The Think Asia Forum 2025 was held on April 15 in Singapore. During the opening ceremony, Prof. Dong Qiang, Dean of the Yenching Academy, joined historian Wang Gungwu in a special dialogue that explored how Asian wisdom can inform global governance. The 50-minute English-language dialogue was moderated by Wang Xiaohui, editor-in-chief of China.org.cn.
Wang Gungwu (b. 1930) is a renowned Chinese historian, former vice chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, and former director of East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS). His publications include The Structure of Power in North China during the Five Dynasties, The Chinese Overseas: From Earthbound China to the Quest for Autonomy, Renewal: The Chinese State and the New Global History, and the two-volume Home Is Not Here. Prof Wang is an eminent figure in fields of history, thought and education. In 2016, he participated in the YCA-sponsored forum titled “China and the World: Observation, Analysis, Prospect.” Edited by Professor Zhang Longxi, the proceedings published under the same title by Sino-Culture Press. The forum was co-sponsored by the China International Communications Group (CICG), Tsinghua University and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore.
Prof. Wang Gungwu began by clarifying that Asian wisdom and global governance are somewhat contradictory. Asian wisdom comprises philosophical insights into humanity formed over millennia and shaped by the everyday lives of local people throughout history. However, global governance is a modern concept. The idea of globalization did not exist in 1800. Moreover, the concept of "Asia" itself is relatively new; it is a Eurocentric term. For a long time, Europeans viewed ancient Asian civilizations as synonymous with backwardness—doomed to decline and replacement by modern civilization. For centuries, “civilization” was referred to only in the singular, and this perception dominated global discourse. Now, ancient civilizations recognize that they must adapt to new trends and challenges. This is how modern civilization can reach every corner of the world.
The “state” is another modern construct, unfamiliar to most human communities before the 18th century. In earlier times, people lived in “nations” and “empires.” The British and French empires ruled much of the world for centuries before the global landscape underwent drastic changes. Eventually, these age-old empires gave way to global governance. In this context, global governance refers to the post-World War II order established by the victorious United States and Soviet Union, who created a new system represented by the United Nations. While the UN helped maintain peace for decades, it now faces systemic failures. Today, global governance is increasingly dominated by superpowers, which contradicts the principles of Asian wisdom.
Wang also explained that misunderstandings persist within Asia. It is crucial to ask what “Asia” really means. When we speak of Asian wisdom, we must acknowledge that it encompasses more than one ancient civilization. Most importantly, civilization should be viewed as open and borderless, offering new ideological perspectives to the world. Such an understanding benefits humanity because it is universal. Cross-cultural understanding is essential to track how ancient civilizations evolve and adapt to the modern world.
Prof. Dong looked at the issue from a different perspective. He pointed out where harmony could be found within the seemingly contradictory pair of Asian wisdom and global governance. For instance, in his meeting with Deng Xiaoping more than 30 years ago, Lee Kuan Yew attributed the success of Singapore to Confucian principles. Lee said that Singaporeans drew inspiration and strength from those principles in the first tough decade after the founding of Singapore, even though many assumed the country was too small to survive long as an independent state. Lee admired Confucian philosophy as part of the Asian wisdom that helped Singapore with development. After this meeting, Deng Xiaoping attached high priority to the development of Confucianism, and the International Confucian Association was founded as a major contributor to the dissemination of Chinese culture in the world.
Interestingly, when we Chinese speak of “building a civilized society” or stress the importance of being civilized, we are referring to the same idea as the singular form of “civilization” mentioned by Prof. Wang. China draws its strength from both an ancient civilization rooted in millennia-old traditions and a culture that remains open to change. It has remained steadfast in preserving its heritage, while also embracing and adapting to the demands of a new global order. We are ready to contribute to this evolving order with insights drawn from our history. China offers not only its wisdom, but also its solutions. In this light, Asian wisdom and global governance are not contradictory, but complementary.
Prof. Dong shared his thoughts on the evolving perceptions and shifting attitudes of Western political leaders. He cited, for instance, French President Emmanuel Macron, who acknowledged that the world is no longer dominated by the West, as countries like China and India continue to rise. In contrast, the actions of former U.S. President Donald Trump, Dong noted, reflected an extreme attempt to revert to a 19th-century worldview—one in which the United States positions itself as a lone dominant power, disengaged from the rest of the international community. This was evident, he remarked, in Trump’s conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Dean Dong also referred to a lecture delivered at Yenching Academy by Professor Romano Prodi, former President of the European Commission and former Prime Minister of Italy. Prof. Prodi candidly expressed his confusion and concern over what he described as the United States’ inconceivable diplomatic behavior, referring to it as “the end of diplomacy.” According to Dong, it was almost unimaginable to see a U.S. president conduct a conversation in such a manner with the leader of another sovereign nation. But it happened, and similar things, he added, are continuing to happen. This, he concluded, is a new global situation that must be acknowledged and addressed.
In considering Asian wisdom in this context, Prof. Dong stressed the importance of adapting ancient insights to contemporary challenges. He referenced the I Ching, or Book of Changes, describing it as a philosophy built on transformation and the acceptance of change. To him, this represented not only a form of Chinese wisdom, but also a broader expression of Asian intellectual heritage.
Prof. Wang then returned to the Asian values discussed by Lee Kuan Yew during his meeting with Deng Xiaoping. Forty years ago, Lee was already reflecting on what Asian values might mean for Singapore, a country situated in a uniquely diverse region now known as Southeast Asia. At the time, the term “Southeast Asia” had not yet gained widespread use, but the region had long been a meeting point for people from South Asia, southern China, and Inner Asia. Over the centuries, communities in this region developed their own rich cultures, of which they remain proud. Yet, they have also shown a remarkable openness to external influences, recognizing the importance of learning from and accepting other civilizations.
This openness, Prof. Wang explained, stems not from insecurity but from cultural confidence. Societies in Southeast Asia have historically absorbed elements from Chinese, Indian, and other civilizations, not as acts of imitation, but as active choices grounded in their own sense of identity. In Singapore, this belief in cultural equality has shaped the nation’s approach from the very beginning. Indian, Muslim, and Christian traditions—alongside Chinese ones—are treated with equal respect. This spirit of inclusiveness forms the basis of what Singapore began to define as Asian values: not a single tradition, but a broader openness to diverse civilizations across the continent.
Dean Dong built on this by emphasizing that Asian wisdom and Asian values are interconnected and that the former forms a foundational part of the latter. In contrast, he criticized the worldview exemplified by Donald, one that divides nations into “big” and “small,” “strong” and “weak.” He contrasted this with the exchange between Lee Kuan Yew and Deng Xiaoping, in which Lee expressed hope that all nations, regardless of size, would contribute to global progress like members of a single human family. Prof. Dong argued that Asian philosophy, especially Chinese thought, sees “big” and “small” as relative rather than absolute. He cited Zhuangzi, who taught that the value of things cannot be measured in size or strength alone, and that true understanding lies in recognizing the interconnectedness and equality of all things. No country, prof. Dong asserted, can stand above the universe or act as the measure of all others. A nation may hold military or economic power for a time, but that does not give it moral superiority. Ultimately, all people and all nations are equal in their humanity. This is one of the essential lessons of the 20th century.
To support this point, prof. Dong referenced French anthropologist and philosopher Claude Lévi-Strauss, who demonstrated that indigenous communities in Africa and Brazil possessed sophisticated systems of knowledge, logic, and philosophy. These peoples, Lévi-Strauss argued, were not inferior in any intellectual sense to so-called “civilized” societies. For Dong, this recognition of equality across cultures is not only anthropological—it is political. When we speak of the world, or of the United Nations, equality must remain a central value. It is the foundation of humanity.
Before the end of the dialogue, the moderator asked both professors how to respond to current global challenges, and what role cultural exchange should play in that process.
Prof. Wang Gungwu emphasized the importance of openness. Looking back through history, he noted that humans, cultures, and civilizations have advanced and become stronger and more resilient precisely because they remained open to new ideas, new knowledge, and to learning from others. “Stay open,” he urged, “and stay willing to learn.” When people see something valuable in another society, something they lack, they should be ready to absorb and adapt it. This openness, he said, is what allows us to outdo ourselves.
He stressed the need to embrace innovation. Modern developments, such as science, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and robotics, are meaningful and valuable advancements. Societies must remain open to them, to study and learn from them. At the same time, humanity is facing shared crises such as climate change and pandemics. In such a context, cooperation is essential. “Without openness,” he warned, “we become foolish, not wise.”
For Prof. Wang, openness also means being willing to understand and to compromise—not insisting on extreme positions. Humanity needs to adopt a developmental mindset, seek balance, and avoid polarization. This principle, he explained, is rooted in all civilizations. Big countries, in particular, must think beyond self-interest and consider the wellbeing of the global majority. Stability, he concluded, must be achieved through harmony, not through extremism. This logic, he added, applies to both international politics and personal relationships.
Prof. Dong Qiang agreed with Prof. Wang and provided historical and contemporary examples to reinforce the importance of openness. In the 18th century, Chinese culture was highly admired in Europe, giving rise to Chinoiserie. However, in the 19th century, Japan’s enforced opening led to greater influence in Europe, particularly in art movements like Impressionism. This contrast, Dong argued, highlights that cultural openness is essential to soft power. A country that isolates itself cannot effectively project influence.
He cited China’s recent ban on American films as an example. While the trade volume is small, the cultural impact of Hollywood is considerable. If the U.S. turns inward, its global influence will decline. As Prof. Wang noted, openness is critical for every nation.
Prof. Dong chose “respect” as his keyword, particularly in navigating the relationship between tradition and modernity. While young people today are drawn to innovation, it remains vital to respect history, which carries the shared memory and identity of humanity. Technologies like DeepSeek and ChatGPT may shape the future, but they cannot replace the foundational values forged by history.
