Macao will host the inaugural International Forum on Mutual Learning among Civilizations on Dec 16 and 17, bringing together government representatives, international organizations, and leading experts from around the world to foster cultural exchange and dialogue.

Presented by the Macao Special Administrative Region government and organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the event is being supported by the Chinese Academy of History under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a premier national-level think tank.

Themed “Mutual Learning among Civilizations, Inheritance and Development”, the forum aims to explore new pathways for civilizational inclusiveness, cultural innovation, and the development of cooperation.

Highlights of the two-day event include two parallel subforums — “Mutual Learning among Civilizations and Diverse Coexistence” and “Conservation and Sustainable Development of Cultural Heritage” — alongside a series of academic salons. It will feature nearly 20 keynote speeches, and discussions among government officials, representatives of international organizations, and renowned experts and scholars from home and abroad.

The event also highlights Macao’s contribution to global dialogues and exchanges among civilizations, with the city’s unique blend of Chinese and Western cultures providing a fitting backdrop.

“The harmonious coexistence and mutual support of different ethnic groups forged the unique cultural landscape and profound cultural heritage of Macao over the past four centuries. The roots of Chinese civilization and the integration of diverse cultures have shaped Macao as an open and diversified city with its core strongly connected to the values of pioneering spirit, peace, and inclusiveness. It also vividly demonstrates the exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Western civilizations,” according to the Cultural Affairs Bureau.

The forum reflects Macao’s participation in global dialogue involving civilizations, and its contribution to the development of a community with a shared future for mankind, the bureau said.

The event seeks to establish a globally influential platform for dialogue and academic exchange, promote mutual understanding and respect among civilizations, and convey a vision of an era in which cultural integration drives human development.