Li Zhirong, an archaeologist at the Cultural Heritage Institute of Zhejiang University, still felt proud of her participation in the restoration of the nine-storey Basantapur Palace complex at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Nepal.

Li led the cultural relics digitization team from Zhejiang University to Kathmandu twice to digitally record and reproduce the restoration process of the palace complex, especially the Nepalese shingle building traditional craft.

The achievements of the digital technology used in the restoration of the temple are the contemporary continuation of the cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and Nepal since the ancient Silk Road, Li said.

As China's first large-scale cultural relics aid project in Nepal, the restoration of the temple represents China's efforts in enhancing exchanges among varied cultures and civilizations in recent years.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed the importance of promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations on different occasions.

From his congratulatory letter to the General Assembly of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia in April to his speech at the meeting on cultural heritance and development in June, deepening exchanges among civilizations is always on Xi's agenda.

Noting the establishment of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia is conducive to protecting Asian cultural heritage, Xi said it is also deepening exchanges among Asian civilizations, making the garden of world civilizations more flourishing and contributing to the progress of human civilization.

And during his speech at the meeting on cultural heritance and development, Xi noted the peaceful nature of Chinese civilization determines that China will continue to pursue exchanges and mutual learning with different civilizations rather than cultural hegemony.

At the recent national meeting on the work of public communication and culture, where Xi Jinping Thought on Culture was first introduced, Xi made requirements in seven aspects to enhance public communication and culture in his instruction made public at the meeting. One of the requirements is "promoting exchanges and mutual learning."

Action speaks louder than words. The opening ceremony of the recently-concluded 19th Hangzhou Asian Games in east China's Hangzhou City expressed the world's second largest country's appreciation of different civilizations.

The artistic performance of "Tides Surging in Asia" at the opening ceremony impressed the world, showcasing both the charm of traditional Chinese cultural elements and the wonderful scenes of landmark buildings in Asian countries and regions. This demonstrated China's warm embrace of different Asian countries at the event.

This echoed the old saying once quoted by Xi: "A single flower does not make spring, while one hundred flowers in full bloom bring spring to the garden."

China has been actively involved in fostering cultural exchanges, said Li Qun, China's deputy minister of culture and tourism, at a press conference on a white paper titled "A Global Community of Shared Future: China's Proposals and Actions."

Noting China has signed cooperation agreements in the fields of culture, cultural heritage, and tourism with 157 countries, Li said more than 500 exhibitions have been organized to showcase cultural relics.

In addition, joint archaeological endeavors have been conducted with 24 countries, resulting in the repatriation of over 1,800 lost cultural relics to their home country, Li added.

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(With input from Xinhua)