Inclusive mind is crucial for social progress

If we don't like the word "West" or "Western", we can call them the development of human civilization. But how do we resist the things or ideas that make our life easier and make the world a better place?

As far as Western political systems are concerned, we can say it does not suit us and we should have a political system of our own. But there is no need to point fingers at a particular kind of political system or that of a particular country.

We often say China's political system best suits China's reality. What we need to do is to continuously improve it and make it capable of solving practical problems the country faces in achieving its goal of providing its people with a prosperous and glorious culture.

President Xi Jinping said at a meeting with foreigner experts working in China in May 2014 that China should always be ready to learn from all countries irrespective of how advanced it becomes. China will increase exchanges and communications with all countries with a more inclusive mind to further open up to the rest of the world, he said.

What is an inclusive mind? An inclusive mind should never stick labels of "West" or "East" on ideas or things that are beneficial to China's economic and social development. Rather we should consider them as part of human civilization from which we can draw inspiration to progress on our path to prosperity.

Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China's reform and opening-up, said in 1992 that it is meaningless to bother about capitalism or socialism as long as it benefits the productivity of our socialist economy, boosts the comprehensive strength of our socialist country and improves the living standards of our people.

It is the result of such an inclusive mind that China has become what it is today.

The author is a senior writer with China Daily.

zhuyuan@chinadaily.com.cn