Preamble

The Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations is a landmark international event. Structured around “Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations and an Asian Community with a Shared Future,” this meeting is aimed at spreading the splendid achievements of Asian civilizations and other countries, building a platform for mutual learning and joint development to enhance Asian cultural confidence. It will improve the cooperation and mutual trust in Asia, lead to a consensus on the development of Asia and stimulate innovation in this continent, which will provide conceptual and spiritual support for building “an Asian Community with a Shared Future and a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping, as a global statesman, proposes to build a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind. From a strategic perspective, he explains the uniqueness and significance of Asian civilizations to Asia and the rest of the world and puts forward the Asian civilization development initiative based on exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations. When giving a speech on “Deepening Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations for an Asian Community with a Shared Future”, he said, “China will work with other countries to facilitate exchanges among the youth, non-governmental organizations, subnational entities, and media organizations, to create a network of exchanges and cooperation between think tanks, to explore new models of cooperation, and to deliver more solid outcomes in diverse forms. Such efforts will boost exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.” The Think Tank Subforum intends to encourage exchanges of ideas among Asian scholars, promote mutual learning among Asian civilizations, and explore ways to build a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind. As one of the six parallel subforums of the conference, the Subforum on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Asian Civilizations and a Community with a Shared Future for Asia is hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and its National Institute for Global Strategy.

Guests present at the conference come from all walks of life. They are highly representative and professional. While they come from different countries and fields, they are all supporters of, researchers on, and participants in Asian civilizations. They are from various Asian countries and countries in Europe, America, Oceania, and Africa, as well as relevant international organizations. There are not only former think tank dignitaries and officials but also heads of well-known think tanks or research institutes, world-famous scholars, and young academic talent. Chinese participants include representatives from high-end national think tanks, research institutes, universities, and the cultural sector, as well as government bodies. In their speeches, they all agree that strengthening the building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind will promote exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations and lead Asia towards economic prosperity and social progress. Most Asian countries have a similar development history, with similar development stages, opportunities, risks, and challenges. It is of great significance for us to improve exchanges and mutual learning so that we can achieve better development in the future and play a more prominent role in the international community. The diverse, splendid civilizations established in Asia and the fine tradition of inclusiveness and mutual learning they forged is bound to glow with the splendor of the new era and play an even more significant role in world civilization against the circumstance of huge changes in the international landscape.

This think tank forum features various forms and profound exchanges. After academic seminars centering on the theme of the conference were held, the foreign experts and scholars organized several academic lectures, symposiums, academic exchanges in relevant research institutes such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Tsinghua University, and the University of International Relations.

To share these precious insights of the participants, we specially compile a collection of their articles, which will be published by Social Sciences Academic Press under the titles of The Way to Build a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind and Asian Civilizations and Asian Development. I would like to express my deep sense of gratitude to the authors and publishers for their hard work.

Cai Fang

Vice President, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)

Chairman, National Institute for Global Strategy, CASS

August 27, 2019