What role can exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations play in an era of transformation and instability unseen in a century? On the occasion of the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting, CGTN and Renmin University of China jointly conducted a survey covering 12,302 respondents across 41 countries worldwide. The survey reveals that respondents widely recognize inter-civilization exchanges and mutual learning as a crucial driving force for advancing human civilization and promoting world peace and development. They positively assess the pivotal role of cultural inheritance and innovation in advancing human modernization. The Global Civilization Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping has evolved into a broad consensus for addressing global challenges.

From consensus to action: Global Civilization Initiative gains widespread acclaim

As another major public good provided by China to the international community following the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative has garnered widespread acclaim from global respondents, with its core propositions constituting a Chinese approach for the international community to address global challenges. In the survey, 90.8 percent of the respondents agree that respect for the diversity of civilizations is a fundamental principle of the international community, and 90.2 percent believe that addressing global challenges requires joint efforts by all nations, as no country can remain unscathed. A total of 88.5 percent state that cultural innovation and preservation are of equal importance, and 89.4 percent call for strengthening international cultural exchanges to foster mutual understanding among peoples.

The survey reveals that global respondents universally uphold the critical importance of preserving autonomy in determining development paths and addressing cultural differences. A total of 88.8 percent of the respondents maintain that all nations possess the inherent right to determine their own development paths and social systems in accordance with their national conditions. Among the 41 countries surveyed, the top 10 nations expressing the strongest agreement with this principle are all members of the Global South. Among them, 87.7 percent hold the view that differences in culture and values should not serve as grounds for international conflict, and 86.6 percent of the respondents consider it disrespectful to attempt to forcefully alter the cultural traditions of other countries.

From preservation to innovation: Chinese modernization enriches the understanding of modernization

Throughout the development of modernization in human society, exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations have consistently played an irreplaceable role. In the survey, 89.8 percent of the respondents agree that exchanges among different cultures foster common progress for humanity, with 91.8 percent of the 18-24 age group and 91.6 percent of the 25-34 age group expressing agreement. A total of 85.9 percent of the respondents consider that the practices of modernization across nations enrich the diversity of human civilizations, and 89.4 percent of respondents agree that international people-to-people exchanges contribute to enhancing mutual understanding among peoples of all nations.

The successful practice of Chinese modernization in recent years has continuously enriched the international community's understanding of modernization. According to the survey, 83.4 percent of respondents believe that every nation's modernization path should be grounded in its own cultural traditions, while 87.1 percent hold that modernization means not abandoning traditions but rejuvenating them through innovation. Among the respondents, 88.5 percent consider cultural innovation and traditional preservation to be equally important, and 82.9 percent of those surveyed believe modern development theories should be integrated with their own cultural traditions.

From media to technology: Innovation a distinctive feature of Chinese culture

In the assessment of the characteristics of Chinese culture, 60.6 percent of respondents regard innovativeness as the most important feature. Among these, technological innovation is particularly noteworthy, with 77.2 percent of respondents place significant emphasis on Chinese technology and its applications, surpassing interest in way of life, traditional culture and popular culture. In the realm of information access channels for Chinese culture, digitally driven media platforms – deeply integrated with technological advancement – hold a dominant position. Chinese social media, film and television content, along with technology products and services, are emerging as powerful vehicles for disseminating Chinese culture.

The survey reveals that 81.6 percent of the respondents believe China's global cultural influence and soft power are rising rapidly, with approval rates exceeding 80 percent among respondents aged 44 and below. A total of 75.4 percent of the respondents affirm the significant contribution of Chinese civilization to the development of world civilizations, and 70.3 percent of respondents positively acknowledge the reference value of Chinese civilization for developing countries. Of the respondents, 70.6 percent recognize that Chinese civilization offers new perspectives for global governance, with approval rates specifically reaching 73.5 percent among those aged 18 to 24, 75.8 percent among those aged 25 to 34, and 73 percent among those aged 35 to 44.

An online panel survey methodology was employed for the poll, with samples aligned with each country's census-based age and gender distribution. The survey encompassed both representative Global South nations and developed countries.