An international academic symposium on cultural exchange and construction of a community of human destiny was held by the Marxism School of Inner Mongolia Normal University Dec 30. 

Over 100 experts from home and abroad gathered to discuss major research topics, such as the community of a shared future for mankind, cross-cultural communication, the community in a multicultural perspective, and the study of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

Li Chunhui, director of the Marxist School of IMNU, presided over the opening ceremony. Zhao Donghai, vice-president of IMNU, and Professor Joao J. Vila-Cha from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. 

Zhao said the initiative to build a community of a shared future for humanity was proposed in 2013. It has received great attention and won widespread support from the international community. 

The new development concept provides "Chinese wisdom" for the transformation of the global governance system, and helps establish a fair and rational international political and economic order, Zhao said. 

In his speech, Professor VIla-Cha pointed out that the concept of a new global development for building a community of a shared future for mankind should be based on the concerns of reality and conform with the historical process of human society. 

He also elaborated on the common values in Eastern and Western cultures, as well as the ways and methods for all ethnic groups to promote cross-cultural communication. 

Several professors also gave keynote speeches on the theme of cultural exchange and the construction of a community of human destiny, including Zhong Minghua from Sun Yat-sen University and John McNerney from Dublin University.

A youth forum was established during the event to provide a high-level research platform for the development of young scholars.

The symposium also set up three sub-venues focusing on research into the community of human destiny, the community of national culture and human destiny, and the perspective of multiculturalism. 

Zhao Donghai, vice-president of IMNU, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the International Academic Symposium on Cultural Exchange and Construction of a Community of Human Destiny held at the Marxism School of Inner Mongolia Normal University on Dec 30. [Photo/IMNU]

Some participants pose for a group photo during the International Academic Symposium on Cultural Exchange and Construction of a Community of Human Destiny held at the Marxism School of Inner Mongolia Normal University on Dec 30. [Photo/IMNU]