All Civilizations Can Appreciate Each Other's Beauty While Valuing Their Own and Achieve Common Development
This fundamental principle for cultural exchange, mutual learning, and healthy coexistence was outlined by Chinese sociologist Fei Xiaotong in the early 1990s. He suggested that each nation and country carry forward its own excellent culture, learn from others' excellent culture, and tolerate and respect each other so that diverse cultures will interact with each other to form a colorful and harmonious world.
Chinese civilization has a long history of more than 5,000 years, and openness and inclusiveness have always been among its characteristics. From Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions in the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 25) and Zheng He's seven ocean voyages in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the Belt and Road Initiative of today, Chinese civilization has always made key contributions to Asian and world civilizations. The saying "All civilizations can appreciate each other's beauty while valuing their own and achieve common development" embodies the Chinese wisdom and represents Chinese civilization's contribution to the progress of human civilization.
各美其美，美人之美，美美与共，天下大同
“各美其美，美人之美，美美与共，天下大同”是20世纪90年代初中国社会学家费孝通先生提出的文化设想，阐明了文化的“交流”“互鉴”与“共存”这一根本价值诉求。“各美其美”是指各个民族、国家要弘扬自己的优秀文化。“美人之美”是指要学习别人的优秀文化。“美美与共，天下大同”则是说，各个民族、国家的优秀文化要互相包容、互相尊重，多元文化互相融合，形成一个多彩的世界，不同文明和而不同、兼收并蓄，进而实现大同。
中华文明拥有5000多年悠久历史，开放包容一直是其特色之一。从西汉时张骞出使西域，到明代郑和七次远洋航海，再到今天的“一带一路”等，中华文明都在为亚洲乃至世界文明作出自己的贡献。“各美其美，美人之美，美美与共，天下大同”，是中华文明为人类文明进步贡献的中国智慧。
