Page 3 - ON BUILDING A HUMAN COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED FUTURE

ON BUILDING A HUMAN COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED FUTURE

As we say in China, “A single flower doesn’t make spring, but a
hundred flowers bring spring to a whole garden.” If the world had just
one type of flower, no matter how beautiful, it would still be dull. Be it
the Chinese civilization or the world’s other civilizations, all are the
product of human progress.
I have been to the Louvre in France and the Palace Museum in
China. They both house hundreds upon hundreds of treasures, but what
draws so many crowds is that they show us the richness that comes with
diverse civilizations. Exchange and learning among us cannot be built on
reverence for one or the deprecation of another sole civilization. The
Chinese people had already come to recognize, over 2,000 years ago,
the truth behind the saying, “That things are different is the nature of
things.” Greater exchange and learning among us can enrich the palette
1
of human civilization, enable people of all countries to enjoy fuller
cultural lives, and create a future with more options.
Second, civilizations are equal, and it is precisely this equality
that makes exchange and learning among us possible. All civilizations
are equal in value and all have their strengths and their failings. The
perfect civilization simply doesn’t exist, but nor is there such a thing as
a civilization with no merit. There is no hierarchy here, no superior and
second-class.
I’ve visited many places, and one thing I like to do most is learn
about different civilizations from across the five continents: What makes
them different? What makes them unique? How do their people see the
world, see life, and what do they hold dear? I’ve been to Chichen Itza, a
window on the ancient Maya civilization, and to the Central Asian city
of Samarkand, which is still rich with the color of the ancient Islamic
civilization. I deeply believe that if we are to truly understand different
civilizations, we have to approach them as equals and with humility. If
we regard another civilization with condescension not only will we fail
to comprehend its profundity but may also find ourselves at odds with
it. History and today’s reality show that pride and prejudice are the two
biggest obstacles to exchange and learning among civilizations.
Third, civilizations are inclusive, and it is precisely this inclusiveness
that gives exchange and learning among us the drive we need to move
forward. The ocean is vast for it refuses no rivers. Every civilization is

84