Editor's note: Dong Qi, the president of Beijing Normal University made a keynote speech in the 5th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations. The views are concluded here for readers.

Discussing the "community with shared future for mankind" from the perspective of different civilizations not only involves mutual learning, and cultural exchanges between different civilizations, but is also about how different civilizations can evaluate and appreciate themselves in a better way.

The “Belt and Road” initiative proposed by China is not only an initiative on economic cooperation, but also an initiative on cooperation among different cultures and civilizations. During the forum, I am particularly pleases to find more and more experts and scholars from abroad are researching on the initiative and promoting the building of the "Belt and Road" in their daily lives, especially the cultural exchange and mutual learning among civilizations.

We should conduct more in-depth and systematic research on visions of different civilizations, and also reflect more on our own. It is necessary to research on and promote mutual learning among civilizations for the development of world culture. Scholars should sit down and conduct in-depth thinking from different perspectives and even debate on a issue in order to achieve in-depth understanding. Inclusiveness does not mean no argument, and truth is always revealed in the midst of arguments. Through various forms of exchanges, more in-depth mutual respect will be achieved, which will further promote the prosperity of multi- civilizations and cultures.