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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Bishkek, March 24 /Xinhua/ — Central Asia is one of the oldest meeting places of cultures. China's Global Civilization Initiative resonates with the region's historical experience in the exchange of civilizations, Mars Sariev, a political scientist from Kyrgyzstan and an expert on Central Asian affairs, told Xinhua.
The initiative has become an important public good in the realm of ideas and thought, provided by China to the international community in the new era. It advocates overcoming the alienation between civilizations through interaction. M. Sariev believes that this concept is fully consistent with the approaches of countries in the region in the area of civilization.
"Central Asia can be called one of the oldest meeting places of cultures. The most important routes of the Great Silk Road passed through the territory of modern-day Kyrgyzstan. Chinese, Russian, Persian, Turkic, Middle Eastern (Middle Eastern – Xinhua), and other civilizations intersected here. Along with these goods, various ideas, religions, scientific knowledge, and artistic styles spread. Therefore, the idea of civilizational exchange is very natural for the region," he said.
According to the expert, the Central Asian region has served as a bridge between East and West for centuries. Today, it can also play an important role—becoming a space for civilizational mediation in Eurasia, where different cultural worlds don't clash but rather learn from and understand each other.
“In this sense, Chinese initiatives for humanitarian and cultural dialogue are effectively restoring the spirit of openness that once existed along the Great Silk Road,” he emphasized.
Kyrgyzstan currently chairs the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). This year marks the 25th anniversary of the organization's founding. According to M. Sariev, the SCO, which unites various civilizations, has, over more than 20 years of practice, confirmed China's vision that different civilizations can peacefully coexist and develop mutually beneficial cooperation.
"If you look closely at the evolution of the SCO, it becomes clear that it is an international format that has, from the outset, placed an emphasis on trust and pragmatic cooperation," he noted. "The Organization brings together countries with different political systems and cultural traditions. But it is precisely this diversity that has become the Organization's defining characteristic."
The "Shanghai Spirit," which the SCO adheres to, emphasizes respect for cultural diversity. China also champions the idea that civilizations are neither good nor bad (civilizations are not divided into superior and inferior, good and bad). According to M. Sariev, these positions are extremely important, especially given the current global trend toward establishing a hierarchy of civilizations.
"In the modern world, the logic of bloc confrontation is growing. However, the SCO was initially built on the principle of equality and consideration of each other's interests. This is precisely why the 'Shanghai Spirit' emerged, which values mutual trust, consultation, and the search for compromise. In fact, the Organization has become a kind of laboratory where the possibility of peaceful coexistence between different civilizations is tested in practice," the Kyrgyz political scientist emphasized.
According to the expert, for the countries of Central Asia, respect for cultural diversity is not an abstract philosophy, but a reflection of their own historical experience. "Our region has always been at the crossroads of civilizations, resulting in a unique environment where the coexistence of different cultures has become the norm. Therefore, attempts to rank civilizations in our region are met with considerable skepticism," he stated.
The expert also believes that sustainability arises where there is balance and mutual respect. "Therefore, the principle of the equality of civilizations, in essence, means recognizing the right of each society to develop along its own historical path. In the modern world, this model of international relations appears more realistic and sustainable," concluded M. Sariev.
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