Today, over 50 leading scholars, experts and government representatives from nearly 10 countries convened in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) for the International Forum on Mutual Learning Among Civilizations 2025.
The forum’s opening ceremony featured insightful speeches that cast a spotlight on Macao’s evolving role as a bridge between Eastern and Western traditions. Wu Zhiliang, president of the Committee of Administration of the Macao Foundation, traced this legacy back to the mid-16th century, when Macao opened as a port. “Rather than witnessing the conquest or replacement of one culture by another, Macao’s daily life evolved into an ongoing, shared experiment in mutual understanding and adaptation,” Wu explained. “This interaction, primarily driven by commerce and everyday needs, treats civilizational contact not as a competition to be won, but as a continuous journey of mutual learning.”
Shifting focus to modern development, Zheng Yongnian, dean of the School of Public Policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Shenzhen and president of the Institute for International Affairs, Qianhai, argued that sustainable modernization must align with a nation’s own culture and conditions. He highlighted China’s dual approach: embracing global engagement while adhering to its unique path, and committing to international cooperation. “By sharing its development experience,” Zheng noted, “China helps other countries pursue growth, reinforcing the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.”
The opening remarks set the stage for a week of in-depth dialogue on cultural exchange and global cooperation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
