Your Excellency Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),
Professor Wang Weiguang, Vice President of CASS,
Dr. Halit Eren, Director General of the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA),
Diplomatic envoys of Islamic countries to China,
Experts and scholars,
Ladies and gentlemen,Dear friends,
On behalf of the Chinese government, I wish to extend warm congratulations on the successful opening of the congress. At the initiative of Secretary General Ihsanoglu and thanks to the concerted efforts of China and the OIC, the idea of having this congress has now been turned into a reality, which will offer an important platform for exchanges and dialogue between the Chinese and Islamic civilizations. I appreciate the Secretary General’s long-standing interest in and support for exchanges between the Chinese and Islamic civilizations, and I want to congratulate both the CASS and IRCICA. The tremendous efforts you have made in preparation for the congress will definitely bear rich fruits. I am also delighted to see friends from China, the Islamic world and elsewhere who support the exchanges between the two great civilizations. Your presence will certainly add color to the congress discussions.
Dear friends,
The theme of this congress — cultural and inter-civilization exchanges between China and the Islamic world — is a very important topic. Both our civilizations left splendid chapters in the history of world civilization. For thousands of years, they have interacted with each other and co-existed in harmony, standing as a shining example in the world history of inter-civilization exchanges.
First, exchanges between the two civilizations enjoy a time-honored history. Two thousand years ago, our ancestors overcame numerous hardships along the Silk Road to meet each other, leaving behind memorable stories and touching episodes. One thousand and three hundred years ago, a Chinese traveler named Du Huan set foot on many Islamic countries and wrote the Record of Travels, documenting China’s friendly exchanges with those countries. Seven hundred years ago, Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta traveled to China and recorded the close exchanges between the Islamic world and China in his travel log. Six hundred years ago, Chinese Muslim navigator Zheng He made seven expeditions to the “Western Seas”, which took him to various Islamic countries as an emissary of peace and friendship. Throughout the centuries, China’s exchanges with the Islamic world have kept growing and deepening, giving a strong boost to the cultural prosperity and economic development of both sides and contributing to exchanges between the Eastern and Western civilizations.
Second, the two civilizations have developed side by side through mutual learning. China’s porcelain, silk, tea and paper-making technique were introduced into Islamic countries, while the latter’s advanced knowledge in math, astronomy, calendrical calculation, navigation and geography broadened the horizon of the Chinese people. Walnut, pepper and carrot, which were brought to China through the ancient Silk Road, have become commonplace on dinner tables in China. Islamic music, dance, costume and architecture have also had a profound influence on the Chinese society. Such exchanges have constantly nourished the Chinese and Islamic civilizations, which in turn contributed to the development of the world civilization.
Third, both civilizations have treated each other with equality and respect and have coexisted in peace. Tenets such as “peace is most precious”, “harmony without sameness” and “do not do unto others what you would not want others do unto you” are at the core of the Chinese civilization. Likewise, the Islamic civilization also advocates peace and tolerance. The Quran, for example, mentioned “peace” more than one hundred times. Despite our different cultural backgrounds and social conditions, both sides have respected each other in their choice of development path, culture, history, religion and social convention, and always treated each other in a peaceful and amicable way. For thousands of years, there have been no historical grievances between the Chinese and Islamic civilizations. Rather, we have maintained a friendly and harmonious relationship, setting a fine example of harmonious coexistence between different civilizations for the world.
Dear friends,
The Chinese civilization is the product of exchanges between various ethnic groups and the fusion of diverse cultures, hence its fine tradition of being open and inclusive. Since Islam was introduced to China in 7th century A.D., its followers have lived in harmony and pursue common development with believers of Taoism, China’s indigenous religion, and other foreign religions such as Buddhism and Christianity, as well as the secular community. In China, more than 20 million people from 10 ethnic groups believe in Islam. They are all important members of the big family of the Chinese nation, and their religious belief, cultural tradition and custom are fully respected. The Chinese government is firmly committed to the policy of freedom of religious belief and the system of regional ethnic autonomy, and encourages the positive role of religious personages and believers in promoting economic and social development. Muslims in China are both patriots and devoted believers. Through their hard work and wisdom, they have made important contribution to the harmony, development and prosperity of the Chinese nation.
Dear friends,
We are gathered here today not only to review the past, but also to plan for the future. In an era of globalization, multi-polarization and informationization, both the Chinese and Islamic civilizations face the historic task of realizing rejuvenation through accelerated development, and need to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with each other. With this in mind, I wish to make the following suggestions.
First, exchanges between the Chinese and Islamic civilizations should be rooted in the people. People are the source and the driving force for the development of civilizations. China and the Islamic world should encourage more frequent mutual visits and more exchanges in the daily life and work among the ordinary people. In particular, we should encourage our young people to know more about each other’s civilization so that our friendship will be passed on from generation to generation. Our research on exchanges between the two civilizations should be more relevant to people’s lives, and can draw inspirations and wisdom from the people.
Second, exchanges between the Chinese and Islamic civilizations should be oriented towards the reality and the future. As two great civilizations, we should not only cherish our historical bond, but also bear in mind the present and the future. We should think about ways to deepen our cooperation in culture, science and technology. We should adapt to the information trend in the globalized world and strive for fresh progress so that both our civilizations will acquire new vitality in the 21st century.
Third, exchanges between the Chinese and Islamic civilizations should contribute to our respective development. Trade and economic cooperation have always been part and parcel of our exchanges. Going forward, we should continue to promote cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, energy, investment, science and technology so that our time-honored civilizations will continue to prosper and our peoples live better lives.
Fourth, we should work together to build a more harmonious world. China and the Islamic world should strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and jointly promote dialogue among civilizations and respect for diversity of civilizations by all parties. We should play a positive and constructive role in addressing various regional and global challenges, jointly safeguard the purposes of the UN Charter and norms governing international relations, and promote the building of a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.
Dear friends,
It has been proven by history time and again that greater prosperity in China and the Islamic world often leads to closer exchanges between our civilizations. As both the Chinese and the Islamic civilizations are striving for rejuvenation and prosperity, there is a broader prospect for exchanges between our civilizations. Let us join hands and work in unity to usher in a new chapter in the course of harmonious co-existence and common prosperity of the Chinese and the Islamic civilizations.
Thank you.