Over the course of its 5,000 years of civilization, China has undergone frequent transformations to produce a rich and vital cultural heritage as the only uninterrupted civilization in the world. From traditional garment Hanfu to classic publications like "Siku Quanshu (Complete Library in Four Sections)," the country bears countless cultural assets that have endured the vicissitudes of time, and it now eyes further advancement in cultural prosperity.
"With unwavering cultural confidence, a profound sense of mission and a spirit of relentless endeavor, we must unite our efforts to create a new culture for our times," said Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting on cultural inheritance and development on Friday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, noted the importance of building a leading country in culture and fostering modern Chinese civilization.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee has put cultural advancement as one of its priorities, with a slew of new ideas, viewpoints and judgments that are fundamental guidance for the work in communication, ideology, and culture fields put forth.
Xi urges 'a comprehensive, profound' understanding of history
A comprehensive and profound understanding of that history is essential to promoting the creative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture more effectively and to developing modern Chinese civilization, President Xi noted as he toured exhibitions on the origins of Chinese civilization at the Chinese Academy of History on Friday afternoon.
Xi highlighted the integral role of archaeology in deepening the understanding of the rich and profound Chinese culture. He emphasized the significance of conducting research and providing interpretations regarding the origins of Chinese civilization, hoping that scholars would continue to enhance their research endeavors.
Chinese President Xi Jinping visits the Chinese Academy of History before a meeting on cultural inheritance and development in Beijing, capital of China, June 2, 2023. /Xinhua
The Chinese president also paid a visit to the China National Archives of Publications and Culture (CNAPC) in the northern suburbs of the national capital Beijing on Thursday afternoon, where he expressed his concern for the invaluable classic publications that have endured the vicissitudes of time.
Xi emphasized the institution's primary responsibility of collection while also encouraging it to strengthen the research on collected items.
"Given our prosperous nation, stable society in our time, and our willingness and ability to inherit our own culture, we need to do well in advancing cultural prosperity, and that's a big deal," Xi told the staff there.
'Openness and inclusiveness': Xi's call for cultural innovation
Consistency, unity, inclusivity, and peacefulness are some of the prominent features of Chinese civilization, Xi pointed out at the Friday meeting in his call for cultural confidence, as well as openness and inclusiveness for adapting foreign cultures into China's local context.
That consistency of Chinese civilization determines on a fundamental level that the Chinese people must follow their own path, and its originality determines the enterprising spirit of the Chinese people, Xi said, adding that inclusivity determines the harmonious coexistence of diverse religious beliefs in China and the open-minded and inclusive mentality toward various civilizations around the world.
Its peaceful nature determines that China will continue to pursue exchanges and mutual learning with different civilizations rather than cultural hegemony, that China will not impose its own values and political system on others, and that China will promote cooperation rather than confrontation and will not create exclusive blocs, the Chinese president added.
Specifically, Xi stressed the need for integrating Marxism and China's fine traditional culture to develop socialism with Chinese characteristics within the Chinese civilization. Despite their different cultural roots, the integration will create a new type of culture that fits within Chinese modernization, and it will expand the cultural foundation of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, he explained.