Over the past millennia, the Chinese nation has created an extraordinary civilization marked by intellectual, cultural and material progress. "If one does not learn about China from the continuity of its long history, there is no way for him or her to understand ancient, modern or future China," President Xi Jinping said while attending a recent meeting on cultural inheritance and development. In other words, to understand the present, and beyond, you have to know the past.

Xi elaborated on five prominent features of the Chinese civilization, which he referred to as "the only uninterrupted civilization in the world." Its continuity determines that the Chinese people must follow their own path. Its innovativeness determines the enterprising Chinese spirit. Its unity determines that the different ethnic cultures of the nation share an unbreakable bond. Its inclusiveness determines the harmonious coexistence of different religious beliefs in China, as well as the open-mindedness toward societies worldwide. Its peaceful nature determines that China will continue to pursue exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations rather than imposing its own values and political system onto others.

The material abundance we, as humanity, enjoy today is well beyond our ancestors' wildest imagination. At the same time, however, we are facing serious global problems, including a widening wealth gap and growing tension between humankind and nature. To solve these problems, we need to apply not only the contemporary knowledge and resources at our disposal, but also those the past has given us.

Traditional culture may contain numerous lessons that can help solve the tough issues of our time. For instance, traditional Chinese wisdom holds that human beings are an integral part of nature and should follow the laws of nature; not the other way around. The state should be governed by virtue, and those who hold positions of power and responsibility should first of all be people of integrity. And to make the world come together, one must always pursue the common good.

Against this backdrop, China reiterated the importance of carrying forward past wisdom and promoting inter-civilizational dialogue. If we take a closer look at how we got to where we are today, we can be more resourceful in paving the way for a brighter future.