"Diversity in the world is a basic characteristic of human society, and also the key condition for a lively and dynamic world as we see today"
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Diversity is presented as foundational rather than ornamental, not a colorful extra but the condition that allows human societies to adapt, learn, and thrive. Differences in culture, language, belief, and institutional design generate friction, but that friction yields energy: new ideas, hybrid practices, and resilience in the face of shocks. Uniformity promises neatness but often results in stagnation. Varied perspectives and competing approaches create an environment where better solutions can emerge, much as ecosystems with many species are more robust than monocultures.
The line also carries a distinct geopolitical and philosophical note. Hu Jintao, who led China in the 2000s, repeatedly advanced the notions of a harmonious society at home and a harmonious world abroad. Emphasizing diversity fit a foreign policy that championed sovereign equality, noninterference, and multiple paths to modernization. It pushed back against a single, universal model of political or economic development and argued for multilateralism where different civilizations and systems could coexist and learn from one another. In that frame, a lively and dynamic world is one where no single power or ideology flattens the landscape, and where exchange rather than conversion is the norm.
There is an implicit acknowledgment of risk. Diversity can amplify misunderstanding or conflict. For it to be the key condition of dynamism rather than disorder, norms and institutions must translate difference into dialogue and cooperation. That means respecting boundaries while creating channels for trade, education, culture, and science to cross them. Innovation ecosystems illustrate the point: cities and industries that attract heterogeneous talent tend to be more creative and productive, provided they maintain rules that mediate competition and protect minority voices.
The statement invites humility. No culture or system holds a monopoly on wisdom. A world that stays lively is one that protects space for plural experiments, accepts partial truths, and treats diversity as the engine of progress rather than an obstacle to be managed away.
The line also carries a distinct geopolitical and philosophical note. Hu Jintao, who led China in the 2000s, repeatedly advanced the notions of a harmonious society at home and a harmonious world abroad. Emphasizing diversity fit a foreign policy that championed sovereign equality, noninterference, and multiple paths to modernization. It pushed back against a single, universal model of political or economic development and argued for multilateralism where different civilizations and systems could coexist and learn from one another. In that frame, a lively and dynamic world is one where no single power or ideology flattens the landscape, and where exchange rather than conversion is the norm.
There is an implicit acknowledgment of risk. Diversity can amplify misunderstanding or conflict. For it to be the key condition of dynamism rather than disorder, norms and institutions must translate difference into dialogue and cooperation. That means respecting boundaries while creating channels for trade, education, culture, and science to cross them. Innovation ecosystems illustrate the point: cities and industries that attract heterogeneous talent tend to be more creative and productive, provided they maintain rules that mediate competition and protect minority voices.
The statement invites humility. No culture or system holds a monopoly on wisdom. A world that stays lively is one that protects space for plural experiments, accepts partial truths, and treats diversity as the engine of progress rather than an obstacle to be managed away.
Quote Details
| Topic | Equality |
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