On the morning of November 7, 2023, the Inter-Civilizational Communication and Global Development Forum, held by the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), opened in Beijing. Founding Chairman Zheng Bijian attended the forum upon invitation and delivered a keynote speech entitled “Achieving Through Inter-Civilization Exchanges A Modernization Befitting Our Own History and Culture”.

Chairman Zheng stated that the Chinese people have been striving for modernization for than 180 years since the Opium War of 1840. So has the Communist Party of China (CPC) for more than 100 years since the very day of its founding in 1921. The reason why the Chinese people, from generation to generation, have stayed headfastly on the path toward modernation lies in the fact that China is a country with a civilization that has always given prominence to unremitting self-improvement, reform and innovation. It is also for this very reason that I hold the long-standing, profound Chinese civilization as the historical underpinnings for China’s modernization drive.

Zheng emphasized that on its path to modernization, China is to achieve the rejuvenation of the Chinese civilization through civilized ideas, methods, means, and  manners. In other words, under the guidance of Marxism in contemporary China, we strive to creatively inherit and develop our own outstanding national cultural traditions while vigorouly drawing on the fine achievements of various civilizations in the contemporary world, thereby blazing a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Zheng also noted that in today’s world, while human society is advancing, it also faces many challenges. In the face of these challenges, not only do we need to apply the new-found knowledge of contemporary humanity, we also need to draw upon the wisdom accumulated through the long history of human development. The exchange and mutual learning of different civilizations is the fundamental way for countries to pursue their own paths of modernization with their own characteristics.

Zheng concluded that the new path of Chinese modernization and the new form of human civilization created by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China provide Chinese wisdom and solutions for building a better society for humanity. Looking to the future, China will continue to contribute to world peace, common development, and the exchange and mutual learning of world civilizations. Together with the people of all countries, China will promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and strive to contribute Chinese wisdom and strength to improving global governance.

The Inter-Civilizational Communication and Global Development Forum aims to strengthen exchanges and dialogues among different civilizations. About 150 political dignitaries, entrepreneurs, think tank experts, scholars, cultural personalities, and diplomats from over 30 countries attended the event.