On the first day of 2015, we present Chinese Social Sciences Today (English E-paper) to readers as a unique academic newspaper from China.
 

This newspaper aims to deliver Chinese scholars’ voices, uniquely telling China’s stories and introducing readers to Chinese academia. It will serve as a platform for Chinese and foreign academic communities to engage in a frank dialogue on an equal basis while opening a window for the world to become better acquainted with China and building a bridge of friendship between the nation and people around the world to enhance mutual understanding.
 

We firmly believe that academic exchange and dialogue can help different civilizations learn from each other and facilitate their harmonious coexistence. The diversity of development will open up infinite possibilities for the future of humankind.
 

Chinese civilization, broad and profound, has a history that stretches back more than 5,000 years. China and other countries have had cultural exchanges since ancient times. With material and spiritual achievements, China has made tremendous contributions to human civilization.
 

Vicissitude is the law of civilizations. As the Western world was rising in modern times, imperial China in its former state of backwardness was, in contrast, closing its door. Within this context, the nation faced the bitter reality of being bullied because it lagged behind the rest of the world. This encouraged the Chinese people to embark on an intellectual journey of learning from the West. Although long and tortuous, this journey was an urgent necessity for China at the time. 
 

Since 1949, China has created a development miracle that is unprecedented in human history and cut out a unique path forward to modernization through arduous and spectacular explorations. This path, representing the crystallization of Chinese tradition and wisdom with a wealth of precious experience, shows a historical picture quite distinctive from that of the West.
 

Chinese scholars, witnessing and taking part in this great transformation, have gained their own new understanding and interpretations both of history and the world from this process. And they stand ready to share their views and ideas with their foreign counterparts in an effort to jointly advance the cause of human civilization.
 

Our era is undoubtedly the most complicated of times and also the most versatile of times. World history tells us that every civilization constitutes a unique and inseparable part of the vibrant tapestry of humanity.
 

It is dialogues, exchanges as well as integration between different civilizations that shape the common future of humankind. In addition, intellectual communication enables us to overcome mediocrity, abandon narrow-mindedness and prejudice, and be guided by rationality and humanity.

To embrace our common future, Chinese Social Sciences Today (English E-paper) offers this platform for inter-civilizational dialogue and exchange. It will show the world China’s authentic, colorful and dynamic academia, culture and spirit.

Gao Xiang
Editor- in -Chief