Xi: Enhance cultural self-confidence, strive to write a new chapter

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06:00

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for enhancing cultural self-confidence, as he delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations on Wednesday.

Speaking at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, he also called for continuing exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations on the basis of China's achievements and to strive to write a new brilliant chapter.

"Asia is one of the earliest human inhabited places and one of the most important birthplaces of human civilizations," Xi said.

The continent makes up one-third of the land on earth and is home to two thirds of the world's population, including 47 countries and more than 1,000 ethnic groups, he noted.

People in Asia have made "brilliant achievements" in the course of thousands of years of development, he added. "These are the precious treasures of all human beings."

"Looking back in history, our ancestors in Asia have long been engaged in exchanges and learning from each other," he went on.

Xi cited the ancient trade routes that helped spread silk, tea, ceramics, spices, paintings and sculptures all over Asian countries as examples of such early exchanges.

"These are records of the inter-civilizational dialogue among Asian ancestors."

The modern-day Belt and Road Initiative is built on these channels for exchanges and mutual learning, and Asian civilizations have grown stronger thanks to such interactions, Xi also said.

"The splendid Asian civilization is a profound chapter in the history of world civilization," he added.

Representatives from 47 Asian and other nations are participating in the conference, whose theme is "Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Asian Civilizations and a Community with a Shared Future.”

The conference also includes discussion forums, an Asian culture carnival and Asian Civilization Week.