Wang Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), reads a congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping to the fifth annual conference of the Taihu World Cultural Forum at the opening ceremony of the forum in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The fifth annual conference of the Taihu World Cultural Forum opened in Beijing on Thursday.

Wang Chen, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, announced Chinese President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter and delivered an address at the conference.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said President Xi's letter profoundly illustrated the important role that exchange and mutual learning among civilizations play on advancement of civilizations of mankind and peaceful development of the world.

"It gives full display to China's sincere wishes to work with the international community in advancing mutual respect and harmonious co-existence between different civilizations, sharing development opportunities, coping with common challenges, and building a better world," Wang said.

Working to build a community with a shared future for humanity is a practical action of China to safeguard world peace, promote common development and contribute Chinese wisdom and a Chinese approach, and has won wide recognition and support from the international community, he added.

Wang proposed adherence to mutual respect and inclusiveness, innovation in transformation and development of traditional culture, as well as strengthened cultural exchanges and enlarged public participation, and promoting cultural integration in building Belt and Road.

The Taihu World Cultural Forum was initiated by China. This year's conference is themed "Dialogue of Civilizations: Building a Community With a Shared Future for Humanity."