BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping summarized the essence of the Chinese civilization, when addressing the opening ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations in Beijing on Wednesday, as follows:

-- Seeking goodwill with neighbors and harmony with all nations is the Chinese way of engaging with the world.

-- Benefiting the people and providing them with stability and prosperity are the distinctive value of Chinese civilization.

-- Keeping reforming and innovating, and advancing with the times are the unchanged spirit of Chinese civilization.

-- Following the rules of nature and uniting human and universe are the philosophy of existence for Chinese civilization.