather than independent. Each civilization, in the course of its development, is inseparable from exchanges with other civilizations and mutual integration, and retains in its internal structure, to varying degrees, certain elements of other civilizations.

Marxism has scientifically elaborated the connotation of the diversity of human civilization by applying the materialist concept of history from the perspective of the dialectical relationship between the productive forces and the relations of production, the economic base and the superstructure. Civilization, as a concept opposed to barbarism and ignorance, is a product of social economic and human rationality that developed to a certain extent. The diversity of human civilization reflects the characteristics and modalities of social progress in all regions, ethnic groups and countries, as well as the richness and diversity of human social life. The overall content and values of world civilization are made up of the common values of all civilizations and are enriched, integrated, promoted and developed by the colourful diversity of different civilizations. Human civilization is a unity of universality and diversity, with universality integrated into diversity and diversity inseparable from universality. Human civilization exists in diversity, develops in diversity and advances in diversity. Mencius said, "It is an objective fact that objects differ in many ways, and that some of them differ in value by a factor of one or five, some by a factor of ten or a hundred, and some by a factor of a thousand or ten thousand." The diversity of civilizations is the driving force behind the progress of human civilization. It is precisely because civilizations are diverse and different that the world is vibrant.

2. Highlighting the distinctive characteristics of Chinese civilization through exchanges and mutual learning

Only through exchange and mutual learning can a civilization be full of vitality. Chinese civilization is a civilization that emerged on Chinese soil, and it is also a civilization that has been formed through continuous exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations. The 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization is itself a history of exchanges and mutual learning. General Secretary Xi Jinping has profoundly pointed out that Chinese civilization has outstanding continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness and peacefulness. These "five outstanding characteristics" fundamentally determine that the Chinese nation is bound to follow its own path, that the Chinese nation is progressive in keeping the right, not the old, and in respecting history, not repeating it, that national unity will always be China's core interest, and that the Chinese culture is open to all aspects of world civilization. As a responsible major country, China upholds the concept of global governance based on common cause and sharing, advocates the democratization of international relations, follows the common values of all humankind, adheres to the principle of sovereignty and equality, always stands on the side of international justice, insists on the equality of all countries, regardless of their size, strength or weakness, rich or poor, advocates seeking common ground while reserving differences, openness and inclusiveness, and learning from one another, and always acts as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a guardian of the international order; it will continue to contribute to the world's peace and development, and to the win-win situation of all countries in terms of cooperation and development.

There is no superiority or inferiority of civilizations. The exchange and mutual appreciation of civilizations requires us to respect the unique values of each civilization and its intrinsic relevance to a particular people and country. Chinese civilization is the only great civilization in the world that has never been interrupted and has developed in the form of a nation to the present day. It emphasizes unity and concentration, and even in the face of major setbacks, it remains firmly united, and in the midst of historical changes it has developed the common belief that the country cannot be divided, the nation cannot be disrupted, the people cannot be scattered and the civilization cannot be broken. Chinese civilization advocates mutual communication and opposes isolation and seclusion; it advocates coexistence and symbiosis and opposes dominance; it advocates maintaining harmony and opposes the law of the jungle. In today's world, these unique values of Chinese civilization are of great significance to the promotion of civilizational exchanges and mutual understanding, and to the historical and holistic progress of human civilization.

To build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, it is necessary to have a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the history of Chinese civilization. Only in this way can we more effectively promote the creative transformation and innovative development of the outstanding traditional Chinese culture and more vigorously promote the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics. The long-standing Chinese civilization has nurtured the valuable spiritual character of the Chinese nation and cultivated the noble values of the Chinese people. Only by not forgetting history can we open up the future, and only by inheriting well can we innovate well. To build a modern civilization for the Chinese nation, it is necessary to "open up new paths by following the rules of the ancients", to grasp the salient features and essence of the culture, and to use the past for the present and bring forth new ideas.

3. Firming cultural confidence and consolidating cultural subjectivity

 To build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, it is necessary for us, on the one hand, to uphold an open attitude, absorb excellent foreign cultures, promote the localization of foreign cultures, and promote the exchanges and mingling of different civilizations; on the other hand, we should be firm in our historical and cultural self-confidence, and, on the basis of the great historical practice of the Chinese nation and the practice of the contemporary era, profoundly grasp the laws of the development of Chinese civilization, so as to continuously forge a new splendor of the socialist culture with Chinese characteristics.

Firm cultural self-confidence has a bearing on the rise and fall of the nation, cultural security and the independence of the national spirit. Cultural self-confidence is a more basic, broader and deeper self-confidence, and is the most fundamental, deepest and most enduring force. General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out during the sixth collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee that "we should be firm in our historical and cultural self-confidence, insist on the use of the past for the present and the promotion of the new, comprehensively excavate the treasure trove of China's 5,000-odd years of civilization under the guidance of Marxism, activate the vital and excellent genes of the excellent traditional Chinese culture with Marxism and give them new connotations for the times, and infuse Marxism into the great spirit and rich wisdom of the Chinese nation, effectively connecting the essence of Marxist thought with the essence of the excellent traditional Chinese culture, fusing it into new theoretical advantages, and constantly climbing to new peaks of thought." Cultural confidence is the source of national confidence. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics is deeply rooted in the unique history and culture of the Chinese nation, and cultural confidence is the best interpretation of "Chinese characteristics". The Communist Party of China has combined Marxism with the 5,000 years of continuous and profound Chinese civilization, and has continuously pushed forward the modernization of Marxism. Adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics combines the basic principles of Marxism with the concrete reality of China and with the excellent traditional Chinese culture. The modern civilization of the Chinese nation is itself an organically unified cultural organism created by the "Two Combinations", and is the cultural form of Chinese-style modernization.

As the modern civilization of the Chinese nation shifts from historical precipitation and reality to future development, innovation is the inevitable choice, and it is the only choice. The "Two Combinations", especially the "Second Combination", is the innovative path for the development of the modern civilization of the Chinese nation. The "Two Combinations" are themselves innovations, opening up a vast space for theoretical and practical innovation. The "Second Combination" allows us to take the intellectual and cultural initiative, "enabling us to explore future-oriented theoretical and institutional innovations in a broader cultural space, fully utilizing the valuable resources of the excellent traditional Chinese culture". Inherent in the modern civilization of the Chinese nation is the unity of inheritance and development; inheritance is for the continuation of the historical lineage, and development is for the writing of a magnificent chapter for the times, both of which provide inexhaustible impetus for the evolution of civilization.

In building the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, it is crucial to uphold the Chinese cultural stance and adhere to the path of socialist cultural development with Chinese characteristics. To emphasize the Chinese cultural stance is to highlight our cultural subjectivity. If any culture wants to stand and go far, and if it wants to have leading, cohesive, shaping and radiating power, it must have its own subjectivity. Cultural confidence comes from our cultural subjectivity. With cultural subjectivity, there is a firm self in the cultural sense, cultural self-confidence has a fundamental basis, and the Communist Party of China has a strong cultural force to lead the times. On this basis, we need to further broaden our civilization vision, learn and draw on all the excellent civilization achievements of human society with an open mind, and draw on the excellent ideological and cultural resources to innovate and develop the Party's theories in the "sum total of human knowledge", in order to form a theoretical pattern that is inclusive of all and draws on a wide range of ideas. To this end, it is necessary to accelerate the construction of China's discourse and narrative system, tell China's stories well, disseminate China's voice well, present a credible, lovely and respectable image of China, and demonstrate the long history and humanistic heritage of Chinese civilization, so as to encourage the world to read and understand China, the Chinese people, the CPC and the Chinese nation. It will also carry out in-depth cultural exchanges and cooperation with other countries, participate extensively in the dialogue of world civilizations, deepen exchanges and mutual understanding among civilizations, and promote Chinese culture to the world.

4. Promoting the creative development of human civilization

Different civilizations, which unite the wisdom and contributions of different peoples, are not superior or inferior" said General Secretary Xi Jinping. Dialogue among civilizations should be pursued, not exclusion; exchanges should be pursued, not substitution. The history of humankind is a magnificent picture of exchanges, mutual appreciation and integration among civilizations. We should respect all civilizations, treat each other as equals, learn from each other, embrace all things, and promote the creative development of human civilization." In today's world, the exchanges and development of civilizations are becoming more and more extensive and in-depth. As a result of the expansion of cultural exchanges among countries, the improvement of transportation and communication tools, and the speedy transmission of information, the cultures of various countries are learning from each other and borrowing from each other, and there is a trend towards accelerated integration. The essence of world civilization continues to expand to all corners of the globe, to be shared by the entire human race. To build the modern civilization of the Chinese nation, we should not only base ourselves on China, but also look around the world. It should take in the essence of world civilization, dedicate to the world the fruits of its own cultural innovation and creativity, and make new and greater contributions to the progress of human civilization.

The best way to inherit history is to create a new history, and the greatest tribute to human civilization is to create a new form of human civilization. Chinese-style modernization has created a new form of human civilization. In the face of the great changes that the world has not seen in a century, the Party insists on thinking of the whole world and paying attention to the future destiny of mankind with a global vision and civilization vision. On the one hand, as China is getting closer to the center of the world stage, the Chinese-style modernization expands a new way for developing countries to move towards modernization; on the other hand, the prosperity of civilization and the progress of mankind have also made it possible for the outstanding achievements of all advanced civilizations in the world to provide reference for the continued development of modern civilization of the Chinese nation.