我们应该尊重和维护世界文明的多样性。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，2500多个民族，5000多种语言。各个国家和地区，无论是历史传统、宗教信仰和文化背景，还是社会制度、价值观念和发展程度，往往存在这样那样的差异，整个人类文明也因此而交相辉映、多姿多彩。

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。中国古代思想家孔子曾说过，“万物并育而不相害，道并行而不相悖”。我们应该充分尊重各国文明的多样性，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。

We should respect and maintain the diversity of the world's civilizations. The diverse civilizations are a hallmark of human society and an important driving force behind 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. Be it 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. The ancient Chinese thinker Confucius once said, "All living creatures grow together without harming one another; ways run parallel without interfering with one another." Instead of harboring bias against or deliberately belittling other civilizations, we should give full respect to the diversity of civilizations. Instead of shutting each other out in mutual exclusion, we should encourage dialog and exchange 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.