"The first defining feature of Chinese civilization is that while embracing the world, it has always upheld its own subjectivity," said Zheng Yongnian, director of the Advanced Institute of Global and Contemporary China Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen). The second feature, he added, is that after achieving modernization, China has extended the ladder it climbed to help other countries realize shared prosperity.

Zheng made the remarks at the 2025 International Forum on Mutual Learning Among Civilizations, which kicked off in China's Macao Special Administrative Region on December 16. The event brings together more than 50 leaders from governments, global groups and top experts from about 10 countries around the world.