World Great Rivers Civilizations Forum·Zhengzhou Manifesto
《世界大河文明论坛·郑州宣言》
The 2023 World Great Rivers Civilizations Forum was held from September 17th to 18th in the city of Zhengzhou, which is a national central city and one of the eight Great Ancient Chinese Capitals sited along the Yellow River. More than 300 experts and scholars from all over the world gathered to engage in and conducted extensive and in-depth discussions on the theme of "Mutual Learning Among Civilizations·Jointly Building A Shared Future", and have reached the following consensus:
2023世界大河文明论坛于9月17日至18日，在中国黄河中游的国家中心城市、八大古都之一的郑州举办。来自世界各地的300余位与会专家学者围绕“文明交流互鉴·发展共创未来”进行了广泛深入地探讨，并达成以下共识：
1. Great Rivers have nurtured the world's major civilizations and are the embodiment of human civilizations. The perpetual flow of rivers symbolizes the continuity of civilizations, and their unstoppable force signifies human innovation and progress. The convergence of various streams reflects the openness and inclusiveness of human culture. Rivers connect different regions, bridging friendship between people of different races and languages, and serving as the source of inspiration for the advancement of human civilization. Rivers are the driving force for communication and the link for mutual understanding among human civilizations.
一、大河孕育了世界主要文明，是人类文明的具象化。大河奔流不息，象征着文明绵延不绝；大河一往无前，代表了人类创新前行；大河汇聚众川，体现了人类文化的开放包容；大河连接不同区域，为不同肤色、语言的人群搭建起友谊的桥梁，是激发人类文明进步的源头活水。大河，是人类文明交流互鉴的动力、携手合作的纽带。
2. Great River basins carry genetic heritages of human civilizations. The Yellow River - Yangtze River basin, the Indus River basin, the Tigris and Euphrates River basin, and the Nile River basin have respectively nurtured Chinese civilization, ancient Indian civilization, ancient Babylonian civilization, and ancient Egyptian civilization. Each of these civilizations has its strengths and has made significant contributions to the progress of human civilization. The footprints of civilizations follow the veins of rivers, with some becoming eternal legacies displayed on the vast earth, while others shining even brighter through communication and mutual learning.
二、大河流域承载着人类文明的基因。黄河-长江流域、印度河流域、两河流域、尼罗河流域分别孕育了中华文明、古印度文明、古巴比伦文明、古埃及文明。这些文明各有所长，都为人类文明的进步做出了巨大贡献。文明的足迹沿着大河的脉络走来，一部分成为陈列在广阔大地上的永恒遗产，一部分在交流互鉴中变得更为璀璨。
3. Advocate for respecting the civilizational characteristics of each river civilization to safeguard the diversity of human civilizations. The major river basins of the world have different environments and distinctive civilizational features, constitutinga colorful global garden of civilizations. Although civilizations have originated earlier or later, lasted longer or shorter, there is no superior or inferior among them. We should respect civilizations created by all countries and peoples of the world and protect the diversity of cultures.
三、倡议尊重各大河流域的文明特性，维护人类文明多样性。世界大河流域的环境各不相同、文明的面貌各具特色，构成绚丽多彩的世界文明百花园。各个文明尽管起源时间有早晚、延续时间有长短之分，但并无高下优劣之别。应当尊重世界各个国家、各个民族创造的文明，保护文明的多样性。
4. Advocate for taking strong measures to protect cultural heritages of river basins. The cultural heritages of river basins represent an essential part of world civilization. Many cultural heritages are being threatened or disappeared in the process of urbanization in the world. It is urgent for the whole humanity to join hands to deal with the situation and take strong measures to enhance the protection of human cultural heritages.
四、倡议采取有力措施，保护好大河流域的文化遗产。大河流域的文化遗产，是世界文明的重要组成部分。在世界城市化进程中，很多文化遗产受到威胁，甚至消失，亟待全人类携手应对，采取有力措施，加强对人类文化遗产的保护。
5. Advocate for intensified research on global civilizations including river civilizations. A global academic research and exchange platform should be set up for the exploration of civilizations, civilization exchanges and the protection and utilization of cultural heritages, deepening research on the historical context of the origin, formation, and development of human civilization.
五、倡议加强对包括大河文明在内的世界文明的研究。搭建文明探源、文明交流、文化遗产保护利用全球性学术研究交流平台，深化对人类文明起源、形成、发展的历史脉络研究。
6. Advocate for enhancing the inheritance and promotion of civilization. Artifacts in museums, heritage displayed on the vast land, and ancient texts should be brought to life, so that human civilization can be revitalized with new vigor and vitality.
六、倡议加强对文明的传承和弘扬。要让收藏在博物馆里的文物、陈列在广阔大地上的遗产、书写在古籍里的文字都活起来，让人类文明焕发出新的活力和魅力。
7. Advocate for protecting the ecological environment of river basins and to achieve a harmonious coexistence of civilization and ecology. Throughout the history of human civilization, river basins with favorable ecology and pleasant environments have nurtured a number of ancient civilizations. To inherit civilization demands us not only respect history as well as nature. We should plan for the development of river basins from the perspective of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
七、倡议保护大河流域的生态环境，实现文明和生态和谐共生。纵观人类文明发展史，生态优良、环境宜人的大河流域孕育了众多文明古国。传承文明，既要尊重历史，也要敬畏自然。我们应站在人与自然和谐共生的高度谋划大河流域的发展。
8. Advocate for utilizing the modern values of ancient civilizations to promote the development of modern civilization of human society. Ancient civilizations are important bearers of human wisdom and experience, and their historical contributions as well as modern significance should not be underestimated. Although some of the four major ancient river basin civilizations have not survived to the present day, they are the sources of many subsequent civilizations. Today, we should pay more attention to the contemporary relevance of ancient civilizations and make new and greater contributions to the progress of modern human civilization.
八、倡议发挥古代文明的时代价值，促进人类社会现代文明发展。古代文明是人类智慧和经验的重要承载，对人类社会的历史贡献和时代意义不容忽视。四个大河流域古文明虽然有些未曾延续至今，但它们是后来诸多文明的源头。今天，我们更应重视发挥古代文明的时代价值，为人类现代文明进步事业作出新的更大贡献。
9. Advocate for strengthening civilization communication to achieve cultural exchanges, integration and mutual understanding. In the process of emphasizing the civilizational inheritance and innovation, fully tapping into the historical and cultural values of various countries, and promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of outstanding traditional cultures, we should respect the diversity of world civilizations, and adhere to the principles of equality, mutual appreciation, communication, and inclusiveness among civilizations. Cultural exchanges will transcend estrangement, mutual learning will transcend clashes, and inclusiveness will transcend feelings of superiority. We should build bridges for people to people exchanges and cooperation among different countries and jointly promote the human civilization to blossom inmutual learning, sharing development opportunities, and creating a better future together.
九、倡议加强文明交流互鉴，实现人文交流、文化交融、民心相通。在重视文明传承和创新，充分挖掘各国历史文化的时代价值，推动各国优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展的过程中，我们要尊重世界文明多样性，坚持文明平等、互鉴、对话、包容，以文明交流超越文明隔阂、文明互鉴超越文明冲突、文明包容超越文明优越。我们应搭建与各国人文交流合作的桥梁，共同推动人类文明在互鉴中绽放光彩，共享发展机遇、共创美好未来。
2023 World Great Rivers Civilizations Forum (Zhengzhou, China)
2023世界大河文明论坛（中国·郑州）
September 17, 2023
2023年9月17日