Ma Jiantang, executive vice president of the Chinese Academy of Governance, speaks at the BRICS Seminar on Governance in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, on Aug. 17, 2017. [Photo by Li Jia/China.org.cn]

At the opening ceremony of seminar focusing on BRICS governance in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, on August 17, Ma Jiantang, executive vice president of the Chinese Academy of Governance, expressed his belief that the key to peaceful and friendly coexistence among different civilizations was to seek ways to expand common values.

"All civilizations should seek common ground while reserving differences, be inclusive, expand consensus, strengthen communications, and work together to build a community of shared future for mankind, " Ma said.

President Xi Jinping had systematically expounded the thought of building a community of shared future for mankind at the summit to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations held two years ago, and his initiative had gained growing recognition in the world.

"This illustrates that, facing a colorful world and diverse civilizations, it is necessary to constantly transcend the limitations of countries, regions and nationalities, and jointly depict the glorious future of mankind," Ma said.

The key to peaceful and friendly coexistence among different civilizations was to seek and expand common values, and to replace "the clash of civilizations" with "the harmony of civilizations."

The executive vice president acknowledged there were differences between civilizations, but people all over the world had much in common in regard to survival and development, peace and war, happiness and sorrow, friendship and love.

Ma said the BRICS countries belonged to different civilizations, meaning they could provide their respective wisdom for promoting the common values of mankind. He believed that, as a member of the great family of world civilizations, the distinctive theories in Chinese civilization could also be an integral part of the common values of mankind.

He cited such examples as "harmony of humans with nature" and "harmony in diversity."