各国文明的多样性，是人类社会的基本特征，也是推动世界文明进步的重要动力。当今世界拥有60亿人口，200多个国家和地区，2 500多个民族，5 000多种语言。由于历史传统、宗教信仰、文化背景、社会制度、价值观念和发展程度的不同，各个国家和地区才具有了各自鲜明的特征，整个人类文明也因此而交相辉映、多姿多彩、富有活力。这种文明的多样性是在历史长河中形成的，并将长期存在下去。我们应该尊重和维护各国文明的多样性，而不应人为歧视或贬低他国文明；应该鼓励各种文明在对话交流中相互借鉴、取长补短，而不应相互隔绝和相互排斥；应该倡导各种文明在相互包容、求同存异中共同发展，而不应强求一律、强加于人。
随着经济全球化和新科技革命的发展，国家间的相互联系和相互依存愈益加深，但这并不意味着可以忽视和削弱国家主权的地位与作用。必须实行国际关系民主化。不尊重别国主权，以大欺小，以强凌弱，推行霸权主义和强权政治，实践证明是行不通的。
The diversity of the world’s civilizations is a basic hallmark of human society and an important driving force that propels human progress. Our world today has over 6 billion inhabitants living in more than 200 countries and regions. They break down into over 2,500 ethnic groups and speak more than 5,000 different languages. Because of the difference in historical tradition, faith and culture, or social system, values and level of development, those countries or regions are often different from one another. It is these differences that make our planet dazzling, colorful and bustling with life. Such diversity is a legacy of history and will stay with us into the future. Instead of harboring bias against or deliberately belittling other civilizations, we should give full respect to the diversity of civilizations all over the world. Instead of shutting each other out in mutual exclusion, we should encourage dialogues and exchanges between civilizations so that they can learn from each other in mutual emulation. Instead of demanding uniformity and imposing one’s will on others, we should promote common development of all civilizations in the course of mutual tolerance and seeking agreement while shelving differences.
With the globalization of economy and the advancement in new, scientific and technological revolution, the interconnection and interdependence between countries are developing in depth, but this doesn’t mean allowing of ignoring and weakening the status and role of a nation’s sovereignty. It is necessary to have greater democracy in international relations. Practice indicates that the disregard for other countries’ sovereignty, the practice of the big oppressing the small and the strong bullying the weak and the pursuance of hegemonism and power politics won’t work.
