Poll: Diversity of civilizations drives human progress

A majority of international respondents view inter-civilization exchanges and mutual learning as a pivotal driver of human civilization, global peace and development, according to the results of a survey released on Friday.

Among the survey's 12,302 respondents in 41 countries, 89.8 percent agreed that intercultural engagement advances the common progress of humankind, with 91.8 percent of respondents from 18 to 24 years old and 91.6 percent of those ages 25 to 34 agreeing.

In the survey, which was jointly conducted by China Media Group and Renmin University of China, 90.8 percent of the respondents agreed that respecting the diversity of civilizations is a fundamental principle of global society, and 89.4 percent believed that enhancing international cultural exchanges can foster mutual understanding among people of all nations.

"It fully demonstrates that people worldwide have a strong aspiration for respecting civilizations and enhancing cultural exchanges," said Shen Haixiong, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and president of China Media Group.

He made the remarks on Friday at Inter-Civilization Exchanges and Mutual Learning: Cultural Inheritance and Innovation, a subforum of the two-day Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting, which began on Thursday in Beijing.

More than 140 guests from over 20 countries and regions attended the subforum, at which the survey results were released.

At the event, Renmin University of China announced the Global Research Program for Inter-Civilization Exchanges and Mutual Learning, which is dedicated to transforming the principles of the Global Civilization Initiative, put forward by President Xi Jinping in March 2023, into concrete actions.

Its goals and tasks include establishing research centers for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations around the world, forming a global media collaboration alliance, and creating high-end exchange forums, a global youth forum, a joint fund and an international award.

Zhang Donggang, Party secretary of Renmin University of China, said: "Only through protection and research can exchanges and mutual learning be achieved. This initiative aims to bring together domestic and international scholars from various fields to pioneer original, landmark and forward-looking research, collectively charting a new blueprint for the progress of human civilization."

Keynote speakers from home and abroad had an in-depth exchange of views on topics such as how digital technologies help boost cultural exchanges, inheritance and innovation.

Su Bomin, dean of the Dunhuang Academy, a national institution for the conservation, management and research of the world-famous Mogao Grottoes in Gansu province, shared the importance of embracing new technologies and strengthening efforts for cultural inheritance. "Our digitalized work plays an important role in academic research, cultural inheritance and exhibitions, as well as promoting Dunhuang culture on integrated media platforms," Su said.

Colin Chinnery, cofounder of the Beijing-based Sound Art Museum, said the museum is trying to go beyond the boundaries of music and explore how digital technologies and museums can create more enriching content. "We invite artists and musicians from all around the world to help us launch projects in China, to have audiences experience nature in a different way. All this is only possible through digital technologies," he said.