China’s participation in the Vatican’s interfaith dialogue conferences and its use of the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) rely on well-considered diplomatic, cultural, and political mechanisms. Beijing seeks, through these mechanisms, to bolster its international legitimacy, dismantle the clash of civilizations narrative, and present an alternative governance model that respects the political and religious particularities of states. The most prominent mechanisms of Chinese engagement and the link between religious dialogue and the Chinese World Civilization Initiative can be summarized through understanding the mechanisms of religious diplomacy and the provisional agreements between China and the Vatican, primarily the Provisional Agreement for the Appointment of Catholic Bishops in China. This agreement (signed in 2018 and periodically renewed) serves as the cornerstone of institutional communication between Beijing and the Vatican. China utilizes it as a mechanism for building political trust and facilitating the participation of representatives of the official Chinese Catholic Church (affiliated with the official Catholic Association of China, which is close to the ruling Communist Party) in Vatican-organized events and conferences. The diplomatic development represented by the Vatican opening a permanent mission or liaison office in China, and the establishment of a (permanent Vatican mission), is another mechanism, as a direct and sustained communication facilitates and high-level coordination for participation in cultural and religious dialogue conferences between China and the Vatican.
Here, China is leveraging the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) of Chinese President Xi Jinping as a framework for presenting a Chinese vision of coexistence. This vision is based on practical mechanisms for confronting the West and rejecting the imposition of unilateral values on China and the Global South. China utilizes Vatican platforms to advocate for the principle of respect for the diversity of civilizations and rejects the imposition of Western values and standards of human rights or religious freedoms as absolute universal standards. Chinese leaders promote the slogan of mutual learning, advocating for overcoming conflict through mutual learning in dialogue conferences with the Vatican. This approach has garnered support from the Vatican, which has historically adopted a policy of promoting peaceful interfaith dialogue.
On the other hand, China and its ruling Communist Party adhere to the principle of conserving or Chineseizing or Sinicization of the religion, as a process akin to the Chinese cultural restructuring, to prevent its politicization by the West and the United States through religious and cultural infiltration of Chinese religions, ethnicities, minorities, and cultures, China adheres to the principle of mutual trust in integrating Chinese socialism with traditional culture. Here, Chinese delegations (comprising academics and clergy accredited by the Communist Party of China) participate in Vatican conferences, the World Dialogue of Civilizations, and world peace conferences to promote the concept of preserving religions, that is, adapting Catholicism and Christianity to Chinese culture and socialism with Chinese characteristics. China is keen to present the Confucian model of tolerance, meaning that the Chinese cultural mechanism relies on highlighting ancient philosophical and civilizational roots, such as (Confucianism and Taoism) that advocate the values of harmony and coexistence without uniformity, to demonstrate to the Vatican and the international community that China possesses a rich civilizational heritage that supports dialogue and coexistence. The Chinese perspective of the ruling Communist Party in China emphasizes the necessity of strict Chinese adherence to the principle of Sinicization or the Chineseization of religion, in line with Chinese cultural norms, to make it compatible with Chinese socialist society. This Chinese policy aims to establish rules to prevent the external politicization of religions, protect national identity, and eliminate any foreign influence or Western and American cultural penetration within China’s 56 officially recognized ethnic and religious minorities.
The move towards Sinicizing religion is part of the broader strategy of the Chinese government, which is based on a number of key aspects, such as (conformity with socialist thought), where the government and the top leadership of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China require all institutions and leaders of religious denominations within China to support the leadership of the Communist Party and integrate basic socialist values into their teachings, while tightening and activating the mechanism of (official control) within China, where the five officially recognized religions within China (Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Protestantism) are managed through national associations under the supervision of (the State Administration for Religious Affairs and the United Front Work Department). Here, China is pursuing an approach of architectural and intellectual reform of all places of worship within China. The practical application of this Chinese policy includes several measures, such as modifying the architectural features of all places of worship within China to align with Chinese cultural and civilizational values. This includes removing crosses from churches and modifying the domes and minarets of mosques to reflect Chinese architectural styles, as well as directing religious discourse to conform to Chinese culture.
What remains noteworthy, according to the Egyptian researcher, is China’s intensified reliance on academic channels and think tanks, in what is known as Track II Diplomacy. This is evident in all cultural, religious, and civilizational dialogue conferences and international peace conferences, as well as in cultural and religious exchange with the Vatican. China is activating Track II diplomacy through intellectual and academic exchange with the Vatican and the world to strengthen the foundations of dialogue and cultural, civilizational, and religious coexistence between China, the Vatican, and the world. Beijing is keen to send researchers from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and major universities to participate in the annual conferences of the Vatican Centre for Interreligious Dialogue (CIC) or the Pontifical Academies. China and the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party link the concept of development with cultural security. Through these academic platforms and Track II diplomacy, China presents its comprehensive framework for disseminating President Xi Jinping’s global initiatives, which are: (the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative). This framework aims to convince religious institutions worldwide, and the Vatican in particular, that cultural and spiritual stability is inseparable from economic development and regional security.
Chinese (Track II diplomacy) embodies a significant Chinese strategic approach to linking national security with cultural development. Through Chinese academic institutions, such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Beijing is keen to participate in Vatican conferences to promote its comprehensive approach and President Xi Jinping’s initiatives for development, security, and civilization. This aims to convince the Vatican and religious institutions that spiritual stability is inseparable from economic development. China pursues its diplomatic and cultural objectives through various avenues, including (Track II diplomacy). Chinese academies and think tanks play a pivotal role in the dialogue of civilizations. Researchers from major universities and the (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences) are sent to participate in annual conferences held by Vatican-affiliated institutions, such as the (Pontifical Academies), to foster cultural and religious exchange. The leadership of the Communist Party of China emphasizes linking national security with cultural security and integrating development with cultural security. Beijing presents this concept in international forums as a tool to build a global consensus that spiritual and cultural stability is compatible with economic development and regional security. With China activating a number of global initiatives as a bridge for dialogue, it is leveraging its academic platforms to present President Xi Jinping’s global initiatives, which include the (Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and initiatives for civilization and global governance). Beijing aims to persuade global religious institutions, particularly the Vatican, of its comprehensive vision for global stability.
