Forum on Chinese civilization and China's path held in Beijing

A two-day academic forum on the theme, "Chinese Civilization and China's Path", opened at the Academy of Chinese Culture in Beijing on Friday.

The forum was co-hosted by the Academy of Chinese Culture (Central Institute of Socialism) and the Kuhn Foundation. Over 20 Chinese and foreign scholars attended to talk about Chinese civilization and the cultural origin of China's path, as well as communication of diverse civilizations.

Pan Yue, first deputy president of the Academy of Chinese Culture, said China's path is deeply rooted in its civilization and has provided an institutional model for the modernization of developing countries.

Pan also pointed out that only through communication and mutual learning can different civilizations forge true common values for all mankind.

Robert Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, acknowledged China's path of its own characteristics, which should not be underappreciated on its achievements, and praised China's efforts on poverty alleviation, which "is a powerful story to undermine biases and change people's understanding of China."

Kerry Brown, professor of Chinese Studies and Director of the Lau China Institute, King's College, said many countries have been beset by confusion about how to respond to an extraordinary and novel transformation that for the first time in modern history, the world has a large country, China, that does not subscribe to the same set of values as those of the other large economies.

Brown added that there should be more mutual understanding and fruitful dialogues so the West and the East can balance with each other.

When giving suggestions to better tell the "Chinese story", Ma Rong, professor at the Department of Sociology at Peking University, said that "scholars should sort out a set of Chinese discourses, such as improving translation and explanation of terms with Chinese characters, not only to inherit the traditional essence of Chinese civilization, but also to reduce misunderstanding in dialogues with the Western world."