Today’s world must be a diverse one with different cultures coexisting, and in such a world, Chinese views and wisdom are necessary if the world is to understand China, a senior Chinese official has said.

“No civilisation or culture should seek to replace or consider itself to be superior to another. And that is the exact message we want to convey to you today,” Madam Yan Junqi, vice-chair of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, said yesterday.

Madam Yan, who stressed that China believes in a peaceful rise, was replying to ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute research fellow Termsak Chalermpalanupap on what she saw as the world’s most serious misunderstanding of China, following her S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) Distinguished Public Lecture at NTU@one-north. Madam Yan said that while some countries hold the view that China would encroach on their interest as it rises, or look down on small nations, the China of today “firmly believes” in a path of peaceful development.