Participants of the Third World Conference of Sinologists try their hand at Chinese calligraphy, writing the Chinese character fu (fortune). [Photo by Yang Mingze/China Daily]

In a city where the ancient Silk Road still lingers in stone and wind, the Third World Conference of Sinologists unfolded not merely as an academic gathering, but as a lived encounter between civilizations.

Bringing together more than 300 Sinologists, policymakers and cultural practitioners from nearly 70 countries and regions, the conference on Wednesday in Dunhuang, Gansu province, explored how Chinese cultural values and development experiences can offer fresh perspectives on some of today's shared global challenges.

"Today, the world needs more dialogue than confrontation and more understanding than prejudice," said Joel Mikael Walker, a German content creator and practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. "What Chinese culture addresses are some of the most universal questions facing humanity.

"Chinese culture has much to contribute to addressing these challenges. It is not a relic in a museum, but a living system of wisdom that continues to speak to the modern world."

Walker's perspective echoed one of the recurring themes throughout the conference: that Chinese culture is increasingly being viewed not only as a subject of historical study, but also as a source of contemporary insight.

"We live in a time of conflict, environmental pressures and growing anxiety," he said. "Concepts from Chinese philosophy offer valuable perspectives on many of the challenges facing the world today.

"The balance of yin and yang teaches us that differences can coexist. The idea of harmony between humanity and nature reminds us to reconcile with the environment. The concept of preventing disease before it occurs emphasizes foresight rather than remedy," Walker said. "These ideas are not only China's treasures. They belong to humanity."

Many Sinologists extended that discussion beyond culture to China's broader development experience.

Andrey Kortunov, former director-general of the Russian International Affairs Council, said one of the distinctive features of China's engagement with the world is its ability to understand the needs of other countries, particularly those in the Global South.

"There is a great deal of empathy in the Chinese approach to international engagement," Kortunov said."China tries to understand what other nations need in terms of development and security, and how it might assist them."

He also highlighted flexibility and continuity as defining features of this approach.

"Consistency means predictability, and predictability brings trust," he said, noting that many countries regard China as a reliable long-term partner.

A guest paints a wood carving of flying apsaras at a cultural experience area during the conference. [Photo by Yang Mingze/China Daily]

For Indian scholar Saheli Chattaraj, associate professor of China studies at Somaiya Vidyavihar University, China's experience offers practical lessons for other large developing countries facing complex governance challenges.

Having conducted research on local governance and environmental management in Zhejiang province for years, she said many of the challenges China has confronted, from urbanization to pollution management, are familiar to India.

"China and India share many similarities as populous and diverse countries," she said. "What interests me is how different regions in China have explored solutions and adapted policies to local conditions."

Chiara Romagnoli, director of the Interdepartmental Center for Studies and Documentation on China and East Asia at Roma Tre University, said the outside world often overlooks China's diversity and complexity.

"Many people think China is a homogeneous society, but in fact it is diverse and complex. That is where its richness lies," she said.

Romagnoli added that China's development philosophy also carries a broader message.

"Development should not belong to one country alone. More countries should benefit from it. Development is for all humanity," she said.

For Taing Mengchhong, the Cambodian director of the Confucius Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, one of the most significant contributions of Chinese modernization is that it has expanded the global imagination of what modernization can look like.

"Chinese modernization has reshaped the picture of modernization in the world," he said. "Modernization was once associated mainly with a small number of developed countries with relatively small populations. China has shown that a country with more than 1.4 billion people can achieve modernization, changing the global landscape of development."

Another guest gets acupuncture treatment at the area during the conference. [Photo by Yang Mingze/China Daily]

He noted that China's experience demonstrates that modernization is not synonymous with Westernization.

"Developing countries should explore modernization paths that fit their own national conditions, cultures and realities," he said.

Taing Mengchhong pointed to the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, Cambodia's first expressway and a flagship Belt and Road project, as an example of how China-Cambodia cooperation has improved people's lives. The project has shortened travel times, improved logistics and strengthened regional connectivity.

"The achievements of Cambodia-China cooperation must be visible to ordinary people," he said. "Only when people can see and experience the benefits in their daily lives can they truly understand the value of our partnership."

Sinologists also highlighted that people-to-people exchanges matter most in the current era for promoting civilizational dialogue.

"Without people-to-people exchanges, any policies, strategies, decisions or initiatives cannot work," said Iljaz Spahiu, former minister-counselor at the Albanian embassy in China. "This is a foundational pillar of enhancing international relations."

"We're living in a difficult time, faced with many shared challenges," said Mohamed Rasheed, chairman and founder of the China-Maldives Cultural Association. "Chinese philosophy, which advocates peace, coexistence and dialogue, is highly valued today by humanity for its contribution to prosperity. When you promote Chinese culture, it encourages openness to coexist with other cultures and to appreciate the strengths of others."

Yang Mingze contributed to this story.