If you talk to the animals,

they will talk with you,

and you will know each other.

If you do not talk to them,

you will not know them,

and what you do not know,

you will fear.

What one fears, one destroys.

—Chief Dan George (1899-1981) of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, a Coast Salish band in Canada

John Thornton, Chair Emeritus of the Brookings Institution, one of the most influential think tanks in the United States, and Co-chair of the Asia Society, established in 1956 to increase American understanding of Asia and improve Asian-American cultural relations, cited the chief's quote to illustrate the need for countries to understand each other and see each other's point of view.

"There is no more important topic than the one we will be discussing this morning. I think of it as discussing the world we wish to be in, the world we wish to create for ourselves, our children, our grandchildren and all future generations," Thornton said during the Inter-Civilizational Communication and Global Development Forum in Beijing on November 7.

The three-day meeting, attended by 150 experts from more than 30 countries, was hosted by the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The theme of the meeting was Tradition of Civilization and Paths to Modernization. At the event, participants expressed their concerns about increasing global challenges and called for intercultural communication and global development.

"No matter where you come from, no matter what civilization you represent, no matter what beliefs you hold, we all need to return to the responsibility, conscience, rationality and sincerity of human beings. We need to draw wisdom from different civilizations in order to face the global crisis brought by regional conflicts, climate change, food insecurity and decoupling," Li Wentang, Vice President of the China National Academy of Governance, noted in his forum address.

"The purpose of hosting this forum is to establish an international exchange platform for various parties to participate in and converse with each other, to contribute wisdom and strength to promote the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations among nations and to build a community with a shared future for humanity," Xie Chuntao, Vice President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said.

Speaking at the forum, Zheng Bijian, founding Chairman of the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, said he believes that exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations are the fundamental way for all countries to follow a path of modernization based on their own characteristics.

Respecting diversity

There is no set model for modernization; the model that suits the country's individual circumstances makes for the best one. But for a long time, modernization seemed to mean Westernization and developing countries had no other option but "had to follow the path of Western developed countries to achieve modernization," Xie said. "While adhering to its own ideas, values and basic systems, the CPC is absorbing the common achievements of human civilization created by other countries and regions, including Western countries," he added.

Zheng echoed Xie and said that China calls for inclusiveness, coexistence and mutual learning among different civilizations, which can in turn promote common development and prosperity.

Dilma Rousseff, former Brazilian President and President of the New Development Bank, a multilateral bank established by BRICS (an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in 2015, noted that frank and respectful dialogue between different civilizations and countries will promote consensus and cooperation.

In Rousseff's view, most of the world's wealth and resources are now concentrated in the Global North, a minority, while the Global South is experiencing growing inequality and poverty.

However, some voices in the international community are advocating "decoupling," which contributes to the weakening of globalization. In a world where different regions are increasingly interdependent, it is imperative to maintain strong links and safeguard the global value and supply chains to work toward shared prosperity.

In addressing global challenges, she stressed that double standards and hegemony are no longer acceptable. Multiple civilizations must step forward and work together to build a global governance system characterized by multilateralism, fairness and reason.

"The different objectives and development models followed by different nations cannot be ignored. A multicultural world can't be forced to choose a single path. Often, they are looking with a single view of democracy, which leads to the weakening of democracies in many countries," Rousseff added.

Dialogue in demand

"As of now, the English language dominates global communication channels. For many of those in the world who must be a part of a dialogue of civilizations, if you don't speak English, you are almost absent from these channels," Thornton said. "This must change, otherwise, we do not have a dialogue. We have a monologue."

Apart from what people say to one another, Thornton emphasized it is what the ordinary person hears that matters. He cited a survey, conducted recently by American political consultant Frank Luntz, with ordinary Americans answering questions related to China, Sino-American relations and their attitudes toward the Chinese people.

The survey's results suggested that despite today's toxic political world, ordinary Americans like the Chinese people, value Chinese culture and traditions, and believe that the U.S. and China can make common cause by providing security to the world.

But the most important finding came when Luntz asked ordinary Americans what they thought of the term "win-win" when used to describe U.S.-China relations. He learned that they disliked the term because some Americans think that in sports there is always a winner and a loser. They never see two winners. "So Frank advised my senior Chinese friends not to use the term win-win," Thornton said, adding that "mutual benefit" was the term Luntz had suggested.

"I go into this level of detail to illustrate how vital it is to communicate in ways that are actually heard," he stressed.

Alexis Y. Lavis, an associate professor at the School of Philosophy at Renmin University of China, told Beijing Review that China and the West need to talk to each other more often as most of the problems that exist are "communication issues" and stem from "a lack of mutual real or deep understanding and then familiarity."

According to Prof. Lavis, it is "crucial to multiply, even over-multiply, meetings and exchanges among students and teachers."

He discussed the concept of "dialogue" and its deeper meaning, particularly from a philosophical perspective with reference to ancient Greek language (dia-logos). According to Prof. Lavis, dialogue doesn't mean talking to each other so much as trying to understand each other, and seeking meaning in and through words and speeches.

Former Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme said in a pre-recorded video message to the forum that it is important to remember that a country "is more than its structures, more than its institutions, and more than its leadership. It is its people that give it its vitality."

"Promoting people-to-people exchange is therefore of paramount importance, encompassing interactions among businesses, scientists, scholars, students, families and even tourists. This dynamic exchange is a catalyst for understanding, trust and cooperation," he said.

He stressed the importance of the China-European Union relationship, with both sides embracing the ideals of multipolarity and economic globalization, and reaffirming their commitment to multilateralism.

"It is crucial to reinvigorate this partnership with enhanced trust and reduced mutual suspicion, with genuine openness over restrictions and shared responsibility over exclusion," he concluded.

(Print Edition Title: The Art of Conversation)

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

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