This is the full text of the speech delivered by CPC International Affairs Deputy Minister Jin Xin at the opening meeting of DÜNYA-MER.

President Perinçek, Director Koray, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, I greet you all with respect.

On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Türkiye, I am very pleased to lead the delegation of the International Affairs Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on this visit to Türkiye, and to attend the opening ceremony of the Global Civilizations Initiative Research Center together with you. On this occasion, I sincerely congratulate the establishment of this center and extend my deepest respects to all friends who have long supported China-Türkiye friendship.

Bonds of Friendship Cross Seas

Although China and Türkiye are geographically distant from each other, the interaction between their civilizations has a deep-rooted history, and the bonds of friendship transcend mountains and seas. Over two thousand years ago, the Silk Road tightly connected the civilizations of East and West; the Chinese and Turkish civilizations enriched each other through mutual learning and interaction, and accumulated a deep friendship through mutual support. This timeless bond has today become part of the common cultural memory and precious heritage of the two peoples.

Türkiye Served an Important Function

The thousand-year-old Silk Road has witnessed the friendship between the two countries. Throughout history, Türkiye, located at the intersection of the land and sea Silk Roads, has served as an important bridge between the civilizations of East and West. The more than 12,000 Chinese porcelains preserved at the Topkapı Palace Museum, the silk weaving techniques of Chinese origin preserved at the Merinos Textile Industry Museum, and the tradition of “making friends over tea” are concrete examples of this cultural interaction. Today, China’s “Belt and Road” initiative and Türkiye’s “Middle Corridor” plan are being harmonized; the ancient Silk Road is being revived through the joint efforts of the two peoples.

Reminding Us of Atatürk’s Words

The timeless and placeless echo of ancient wisdom has created a deep intellectual resonance between the two societies. The Turkish thinker Rumi’s understanding of love and tolerance meets the Chinese philosopher Confucius’s understanding that “to love humanity is the foundation of virtue”.

The principle of “peace at home, peace in the world”, formulated by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye, still forms the basis of Türkiye’s foreign policy today; this understanding overlaps with China’s traditional thoughts such as “the world belongs to the public” and “coexisting in harmony”. These common values provide a strong civilizational foundation for cooperation between the two countries on regional and international issues.

We Are Ready to Work with the Turkish Side

The vision of common progress creates a strong cooperation dynamic between the two countries. China and Türkiye, as rising economies and important members of the Global South, share common goals such as national rejuvenation, peaceful development, justice, and inter-civilizational interaction.

The Chinese side stands ready to work with the Turkish side to actively implement the important consensus reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. We aim to support each other on the path of national prosperity and strength, taking into account trends of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, and to advance China-Türkiye strategic cooperation relations further.

A Deep Cultural Heritage

There are negative consequences brought by prejudices between civilizations. Recently we have seen the attacks of America and Israel against Iran. I visited the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. I can say that Türkiye has a deep cultural heritage. Although Türkiye and China are geographically distant, they are in fact very close to each other in terms of attachment.

We Are Ready to Contribute

In March 2023, Communist Party of China General Secretary and President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Civilizations Initiative at the opening of the high-level dialogue meeting between the Communist Party of China and world political parties. This initiative emphasizes that, in a time when the destinies of countries are increasingly intertwined, the coexistence and mutual learning of different civilizations play an indispensable role in humanity’s modernization process and in enriching the garden of world civilizations.

In this framework, calls are made for respect for civilizational diversity, promotion of humanity’s common values, protection and renewal of cultural heritage, and strengthening of international social and cultural interaction and cooperation. China is ready to act with the international community to launch a new era in areas of human interaction, cultural integration, and building heart-to-heart bridges between peoples; and to contribute to the colorful, vibrant and dynamic development of the garden of world civilizations.

Interaction Should Be Increased

China and Türkiye are at a critical stage of economic transformation and national development. In this process, the two countries are two partners moving together to implement the Global Civilizations Initiative and contribute to the progress of human civilization. We welcome this research center established by the Patriotic Party; we hope that the center will become a window for understanding China’s important ideas and initiatives, and a platform for developing inter-civilizational interaction between China and Türkiye.

Three Core Proposals

1. Deepening the Exchange of Ideas

First, deepening the exchange of ideas, promoting the progress of civilization, and contributing wisdom and knowledge to the modernization construction of China and Türkiye. Drawing on the historical heritage of both countries, work should be done that brings traditional values together with today’s needs and contributes to modernization processes.

Research should not be limited to civilizational matters; research, discussion and mutual learning can also be strengthened around topics such as the four global initiatives, the concept of a community of common future for humanity, the understanding and implementation of modernization, and governance experiences. Thus, intellectual and forceful contributions can be made to the joint progress of China and Türkiye on the path of modernization.

2. Building Bridges Between Peoples by Increasing Cooperation and Dialogue

Second, building bridges between peoples by increasing cooperation and dialogue. The research center should organize activities that bring together different sectors such as politics, business, academia, art and media, and mutual understanding should be strengthened by especially encouraging youth participation.

A new era will be launched in the development of human interaction, cultural integration, and heart-to-heart bonds between peoples between China and Türkiye. We are ready to encourage the participation of relevant Chinese think tanks and experts in the research center’s activities; we are also pleased to invite the center’s officials to China for study and contact.

3. Constructing a Correct Civilizational Narrative

Third, developing a common understanding by constructing a correct civilizational narrative.

The research center, by leveraging the advantages of the Patriotic Party’s support behind it and the communication matrix consisting of media tools such as print press, websites and television, can deliver research results to political circles, strategic circles, and wider public audiences; in this context, it can build consensus to establish a correct understanding of civilization between the two countries.