Over a span of thousands of years, the ancient Silk Road bore witness to economic, political, cultural and social evolution in Eurasia as well as the integration of Western and Eastern civilizations.

Peoples along the ancient route interacted using goods, culture, science and technology, which contributed to an epic chapter in human history.

The ancient route stretched across cradles of the Egyptian, Babylonian, Indian and Chinese civilizations, covering countries in various regions inhabited by different races. As an embodiment of cultural exchanges, mutual-learning and co-existence in human history, it possesses critical historical significance.

The ancient Silk Road connected the East with the West, built a major transportation network in the world for the first time, and served as the most convenient channel in Eurasia.

With boosted commodity circulation, it ushered in a new era of trade and economic interactions between the East and the West. Before the 17th century, for example, pottery, woodware, gold- and silver-ware were what Central Asians and Europeans used in daily life. But as Chinese porcelain came along the Silk Road, a revolution of daily necessities gave birth to the ceramic industry and changed way of production and living in the West.

The transmission of science and technology also promoted productivity and social changes. China’s four great inventions (compass, gun-powder, papermaking and movable-type printing) and iron-making were spread through the Silk Road and induced major changes in the mode of production in the West.

Flourishing cultural exchanges bonded different nations, races and civilizations together. In this process, a unique Silk Road culture gradually took shape, making an extraordinary contribution to human progress.

In spite of ups and downs, the development of ancient Silk Road stood with great relevance and inspiration to our current efforts of promoting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

From historical perspective, the fundamental driving force lies in economic and social prosperity. Economic prosperity is the pre-condition of the development of the ancient Silk Road. It was when the most powerful dynasties -- such as Han (206BC-220), Tang (618-907) and Ming (1368-1644)-- reigned in China that the Silk Road showed the greatest dynamism.

The BRI covers over 60 countries and regions, with one of the world's greatest potentials, fastest growing trade and cross-border investment. These countries share the common aspiration of promoting structural readjustment, infrastructure construction and multi-dimensional international cooperation.

Meanwhile, they are also confronted with various challenges, such as resource shortages, food security, climate change, cyber attacks, pollution, epidemics and cross-border crimes. Against such backdrop, it is a global consensus to make concerted efforts to address these challenges.

The BRI is in line with the demand for promoting growth, maintaining stability and improving livelihood in countries along the Belt and Road and the demand for reforming the global governance system. As the "Chinese solution" to issues concerning international cooperation and global governance, the Belt and Road also showcases China's efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Government guidance is indispensable ingredient in the evolvement of the Silk Road. Governments in various dynasties all played a critical role in the ancient Silk Road, including establishing special government posts, providing supporting policies, maintaining stability in border areas and making peace with countries and nations along the routes.

But the most dynamic element came from the private sector. The ancient Silk Road was frequented by people from various countries, nations and trades, including monks, scholars, craftsmen, merchants and traders.

History tells that it is the functional combination of government support and private participation that makes the prosperity of the Silk Road possible. It is the same with the building of the Belt and Road. A coordinated combination of government guidance and private participation will inject sustained vitality into the Belt and Road.

Peace and stability are necessary pre-condition. A stable political environment, harmonious relations between ethnic groups and secured atmosphere along the route were preconditions for the successful ancient Silk Road.

The current international community presents prominent features of multi-polarization, economic globalization, cultural diversity and IT application, with ever-emerging traditional and non-traditional security issues posing threats to the international order and the very existence of human beings. No country can isolate itself and stay immune from these challenges.

When boosting the BRI projects, participating countries need to enhance policy communication, interest integration and political mutual trust. A multi-level communication mechanism must be put in place to safeguard peace and stability along the route and contribute to an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.

Openness and inclusiveness are vital pillars. Core philosophies of the ancient Silk Road lie in "openness and inclusiveness", which enabled countries and nations to treat cultural differences with respect and realize commodity exchange and cultural mutual-learning.

China's prosperous development derives from reform and opening up, while the most prominent feature of the BRI is openness. President Xi Jinping maintains that China's door of opening up will never be closed, but only open wider. And as a hallmark of China's opening-up policy, the Belt and Road will help China build an economic belt of international cooperation with participating countries and then make new ground in opening China further through links running eastward and westward, across land and over sea.

Cultural mutual learning is the source of power. As a major channel for cultural exchanges, the ancient Silk Road witnessed the development of the countries and nations along the route and stood as a collective memory of the whole human race. Each culture has its own inherent logic and beauty. The Belt and Road will also benefit from mutual respect, learning and understanding between cultures. And exchanges of philosophical, social, cultural and moral values will also inject huge impetus to the project.

History is the best teacher. Although the ancient Silk Road has become a past glory, its values and philosophies are still relevant and beneficial to the Belt and Road. To promote high-quality and sustainable development of the Belt and Road, we need common efforts of friends who share the same aspirations, but we also should learn from the experience of the ancient Silk Road legacy to make more solid and steadfast progress.

The author is deputy director of Institute of Chinese History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.

All rights reserved. Copying or sharing of any content for other than personal use is prohibited without prior written permission.