Dr. Huang Shifang
Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu
Recently, the China Mobile Science and Technology Museum's international tour exhibition commenced at the State Library. The exhibition, titled "Experiencing Science: Enlightening Innovation," showcases over 60 advanced science exhibits, including naked eye 3D, intelligent robots, and mobile dome theaters. These exhibits span various disciplines such as basic science, information technology, aerospace, and life and health. The exhibition is open to the public without any charges and aims to provide Sabahans, particularly the youth, with an inspiring science education experience. It provides opportunity for children to visually witness the transformative impact of scientific and technological innovations on people's lives and productivity. Additionally, this exhibition symbolizes and testifies to the deep cultural exchanges and collaboration between China and the State of Sabah.
Civilizations have become richer and more colorful with exchanges and mutual learning. All civilizations created by human society are splendid. They are where each country’s development drive draws its strength and where its unique feature comes from. They, transcending time and space, have jointly made important contribution to humanity's modernization process. In March of this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced the Global Civilization Initiative during the Communist Party of China in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting. This initiative advocates for respecting the diversity of civilizations, promoting the common values of humanity, emphasizing the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and strengthening international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. It reflects China's genuine aspiration to collaborate with other nations in fostering exchanges and mutual understanding among global civilizations, ultimately working towards the building of a community with a share future for mankind. Alongside the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative represents another significant contribution by China to the international community in the new era. It presents a Chinese approach to advancing human civilization and global modernization.
In today's world, multiple challenges and crises are intertwined, making global issues more severe than ever before. In the face of the resurgence of the cold war mentality, and the rise of the theory of clash of civilizations and superiority of civilizations, the direction countries take, whether towards conflict and confrontation or common prosperity, largely depends on how we perceive and address the differences among civilizations. An ancient Chinese proverb states, "All living things can grow in harmony without hurting one another, different ways can run in parallel without interfering with one another." With over 200 countries and regions, and thousands of ethnic groups and religions worldwide, diverse histories, national conditions, ethnicities, and customs have given rise to distinct civilizations. It is important to recognize that civilizations are not superior or inferior to one another; they simply possess different characteristics and originate from different regions. These differences should not be a source of conflict. The Global Civilization Initiative promotes transcending civilizational divisions through exchanges, surpassing conflicts through mutual understanding, and embracing inclusiveness beyond claims of superiority. It emphasizes the avoidance of imposing one's own values and development models on others, as well as refraining from engaging in ideological confrontations. The initiative advocates for the inclusiveness of different social systems and development paths, leveraging the strengths of each other through exchanges and mutual learning. By seeking common ground while respecting differences, we can collectively create a harmonious symphony in the dialogue of civilizations.
Throughout history, human civilization has accumulated immense knowledge and wisdom to overcome diverse challenges and obstacles. This wisdom and experience hold valuable insights for addressing the complex issues we face in the modern world. The Global Civilization Initiative promotes the exploration of wisdom and the exchange of ideas from various civilizations. By leveraging the strengths of different cultures, we can collaborate and advance together. This initiative extensively incorporates the profound philosophical thoughts, humanistic values, and noble moral principles embedded within human civilization. Its aim is to unite in addressing critical global issues that impact the future of both our world and humanity. Moreover, it emphasizes that fostering exchanges and mutual understanding among civilizations serves as a catalyst for societal progress and plays a crucial role in maintaining global peace.
China and Malaysia, as friendly neighbors, have a rich history of cultural exchange and people-to-people interactions, contributing to the vibrant Asian civilization. Over 600 years ago, the renowned Chinese navigator Zheng He embarked on seven ocean voyages, with six of them including stops in Malacca. It is believed that he also visited Sabah twice, initiating a process of integration and exchange between Chinese and Malaysian civilizations, leaving behind a legend lasted through ages. In the present era, amidst global changes and evolving times, we have consistently followed the course of history and prioritized mutually beneficial cooperation. Cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Malaysia have been gaining momentum, fostering healthy and stable progress. These endeavors have injected fresh impetus into the economic prosperity and social development of both nations.
The Consulate General is committed to collaborating with frineds from all walks of life in Sabah. We view the science and technology exhibition tour as an opportunity to promote the Silk Road Spirit, which emphasizes peace, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning, and win-win cooperation. Through this, we aim to explore innovative approaches to cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Sabah, contribute to the building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future and benefit the people of both regions.