中国和欧洲分处欧亚大陆两端，有不同的自然地理格局，中西文明也有不同的发展路径。古代中国文明的主体在大陆，受其特定地理格局和传统政治文化的影响，古代中国人建构了一种以自己的文化为中心而达及四海的“天下观”。古代西方文明发源于地中海沿岸，周边的文明通过地中海彼此联系，这使西方人建构了一种关注外部世界并通过海洋相互联系的世界观。近代以来西方文明跨海东进，引发了两种不同文明的碰撞和交融，这其实也是两种世界观的碰撞和交融。中西文明应相互尊重和彼此理解，通过互鉴互学，实现彼此的提升。

Located on the east and the west of Eurasian continent respectively, China and Europe have different natural geography as well as different mentality towards foreign civilization, which  has affected their ways of development in history.  The main body of ancient Chinese civilization is found in mainland China. Ancient Chinese has constructed a "world view" subject to Chinas specific geography and the influence of traditional political culture. In contrast, Western civilization originates from the Mediterranean coast, and therefore neighboring civilizations are normally associated through the Mediterranean Sea, which helps the Europeans establish a world view to reach another civilization by the sea. In modern times, the Western civilization expended eastward by the sea and triggered collision and blending with Chinese civilization. The paper proposes that the two types of civilizations should respect and understand each other as as to promote themselves through mutual learning and reference.