Paving the way to a new form of human civilization through cultural innovation and civilizational construction

The concept of Chinese modernization creating a new form of human civilization is a grand proposition put forth by the Communist Party of China (CPC) in its pursuit of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It transcends the Western capitalist-industrial civilization, aiming for a highly developed state characterized by the coordinated advancement of material, political, spiritual, social, and ecological civilization. The path to this new form of human civilization is both unified and diverse, with culture as a crucial driving force. The Xi Jinping Thought on Culture underlines the future trends of cultural development in the new era, with Chinese path to modernization and modern Chinese civilization jointly forging a new cultural pathway toward this new form of civilization.

The Cultural Form of Chinese Path to Modernization Embodies the Essence of a New Human Civilization

Chinese path to modernization represents a coordinated and developmental civilization. First, its cultural form emerged from the CPC's continuous efforts to promote material, political, spiritual, social, and ecological civilization. It is a product of the coordinated development of these "five elements." During the transition from traditional to modern society, cultural progress, alongside political, economic, social, and environmental advancements, has become a key driver of social progress. The concept of combining Marxist principles with Chinese culture addresses the cultural direction and path of Chinese modernization, indicating that its cultural form is influenced by various social factors and aligns with the coordinated development of modernization and cultural construction. Second, such cultural form is constructed through the localization of Marxism and the modernization of China's traditional culture, representing a synthesis of tradition and modernity, as well as China and the world. It encompasses the achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modern Chinese civilization, reflecting China's aspiration to transform itself, influence the world, and lead the future.

Chinese path to modernization represents a unique Chinese civilization, whose cultural form represents fundamentally the Chinese aspect of modern civilization. This distinctiveness lies in its integration of Chinese characteristics. It centers on the people and is guided by socialist principles, aiming for common prosperity, material abundance, and cultural-ethical enrichment. It emphasizes harmony between humanity and nature, rejecting high-pollution and high-energy consumption development models, and upholds peace, development, cooperation, and win-win outcomes, rejecting the notion that powerful nations must dominate. Additionally, this cultural form provides a uniquely Chinese worldview and methodology for building a new form of human civilization. Marxism brings traditional Chinese culture into modernity, forming a new cultural path for Chinese modernization. Each nation must explore its own path based on its cultural traditions, historical experiences, and environment. China's modernization path offers new perspectives for countries seeking rapid development while maintaining their independence, providing a new option for a more reasonable and civilized modernization model.

Chinese path to modernization benefits the world. Its cultural form embodies openness and inclusiveness. While showcasing Chinese characteristics, it also demonstrates the global significance of openness and inclusiveness, as a gift from the CPC and the Chinese people. The historical era of Chinese modernization necessitates active integration into world history, learning from and synthesizing global advancements. This approach not only seeks happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation but also aims for human progress and global harmony. Moreover, the cultural form of Chinese path to modernization underscores a global perspective, demonstrating that modernization can be achieved through openness, peace, justice, and civilization, without zero-sum games, isolationism, or aggression. This new form of civilization is a collective advancement for humanity, focusing on global development trends and major shifts in the world landscape. The cultural genes of the Chinese nation, which value peace, resists oppression, and dares to struggle, ensure that China's development also contributes to world peace, ultimately benefiting humanity and the world.

Modern Form of Chinese Civilization Enriches New Human Civilization

Chinese path to modernization embodies the country's civilizational characteristics: First, the characteristics of Chinese civilization are rooted in its unique traits. From "people-oriented" to democracy, from unity across China to the concept of a community of a shared future, and from harmonious coexistence with nature to common prosperity, Chinese civilization has evolved from tradition to modernity, gradually forming its modern shape. It reflects the distinctive traits of Chinese civilization, establishing its foundational principles in governance, national unity, cultural values, economic ethics, ecological ideas, philosophical thoughts, and interpersonal relationships. Second, the unique traits of Chinese civilization are the cultural foundation of Chinese path to modernization and the modern shape of Chinese civilization. Continuity is the essence of its succession, with Chinese civilization's profound heritage being the root of contemporary culture and the treasure of cultural innovation. Innovation drives its progress, enabling Chinese civilization to thrive through its seamless transition from tradition to modernity. Unity maintains its coherence, with the multi-ethnic Chinese nation forming strong bonds over a long history. Inclusiveness fosters its integration, absorbing and adapting the best of foreign cultures while preserving its own uniqueness. Peace is its root, with the Chinese nation consistently advocating for peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit with other nations.

Chinese path to modernization showcases the modernity of the Chinese nation. First, the modernity of the Chinese nation is underpinned by the "two combinations". As the latest form of Chinese civilization, it embodies the consciousness, subjectivity, and vitality of remembering the past, grounding in the present, and looking to the future. The modern form of Chinese civilization is the great product of the enduring and profound Chinese civilization. Historical and practical evidence shows that the innovative development of Chinese civilization and the continuous evolution of modern Chinese civilization result from the "two combinations." Without integrating the fundamental principles of Marxism with China's specific realities, activating Chinese civilization’s genes would not have gained greater power. Without combining Marxist principles with China's fine traditional culture, the renewal and modern transformation of Chinese civilization would lack a solid foundation. Furthermore, the development of modern Chinese civilization is inseparable from Chinese path to modernization. Making "fine traditional Chinese culture modern" is a vital process for the cultural form of Chinese path to modernization, and modern Chinese civilization is essentially the modernized version of fine traditional Chinese culture. The process of building modern Chinese civilization involves creatively transforming and innovatively developing Chinese civilization, deepening its cultural foundations, and contributing to the formation of a new human civilization. Therefore, building modern Chinese civilization requires integrating the "two combinations" and the practice of Chinese path to modernization.

Chinese path to modernization also forges unique Chinese wisdom. First, the unique wisdom and extraordinary creativity of the Chinese nation have significantly contributed to human progress. Ecological wisdom such as "men are an integral part of nature" provides philosophical nourishment for environmental protection. Philosophical wisdom like "seeking truth from facts" offers profound insights for exploring truth. Medical wisdom like "harmonizing yin and yang" provides dialectical thinking for human health. Governance wisdom like "people are the foundation of the state" offers valuable lessons for social stability. Additionally, the unique technological, economic, political, literary, artistic, and ritualistic wisdom of the Chinese nation has profoundly influenced human technological progress, cultural development, civilizational diversity, and mutual learning. The extensive and profound wisdom of the Chinese nation will continue to infuse human civilization with powerful vitality. Second, the unique worldview, social perspective, and moral outlook of the Chinese nation endow human civilization with rich cultural connotations. The worldview of "the world is for all" supports the moral foundation of human civilization, with the Chinese people and nation contributing wisdom and strength to human progress based on historical accuracy and adherence to justice. The social perspective of "valuing virtue and decorum, and harmonious coexistence" represents the highest pursuit of human civilization, rejecting zero-sum thinking and advocating for harmonious coexistence and mutual support. The moral outlook of "trustworthiness and amity, kindness to neighbors" is an intrinsic requirement of human civilization, where all progressive forces seeking development must treat each other with sincerity to manifest a new form of mutual benefit in human civilization. Recognizing the Chinese nation’s contributions to human civilization does not mean blindly carrying for the entirety of traditional Chinese culture but creatively transforming and innovatively developing it, building a new human civilization based on the foundation of historical development and achieves an organic unity founded on diversity.

Cultural Path to a New Form of Human Civilization: Historical Synergy of "Two Forms"

Culture and civilization are interconnected. They are the two sides of the same coin. Culture is history, and civilization is its underlying logic that elevates the logic of culture. Culture is practice, and civilization is theory; civilization elevates the theoretical practice of culture. Culture is fact, civilization is its value; civilization elevates the value of cultural facts. The synergy of "two forms" can be formed because they're consistent in a broad sense. Respecting culture is respecting its civilization; and advancing culture is advancing its civilization. China stands as the only ancient civilization that is now on a successful journey towards modernization, proving the tight relationship between modern and ancient civilizations. This reminds the world to properly handle the relationship between tradition and modernity in the modernization process, while solving the long-standing problem faced by ancient civilizations and creating a new path to modernization. Additionally, the historical synergy of "two forms" drives the continuous development of Chinese path to modernization, fostering a new human civilization. Thanks to Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, the most precious traits of Chinese culture will be better preserved, the deepest cultural pursuits of the Chinese nation will be further pushed forward, and the most vivid cultural stories of China have found broader audiences. Consequently, Chinese culture will reach the world with a new image, providing ideological guidance, spiritual motivation, and cohesive strength for a new version of human civilization.

Confidence and openness reinforce and complement each other. Confidence is the premise of openness; openness is not about becoming someone else but being true to oneself. Confidence is not blind but rooted in broad acceptance and tolerance. True confidence is grounded in openness, and genuine openness is based on confidence. Confidence revives tradition; openness ensures sustainable progress. First, the historical synergy of "two forms" requires cultural confidence. Only with firm cultural confidence can cultural self-improvement be achieved. By standing on the great historical and contemporary practices of the Chinese nation, outlining the Chinese rationale with Chinese wisdom, summarizing Chinese experiences with Chinese rationale, and elevating Chinese experiences to Chinese theory, the cultural path to a new human civilization can proceed steadily. Chinese path to modernization can then create a new form of human civilization. Confidence stems from tradition, integrity, and history. The resilient spirit and cultural character of Chinese civilization enable the synergy of "two forms," as cultural confidence leads to cultural self-improvement. Second, the historical synergy of "two forms" requires openness and inclusiveness. Openness looks to the future; inclusiveness looks to the world. A nation's culture becomes confident through openness and becomes inclusive through confidence. The new form of human civilization is the CPC's answer to the "East-West modernity debate," reflecting both the universal traits of human civilization and the distinctive traits of enduring Chinese civilization. It is the result of actively learning from all outstanding human civilizations, embodying the broad vision and open mind of the Chinese people and nation, and inherently reflecting the integration of past and present, and the connection between East and West.

Nation and the world are interconnected. The more national something is, the more universal; the relationship between nation and world is one of particularity and generality. First, the historical synergy of "two forms" will continue to solidify the Chinese nation’s place among the world's nations. The cultural form of Chinese path to modernization results from the "second combination," where localized Marxism interacts with fine traditional Chinese culture. The modern form of Chinese civilization results from Marxism activating Chinese civilization's genes, enabling its successful transition from tradition to modernity. Despite past humiliations, the Chinese nation has risen again by adhering to CPC leadership, Marxist guidance, cultural confidence, and the dream of national rejuvenation. Second, the historical synergy of "two forms" ultimately leads to a new form of human civilization. "What's national is also universal." Chinese path to modernization does not intend to impose a similar path on other nations through power or hegemony. Likewise, the modern form of Chinese civilization does not aim to lead other nations' rejuvenation through peaceful evolution or cultural invasion. Instead, it offers an option without rushing to recommend it at the global scale. Despite the cultural achievements of Chinese path to modernization, the immediate priority remains focusing on China's own tasks and relying on its strength to achieve success. Nevertheless, to accomplish these tasks scientifically, we must elevate our cultural aspirations, expand our theoretical vision, and, on this basis, pursue happiness for the Chinese people, rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, harmony for the world, and progress for all mankind. The CPC, with its vision of changing itself, influencing the world, and leading the future, aims to achieve "harmony under heaven" through shared human values and the concept of a global community of a shared future. We can confidently believe that the historical synergy of "two forms" will drive humanity toward the bright future of a new human civilization.

(Authors Zhang Xiaoming and Tian Maonong are, respectively, Dean and Professor, and Teacher at the School of Marxism, China West Normal University)