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BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- An American sinologist believes Confucianism-based Chinese culture, with its strong emphasis on ethical values, will "hopefully" become one of the common convictions of humanity in 21st century.

Guy Allito, history professor at the University of Chicago, said Chinese culture is "flexible, all-inclusive and open to diverse cultures," thus it has unique advantages to cope with "moral corruption."

China's newly published cultural development guideline calls for efforts to be made to bring Chinese culture to the world by assimilating it with other cultures.

Allito, a researcher on Chinese moral philosopher Liang Shuming, said Confucianism stresses the "universally-recognized codes of ethics that stood above all religions," that is the "harmonious relationship among people." Liang made a lifelong effort to revive traditional Chinese morals.

"It's not religion but could play the role of religion to unite people," Allito said.

He believes it is a concern of all societies that moral crises turn more acute when the economy grows quickly because "the world is really united in bearing the impact of modernization."

A recent death of a toddler stirred up nationwide anxiety over the worsening public morality in China.

A road camera showed more than a dozen bystanders coldly refused to lend a hand to the child who had been struck down by vans and left bleeding on the road.

Allito said the recovery of traditional Chinese culture could serve as an antidote to the moral corruption when tradition intensely collides with modernity.

And beyond solving moral issues, Alitto said traditional Chinese philosophy could be one solution for modern ecological problems, as it promotes the unity of humanity and nature.

But Alitto stressed that laws will only go so far.

"We cannot only rely on legal restraints. A way-out to prevent another 'toddler tragedy' is to give more moral lectures and training at schools -- as Confucius once did," Allito said.