Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the role of innovation in the development of civilization and called for keeping pace with the times and exploring new ground, at the opening of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC) in Beijing on Wednesday.

The perpetual development of civilization needs to be inherited and protected from one generation to the next, Xi noted. 

The long history of the world reveals that any civilization needs to advance with the times and adapt itself, he added. 

Innovation should be utilized to bring impetus to the development of civilization and to activate the progress of civilization, thus creating the timeless fruits of civilization with eternal appeal, Xi also said.

The CDAC, held under the theme of "exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations and a community with a shared future", will run until May 22.