Beyond the "Clash of Civilizations": Egyptian Scholar Alaa Mamdouh Akef Redefines Arab-Chinese Solidarity

Dr. Alaa Mamdouh Akef, Assistant Professor at Peking University and the first recipient of China’s "Specialist in Chinese Studies" certificate (No. 001), offers a transformative perspective on cross-cultural dialogue. Speaking to Xinhua, Akef highlighted that China’s Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) elevates Arab-Chinese and Sino-Egyptian relations to the level of "Civilizational Companions." This partnership, rooted in shared ethical values and a mutual respect for diversity, provides a practical alternative to the outdated "Clash of Civilizations" theory.

Akef identified three pillars of this mutual learning: establishing a humanistic foundation for a "Community with a Shared Future," modeling egalitarian exchanges from the Silk Road to the "Belt and Road Initiative," and enriching global governance with wisdom such as "harmony in diversity." Looking forward, Akef aims to expand this bridge by integrating Artificial Intelligence in pedagogy, translating classical literature between Arabic and Chinese, and sharing the "Chinese-style modernization" experience with the Arab academic community.