Mutual learning among civilizations

Mutual learning among civilizations

Mutual learning among civilizations means that different civilizations, following different paths and at different development levels, learn from each other and draw on the strengths of each other, to achieve common improvement. 

Exchanges and mutual learning sustain civilizations, and such exchanges and mutual learning should be reciprocal, equal-footed, diversified and multidimensional; they should not be coercive, imposed, one-dimensional or one-way. Countries must be broad-minded and strive to remove all barriers to cultural exchanges and they must be inclusive and always seek nourishment from other civilizations to promote common development of civilizations through exchanges and mutual learning.

In his keynote speech at the opening of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, in April 2018, Xi Jinping reiterated the importance of mutual learning among civilizations. He said: We need to build bridges for exchanges and mutual learning among cultures, expand cooperation in education, science, culture, sports, tourism, health and archeology, and strengthen exchanges between parliaments, political parties, NGOs, women, young people and people with disabilities in order to facilitate multifaceted people-to-people exchanges.

互学互鉴

互学互鉴是指在尊重文明多样性、道路多样化和发展水平不平衡等差异的基础上相互学习、相互借鉴，取长补短、共同提高。交流互鉴是文明发展的本质要求，文明交流互鉴应该是对等的、平等的，多元的、多向的，而不应该是强制的、强迫的，单一的、单向的。各国应该以宽广的胸怀打破文化交往的壁垒，以兼收并蓄的态度汲取其他文明的养分，促进文明在交流互鉴中共同前进。

2019年4月，习近平在第二届“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛开幕式上的主旨演讲中强调了加强文明互学互鉴的重要性。他指出，我们要积极架设不同文明互学互鉴的桥梁，深入开展教育、科学、文化、体育、旅游、卫生、考古等各领域人文合作，加强议会、政党、民间组织往来，密切妇女、青年、残疾人等群体交流，形成多元互动的人文交流格局。