On the afternoon of October 30, the parallel session of the Second World Conference of Sinologists, "The International Conference on Studies of the Community for the Chinese Nation" with the theme of "Decoding China: Unity in Diversity and the Chinese Path", was held at the Palace of China Ethnic Cultures in Beijing.

The conference was co-organized by China Ethnic Pictorial and Beijing Language and Culture University. 31 international sinologists from 23 countries including the United States, Australia, Argentina, Denmark and Iceland were invited to participate.

At the conference, Chinese and foreign experts centered on three sub-themes: national identity and the construction of political community, achieving common prosperity in multi-ethnic countries, and attaining cultural integration in multi-ethnic countries. They interpreted the paths of constructing political communities in multi-ethnic countries, and explored governing experiences of multi-ethnic countries such as China in economic, social, cultural and other aspects. They also recounted the history and reality of friendly communication between China and the Global South, countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and other countries around the world.

Experts believed that Chinese civilization, long been known for its openness and inclusiveness since ancient times, acknowledges and respects cultural diversity and the diverseness of civilizations. During the long course of history, China has completed the construction of a political community, and all ethnic groups in China have formed a pattern of unity in diversity through cultural integration and common development. As a unified multi-ethnic country, China today is still exploring to enhance the cohesion and centripetal force of the Chinese nation by promoting ethnic unity and cultural identity in the construction of the community for the Chinese nation. This thereby provides a reference for other multi-ethnic countries in the world in constructing their political communities.

Paul Tembe, a senior researcher at the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute of the University of South Africa, believes that the theories of nation-states and civilization-states provide different perspectives for understanding national identity. Nation-states emphasize territory and citizenship, while China, as a civilization-state, places more emphasis on the continuity of civilization and the pursuit of common values.

Pedro Henrique Vigné Alvarez de Steenhagen, a lecturer at Fudan University, proposed that the national identity emphasized by China not only strengthen China's national unity, but also promote the harmonious co-existence of various ethnic groups and the mutual learning among different civilizations in the world.

Ivica Bakota, an associate professor at Capital Normal University, taking the breakup of Yugoslavia as an example, pointed out that all countries should safeguard national identity and resolve internal conflicts to ensure national stability and prosperity.

Regarding the communication between China and other countries, the experts at the conference stated that the dialogue between China and the West has a long-standing history and far-reaching influence. At present, China is carrying out extensive exchanges and cooperation with other members of the international community in trade and economy, human rights, cultural protection and other aspects.

Carsten B. Thøgersen, former Consul-General of Denmark in Shanghai and foreign Dean of Copenhagen Business Confucius Institute, believes that China has long focused on the intertwined, overlapping global crisis and the new period of world turbulence and transformation so as to conform to the trend of the times as well as meet the needs of the times. Since China's reform and opening-up in the 1970s to the Belt and Road Initiative and the Three Global Initiatives, China has continuously put forward "Chinese wisdom and Chinese approach" to the world.

Roland Boer, a visiting professor at School of Philosophy, Fudan University, pointed out that commonality is manifested as people's interdependent relationship, and thus building a community is to meet people's practical need. The concept of "a community with a shared future for mankind" proposed by China, being at the leading position of the fate of mankind, embodies the essence of the community theory in Marxism in the new era.

Before the conference, the Sinologists attending the conference visited the "Exhibition of Cultural Relics and Ancient Books on Forging a Strong Sense of Community for the Chinese Nation." This exhibition, with more than 1,500 cultural relics and ancient books, comprehensively presents the history of development of the Chinese nation as well as the archaeological evidence of exchanges, interaction and integration among Chinese ethnic groups.

Zhang Weiwei /Editor    Liu Li /Translator

Yang Xinhua /Chief Editor    Liu Xian /Coordination Editor

Tan Yujie /Image Editor