Editor's note: Min Rui is a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

As the Ministerial Meeting on Global Dialogue Among Civilizations was convened in Beijing from July 10 to 11, the world stands at a cultural crossroads. Under the theme "Safeguarding the Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development," the gathering reflects an emerging consensus: in today's divided and rapidly changing world, cultural innovation is as vital as economic and technological advancements.

China's Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) offers a timely vision. It proposes that nations should not only protect and pass down their cultural heritage, but also reimagine it creatively in modern contexts. This dual focus on inheritance and innovation sets a clear direction for how civilizations can thrive in the 21st century– by finding new meaning in old stories and new tools to share them with the world.

Cultural innovation with Chinese characteristics

China's blueprint outlines a "new cultural operating system" that values diversity, encourages creative adaptation and leverages modern industries and technologies to turn cultural traditions into living, global narratives.

This vision is already visible in practice. The video game "Black Myth: Wukong," based on the 16th-century classic "Journey to the West," fuses traditional Chinese mythology with cutting-edge visuals. It has drawn global attention for blending ancient tales with immersive, modern storytelling, offering a uniquely Chinese worldview through a form that resonates with today's digital generation.

The animated films "Ne Zha" and "Ne Zha 2" provide another example. These films reimagine a classic figure from Chinese folklore as a rebellious, misunderstood youth, connecting emotionally with contemporary audiences, breaking box office records and proving that culturally grounded stories can achieve broad international appeal when retold through modern cinematic language.

Culture needs markets: The Pop Mart phenomenon

Cultural innovation cannot succeed on ideas alone. It also needs the support of markets, manufacturing and distribution infrastructure to thrive truly. The global rise of Labubu, a mischievous figure from the Chinese designer toy brand Pop Mart, demonstrates this principle vividly.

Labubu may look like a whimsical character from a fantasy world, but behind its success lies a highly coordinated system. Pop Mart combines creative storytelling with strategic brand positioning, consumer psychology and trend analysis. Yet what truly sets it apart is the strength of China's manufacturing ecosystem and retail innovations such as the "blind box" model and pop-up vending machines, which enable mass production, efficient logistics and gamified shopping experiences.

This synergy between culture and commerce is crucial. Without industrial capability and a responsive market, even the best ideas can remain marginal. In this sense, Labubu is not just a toy; it is a case study in how cultural innovation becomes sustainable when backed by a robust ecosystem. It illustrates that without a commercial strategy and industrial capacity, even the best cultural ideas cannot scale.

AI as a cultural connector

Artificial intelligence(AI) is now becoming a vital part of this new cultural ecosystem, not as a replacement for human creativity, but as a tool for broader access and deeper understanding. Forty years ago, understanding another culture required books, language study, or travel. Today, AI-powered translation, social media content and interactive tools are making the world's cultural diversity more visible and accessible than ever before.

Rather than focusing solely on national representation or technological rivalry, the real opportunity lies in using AI to support cross-cultural learning. Whether developed in China or elsewhere, AI systems should serve as assistants to human civilization, helping people engage with foreign texts, ideas and traditions in meaningful ways.

The goal is not cultural dominance, but shared access– tools that make it easier for a student in Africa to read Tang poetry, or a teenager in South America to discover Kazakh epics. In this sense, AI becomes a bridge, not just between languages, but between civilizations.

Beyond clash: Toward cultural coexistence

GCI also offers a compelling counterpoint to Samuel Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations" thesis, which predicted inevitable conflict between major cultural blocs. Rather than viewing civilizational differences as a source of division, China proposes that diversity can serve as a foundation for cooperation and creativity.

In today's multipolar world, civilizations are no longer isolated from one another. From African storytelling collectives to Southeast Asian art festivals, from indigenous traditions in Latin America to digital revivals of Central Asian myths, the global cultural landscape is blooming with complexity and vitality.

Against this backdrop, China's model, technologically empowered, rooted in tradition, and open to global participation, demonstrates how civilizational renewal can occur without confrontation. It encourages a world in which every culture can grow, adapt and share its voice.

A Shared future, enriched by many pasts

The Ministerial Meeting on Global Dialogue Among Civilizations is not just a forum for dialogue. It is a signal of a larger shift toward a world where innovation is not only measured in patents or profits, but also in ideas, symbols, and stories.

China's innovation path offers a valuable framework: One that respects the past, embraces the tools of the present and looks toward a future where civilizations connect through creativity rather than clash through misunderstanding.

In this new operating system for global civilization, cultural difference is not a threat. It is a treasure. And with the help of technology, markets and mutual respect, that treasure can be shared more widely than ever before.

The future of civilization will not be a monologue. It can, and must, be a chorus.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on X, formerly Twitter, to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)