On April 2, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited the embassies in China to visit the China National Archives of Publications and Culture, with the participation of ambassadors, chargés d'affaires and nearly 100 diplomatic officers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Tanzania, Morocco and Greece. Assistant Foreign Minister and Director-General of the Protocol Department Hong Lei and Director of China National Archives of Publications and Culture Liu Chengyong attended the event.

Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei said in his speech that culture is the soul of a country and a nation. Chinese civilization is the only great civilization in the world that has continued uninterruptedly and developed in the form of a state to this day. Throughout the long course of history, the Chinese nation, with its dogged determination and will, has traversed mountains and rivers, blazing a development path distinct from that of other civilizations in the world, and has established and consolidated the spiritual foundation, values, and source of strength of the Chinese nation. It has demonstrated remarkable continuity, creativity, unity, inclusiveness and peaceful nature.

Hong Lei said that President Xi Jinping put forth the Global Civilization Initiative, advocating for promoting exchanges and mutual learning among human civilizations. This initiative aims to replace estrangement with exchange, clash with mutual learning, and superiority with inclusiveness. It encourages mutual understanding, respect, and trust among countries. China is ready to work with other countries to respect the diversity of all civilizations in the world, making exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations a bridge for friendship among peoples, a driving force of human progress, and a bond holding together world peace. Through such exchanges, different civilizations can jointly write a new chapter in the community with a shared future for mankind.

The event received a strong response. The diplomatic envoys present stated that by visiting the exhibition and displays at the China National Archives of Publications and Culture, they gained a deeper understanding of the historical heritage, open-mindedness, and boundless charm of Chinese civilization. They also recognized China's role in promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations in the world and expressed their willingness to further strengthen cultural exchanges between China and other countries.