People visit an exhibition on "river civilizations" at the National Maritime Museum of China in north China's Tianjin Municipality, March 22, 2024. An exhibition on "river civilizations" was launched at the National Maritime Museum of China in north China's Tianjin Municipality on Friday. The exhibition, themed on ancient civilizations born in the world's major river valleys, will last until July 28. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

The understanding of the modernization of China and the promotion of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations is crucial, said leading experts at a forum in Beijing on Monday.

The experts made remarks at the Forum on Global China Studies Research, co-organized by the World Association for China Studies and the Center for Promotion of Cultural Development of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Xie Fuzhan, President of WACS and former President of CASS said that Chinese modernization represents a new form of human civilization, so scholars must speed up the construction of the theoretical system to promote a better understanding of the concept.

“We must maintain an open and inclusive attitude, draw valuable lessons from both China and abroad, and help build a community with a shared future for mankind,” said Xie.

"Chinese modernization, through mutual learning with other civilizations, will greatly enrich the garden of world civilizations," added Xie.

Over 60 well renowned experts and scholars from over 20 countries, regions, and international organizations participated in the discussion.

Ideological and geo-economic divisions will disrupt the future of governance, said Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, a professor of international law at the Fluminense Federal University in Brazil. “The time has come to understand the new Chinese approaches and ideas for global governance.”

“The Chinese approach is an antidote to growing political and social polarization,” said Carvalho.

He added that the Belt and Road Initiative is an example as the spirit of the Silk Road evokes openness to the circulation of new ideas and knowledge. “These initiatives encourage intercultural dialogue, which will allow us to discover new ways of thinking and living reality.”

At the forum, a WACS website was launched to provide literature resources for scholars at home and abroad. The website “China Studies Portal-WACS” can be accessed at www.wacs.org.cn.