The following are excerpts from the speeches of the guests at the seminar.

Unity in diversity is a highly-condensed summary of the origin and development of Chinese civilization. The diverse cultures with their unique characteristics, which were nurtured in different regions within the vast geographical space of China, have, through long-term exchanges and integrations, formed an organic whole based on common cultural identity, common political identity and close economic connections. This has shaped the characteristics of diversity and unity in Chinese civilization and is an important source of the cohesion and centripetal force of the Chinese nation.

——Zhou Shuchun,

Executive Vice Chairman of China Foundation for Human Rights Development (CFHRD)

The Chinese nation is a multi-ethnic community with 56 ethnic groups coexist peacefully sharing a long history and splendid cultures. In addition to the great progress made in economic development since its reform and opening up, China has also handled its ethnic issues very well. China emphasizes cooperation, openness, multilateralism, inclusiveness, economic globalization, and harmonious coexistence between man and nature. These concepts demonstrate the power of human wisdom and collaboration, and provide new opportunities for the world to create a prosperous future.

——Shahid Khaqan Abbasi,

former Prime Minister of Pakistan

There are differences between traditional Chinese and Western philosophies, which directly affect the different policies regarding ethnic relations in China and the West. The Chinese have a monistic worldview of "subject and object as one," and the core idea advocates that the world is a whole. The dualism of Western philosophy believes that man and the objective world are in opposition and mutually exclusive. China's worldviews of "holism" and " subject and object as one" make the Chinese nation pursue the idea of "harmony without uniformity," that is, seeking harmony while avoiding strife or homogenization. In terms of ethnic relations, Chinese ethnic policies, influenced by Chinese traditional philosophy, are tolerant and moderate, at the same time, recognize the rational existence of diversity.

——Yang Shengmin,

Senior Professor at Minzu University of China

Huntington sees the clash of civilizations as the main source of conflict in the post-Cold War era, but this view ignores the diversity and complexity within civilizations. In contrast, the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasizes mutual learning and dialogue among civilizations, and advocates peaceful coexistence and common development. I believe that humanity has no future in the clash of civilizations, and the future of humanity lies in the cooperation of civilizations.

——John Milligan-Whyte,

Chairman & CEO, Catastrophe Recovery Green Finance Ltd;

Executive Chairman, America-China Partnership Foundation

As an exception to the universalization of Western culture and Western ethnological museums on a global scale, China Ethnic Museum firmly roots in Chinese history, culture and "All-Under-Heaven" worldview. It abandons the binary-opposition discourse pattern of "in-group" and "out-group." The attitude of Chinese civilization towards the "out-group" or "the Other" serves as an internal mechanism for the formation of a sense of community. Based on the unique civilization values, China's experience of building the community for the Chinese nation can also promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

——Zheng Qian,

Deputy Director of the Chinese Ethnic Museum

The Chinese nation is characterized by unity-in-diversity, which is not only a result of historical experience but also reflected in the present-day situation. Chinese civilization, a harmonious and symbiotic common civilization, has emerged from the interactions among multiple regional civilizations or sub-civilizations. It continuously transforms the traditionally or Western-defined "Other" into "You" and then into "We." I consider this to be the most fundamental insight from China's unity-in-diversity practice.

——Shen Xiangping,

professor at the School of Philosophy at Renmin University of China;

Vice President of China Society of Hominology

Liu Xian /Editor    Liu Li /Translator

Yang Xinhua /Chief Editor    Liu Xian /Coordination Editor

Liu Li /Reviewer

Zhang Weiwei /Copyeditor    Tan Yujie /Image Editor

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