'There is a prospect greater than the sea, and that is the sky; there is a prospect greater than the sky, and that is the human soul." This quote from French writer Victor Hugo was referenced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in his speech at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on March 27, 2014.

In this speech, Xi presented China's perspective on the term "civilization" to the world for the first time.

He said, "We need a mind that is broader than the sky as we approach different civilizations... We should encourage different civilizations to respect each other and live in harmony, so as to turn exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations into a bridge promoting friendship between peoples around the world, an engine driving human society, and a bond cementing world peace."

Xi has also cited people's different beverage preferences to illustrate the coexistence of civilizations. In April 2014, during a keynote speech at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, he noted that the Chinese people enjoy tea, while the Belgians love their beer.

For Xi, the moderate tea drinker and the passionate beer lover symbolize two distinct ways of understanding life and the world, both equally valuable. When good friends get together, they may want to drink heartily to celebrate their friendship or quietly have a cup of tea while chatting about life.

In March 2019, Xi received the original French version of An Introduction to The Analects of Confucius, published in 1688, as a national gift from his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron. This precious gift is currently housed in China's National Library.

In May 2024, on the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations, Xi reciprocally gifted Macron several Chinese translations of French novels. Imbued with the fragrance of Eastern ink, these literary works symbolically returned to their place of origin.

From six decades of friendship to a two-way journey of intellectual and cultural exchange, China and France have woven a remarkable narrative of civilizational dialogue.

Xi has always been a strong advocate for exchange and mutual learning among different civilizations.

He has proposed the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity, as well as the Global Civilizations Initiative, contributing Chinese know-how to the advancement of human civilizations.

China upholds the principle of promoting exchange through culture and fostering understanding through exchange. This demonstrates respect and appreciation for other civilizations. Together with all parties, China seeks to create a tapestry of mutual learning and understanding among diverse civilizations.

The world is undergoing great changes unseen in a century. Addressing common challenges and moving toward a better future together require not only the power of economy and technology, but also the combined strength of all the world's civilizations.

As the futures of all countries are closely connected, we need a mindset broader than the sky, one that transcends boundaries.

Inclusiveness, coexistence, exchange and mutual learning among different civilizations have an irreplaceable role in advancing humanity's modernization process and nurturing the colorful garden of world civilizations. 

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

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