The Macao Special Administrative Region -- a city entrusted with the historical mission of East-West cultural encounters -- has taken on a new role in the current era to promote its experience of harmonious coexistence among cultures globally and become a global hub for cross-cultural understanding and communication, local scholar Wu Zhiliang told a forum on Tuesday.

Wu, who’s vice-chair of the CPPCC Committee on Culture, History and Learning and chairman of the Executive Board of the Macao Foundation, shared his vision at the two-day 2025 International Forum on Mutual Learning Among Civilizations being held in Macao.

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He said that for over 400 years since the mid-16th century, Macao has served as a pivotal point where Eastern and Western civilizations deeply converged. Through an environment of equal interaction, the city has fostered a cultural ecosystem characterized by coexistence and mutual prosperity.

Such harmony is evident in the coexistence of Chinese and southern European architectural styles, the unique cultural identity of the Macanese community (descendants of the Portuguese raised in Macao), and the embrace of both Western science and Lingnan traditional beliefs.

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Macao’s practice shows that coexistence among civilizations can take a third path beyond confrontation and assimilation -- one of mutual flourishing -- Wu said.

Macao’s practice shows that coexistence among civilizations can take a third path beyond confrontation and assimilation -- one of mutual flourishing -- Wu said.

In light of the growing cultural divides around the world, he believes the SAR needs to redefine its role. The city’s new mission includes reducing barriers to understanding core concepts of different civilizations; promoting its cultural coexistence experiences to the world; and becoming a key hub for cross-cultural communication to foster innovative ideas and technologies for the future.

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To achieve this, Wu suggests that Macao establish a global civilization coexistence research center, host globally influential forums for civilizational dialogue, and offer courses on cross-cultural understanding.

Macao’s development demonstrates that the future of world civilization doesn’t lie in isolation, but in nurturing a “forest” where roots are interconnected. As a pioneer in this forest, the city aims to be a key hub promoting sincere dialogue and creative transformation among global civilizations, he said.