Earlier this week in the Macao SAR, the 2025 International Forum on Mutual Learning Among Civilizations opened with a burst of ideas about how cultures can learn from each other to tackle global challenges 🌏🤝.
Over two days, 50+ experts, officials and scholars from nearly 10 countries dived into big questions: How do we balance individual freedom with social order? Can we blend moral values and economic growth? What's our relationship with nature? Here are the key takeaways:
- Diversity at the Core: Prof. Qian Chengdan of Peking University reminded us that diversity is civilization's heartbeat. Without varied voices, mutual learning loses its spark.
- Lessons from History: Prof. Li Guoqiang from the Chinese Academy of History highlighted how China's imperial exam system, keju, influenced civil service reforms in Britain and beyond.
- Macao as a Cultural Hub: Since the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, Macao has served as an East-West gateway, showing that openness and inclusiveness drive innovation.
Experts also pushed back against colonial-era ideas of civilizational superiority. Instead of a "clash of civilizations," they see a "return of civilizations"—with non-Western societies regaining confidence and rewriting the rules.
Back in July, Semarang in Indonesia marked the 620th anniversary of Admiral Zheng He's first westward voyage at the Sam Poo Kong Temple, a vivid reminder that centuries-old exchanges still shape today’s world.
"No single nation's wisdom can sustain human progress alone," said Prof. Qian. "Only through mutual learning can we build a shared future."
Reference(s):
Experts call for deeper civilizational dialogue at forum in Macao SAR
cgtn.com
