Editor's note: Li Ling, Director of the Center on Christianity and China Studies in Los Angeles, USA, made a keynote speech in the 5th Nishan Forum on World Civilizations. The views are concluded here for readers.

Whether it is in a form of culture, civilization, or religion, the power of a civilization cannot be spread by just a few scholars. It is important to rely on the people who believe in the civilization through actual way of life, so it can become a civilization of global influence and penetrating power.

When the perception of "a community with shared future for mankind" was put forward, we were inspired overseas. Exchanges and dialogues among civilizations are never ends, but means. We should seek the maximum commonality among different civilizations through continuous dialogues and exchanges, and find the basics and common ground of different civilizations. The values of common recognition based on the common ground is the basis of the community. Furthermore, ways of communication, norms of conduct, and rules of governance are formed on the basis of the common values.