GCI: Unlocking possibilities for pluralistic development

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, attends the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting via video link and delivers a keynote address in Beijing, capital of China, March 15, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

ByZheng Haizhen

The Ministerial Meeting of the Global Civilizations Dialogue is being held in Beijing on July 10-11, under the theme of "Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development."

Recognizing that civilizational exchange and mutual learning are fundamental drivers of human progress and global peace, the meeting aims to foster deeper cooperation and understanding among diverse cultures.

On March 15, 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting, in which he articulated the Communist Party of China's understanding of modernization and officially launched the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI).

The initiative aims to enhance mutual understanding among civilizations and lay a solid foundation for a new type of international relations based on harmony, inclusiveness, and mutually beneficial cooperation. It reflects China's political resolve and global responsibility in addressing shared human challenges, and offers a Chinese approach to advancing global modernization and civilizational progress.

Multiple paths to modernization vs moving beyond the Western model

Modernization should not come at the expense of cultural diversity. Rather, it should be a multidimensional process grounded in civilizational pluralism. The GCI views civilizational development as dynamic and diverse, firmly opposing the hegemonic practice by some Western countries of imposing their political or economic models on other countries.

Today's world faces mounting geopolitical tensions and intensified competition among major powers. Many countries are confronted with economic stagnation, widening inequality, environmental degradation, and technological ethics dilemma-issues that are particularly pronounced in some Western societies. This reality underscores that the Western model of modernization is neither optimal nor exclusive.

In recent years, China has charted a path to modernization grounded in its own national conditions-balancing development with equity, harmonizing ecological sustainability with technological responsibility, and demonstrating strong institutional resilience and governance efficiency. China's experience not only addresses its own complex domestic challenges but also provides actionable references for global south countries seeking an independent and context-specific development path.

Members of a delegation of high school students from the U.S. state of Washington pose for a photo at the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall in Beijing, capital of China, March 20, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

The GCI, by promoting civilizational diversity, shared human values, and intercultural exchanges, challenges the dominance of a single civilizational logic or institutional framework. The initiative offers an inclusive and open-minded new perspective for countries to address global development challenges and pursue diversified paths to modernization. It calls for the establishment of a new global civilizational order based on equality and mutual learning. Cultural exchange must overpower estrangement, mutual learning must come before clashes, and coexistence must overcome feelings of superiority. The initiative advocates for an understanding of values across cultures rather than imposing one-size-fits-all systems or triggering ideological divisions.

Addressing development dilemmas through inclusive cooperation

Civilizational diversity is the wellspring of human advancement, while dialogue and cooperation are the cornerstones of peaceful development. GCI emphasizes the dual importance of cultural preservation and innovation, and encourages robust international people-to-people engagement. This enables countries to move beyond the outdated zero-sum mindset and seek common ground through diversity.

On one level, the GCI advances a cooperation framework based on civilizational equality and shared values, which supports pluralistic development and mutual empowerment. Since its launch, the initiative has received broad support from the international community. It has been included in joint statements and communiqués between China and countries such as Russia, Serbia, and Hungary. In 2024, the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus a Chinese-proposed resolution designating June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations – a milestone that affirms the global resonance of China's civilizational vision.

On another level, the GCI fosters the development of a multi-dimensional network for civilizational learning. What began as a unilateral proposal has evolved into a global platform for cross-cultural knowledge exchange. Countries increasingly share development strategies, governance insights, and culturally rooted practices. Such exchanges are not only intellectually stimulating but also practically relevant, offering solutions to persistent global challenges.

For instance, pressing global issues such as climate change, the digital divide, and social inequality are no longer merely technical or economic. These problems are deeply embedded in cultural identities and normative frameworks. The GCI encourages diverse civilizational dialogues that can unlock alternative approaches. China's ecological principle of "harmony between humanity and nature" and its governance idea of "the people as the foundation of the state" offer meaningful philosophical complementarities to Western liberal traditions. These complementarities can enrich the ethical basis for sustainable development and facilitate a truly win-win model of global cooperation.

In a world marked by uncertainty, fragmentation, and growing cultural misunderstandings, the GCI provides a timely and inclusive framework for reimagining modernization in pluralistic terms. It affirms that there is no single blueprint for development, and that every civilization has the right and the capacity to pursue its own path. By advancing dialogue, mutual learning, and ethical cooperation, GCI offers not only a Chinese vision but also a global platform for building a more just, diverse, and harmonious international order.

Zheng Haizhen, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN,is an assistant researcher at the Department for Global Governance and International Organization Studies, China Institute of International Studies.