GCI fosters dialogue among civilizations

On June 10, the world celebrated the first International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. Against this backdrop, it is important to analyze and understand China's Global Civilization Initiative.

The GCI is rooted in the belief that the world is home to distinct cultures, living philosophies, economic development models, diverse environments, people with varying beliefs, and countries with unique geographies.

Similarly, each country is a mini-world of its own. The countries host people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, preferences, choices, capabilities and beliefs, along with numerous resources and economic opportunities. However, the individuals in a country can harmonize their diversity and work toward development, peace and a secure living.

Therefore, we must acknowledge and honor diversity while seeking opportunities to create synergies for a better future. The GCI embraces this ideology, advocates respect for diversity and promotes harmony.

The idea of harmony is not new to China; it has deep roots in its civilization. As Confucius said, "A gentleman aims at harmony and not at uniformity." This reflects the fundamental truth that people hold differing ideas and preferences. Nonetheless, they can coexist peacefully and reap the benefits of peace in terms of prosperity by adhering to the ideology of harmony, which fosters respect for diversity and cooperative coexistence.

President Xi Jinping proposed the GCI on March 15, 2023 while discussing the initiative at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting.

The proposal is a well-thought-out, constructed and comprehensive initiative with multiple dimensions. A brief analysis indicates that GCI has at least eight distinct characteristics.

First, respect for diversity is the guiding principle of the GCI. The initiative acknowledges that we belong to distinct cultures, believe in different systems, have distinct histories, and are in various stages of development. Thus, uniformity is a self-perceived illusion, and no civilization can claim superiority over others.

We must respect and appreciate other cultures, recognize others' contributions, open our minds, and free ourselves from self-proclaimed greatness, paving the way for refining our thoughts and practices.

Second, the GCI idealizes the goal of a harmonious and prosperous world. It promotes humanity and equality among humans.

It subscribes to the ideology that everyone has the right to dream and pursue a life of peace and prosperity.

Third, the GCI emphasizes that the world should uphold the value of learning and not let pride and prejudice hinder the pursuit of knowledge. Learning is key to evolving, innovating and pursuing modernization. Therefore, we should not hesitate to recognize the contribution of other civilizations and learn from them. There should be no illusion of self-greatness.

Fourth, the GCI negates the "End of History" theory, which argues that humanity has reached the ultimate level of development and that the ideological evolution of humans has been completed, with liberal ideology and Western-style democracy acquiring universality. In other words, it put an end to learning and human modernization and tries to snatch the power of imagination and innovation. This goes against human nature and the law of nature.

The GCI advocates the idea that human civilization always strives to be creative to progress and seek improvement. Only the drivers and actors change, not the human aspiration to modernize.

Fifth, China believes that learning should be a two-way affair: learning from and imparting knowledge to others. Learning from others has helped China grow and become the world's second-largest economy, and allowed it to pursue modernization. Now, as a major economic and technological power, China has both capability and responsibility to share its experience and knowledge with others. It has launched numerous capacity-building and know--ledge-sharing programs under the Global Development Initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative and South-South cooperation, among others.

Sixth, the GCI adheres to the ancient Chinese philosophy of shared prosperity. This enduring philosophy, for example, is championed by Confucius, who believed that shared prosperity should be the leading instrument for engagement to achieve sustainable and secure relationships.

China implemented such philosophy in a stepwise manner. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it focused on reforming the country and improving people's livelihoods. After achieving success in reform and opening-up and laying the groundwork for national development, China began to share its prosperity with the world through various initiatives, such as the BRI.

Seventh, the GCI negates the theory of the clash of civilizations and promotes common aspirations of all peoples for peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom.

China believes in peaceful and cooperative living with other civilizations and countries. China also believes in the equality of humanity. China urges the world to abandon the mentality of the clash of civilizations, prevent ideological confrontation and promote dialogue among civilizations.

Eighth, the GCI encourages cultural and people-to-people exchanges instead of hindering comings and goings with sanctions and pan-security excuses to sever links between nations. With richer content and broader channels for exchanges, people can share mutual understandings, build common and comprehensive security and jointly enhance advancement of humanity.

In conclusion, the GCI promotes the philosophy of harmony in diversity, equality and dialogue over confrontation, to establish networks of inter-civilization dialogue and peaceful, cooperative coexistence. China's proposal and celebration for the international day devoted to dialogue of civilizations showcases its will and action to share its experience, prosperity and cultural attractions to jointly create a harmonious world.

The author is CEO of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilization Research and Development in Pakistan.