On June 7, 2024, the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly adopted a China-proposed resolution by consensus, declaring June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. This year, the global community coming together to mark this important occasion, with a series of commemorations which took place at the UN Headquarters in New York and its offices in other places, and also in many other countries.
The resolution, co-sponsored by over 80 countries and with vast support by many other countries, including Grenada, aims to raise awareness of the value of civilizational diversity and promote dialogue, mutual respect, tolerance, and global solidarity, and foster world lasting peace and sustainable development, which are of great importance in today’s world. As we are all aware, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, with multiple crises and challenges intertwined. Humanity has once again come to a crossroads in history. At this critical time, it is important to rise above estrangement and conflict with a broad vision, and care for the future of humanity with great passion. That’s why China proposed the resolution, with the hope to fully leverage the important role of civilizational dialogue in eliminating discrimination and prejudice, enhancing mutual understanding and trust, promoting people-to-people connectivity, and strengthening solidarity and cooperation, so as to help guide the world through these unprecedented changes. It’s very clear that the widespread support for this resolution shows that strengthening solidarity and cooperation to tackle shared challenges is the common desire and noble goal for the international community.
The spirit embodied in this resolution reflects China’s ancient philosophy and modern vision. It deeply resonates with China’s long-standing civilizational values, which for thousands of years have embraced inclusiveness and harmony in diversity. At the heart of the Chinese civilization lies the profound principle of “harmony without uniformity” --a philosophy that celebrates cultural differences while promoting peaceful coexistence among all civilizations. China firmly believes that civilizations only vary from each other and no civilization is superior over others. As an ancient Chinese philosopher said “All living things may grow side by side without harming one another, and different roads may run in parallel without interfering with one another.” As the future of all countries are closely connected, tolerance, inclusiveness, co-existence, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations play an irreplaceable role in advancing humanity’s modernization process and making the garden of world civilizations flourish. Just as Chinese President Xi Jinping said, “A single flower does not make spring, while one hundred flowers in full blossom bring spring to the garden.”
In today’s world, there are more than 200 countries and regions and over 2,500 nations. Human endeavors in production and life have nurtured many splendid civilizations that complement and inspire each other. They have made our global village diverse, colorful and vibrant, and our entire human society an indivisible community with a shared future. In the face of the immense global impact from transformations unseen in a century, the value of civilizations has taken on an unprecedented significance, interactions among civilizations are of vital importance, and it is prime time to promote dialogue among civilizations.
In recent years, the vision of dialogue and mutual learning among civilizations has been further deepened and advanced. On March 15, 2023, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), which laid the foundation for the core elements of this Resolution. The GCI stresses that countries need to uphold the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and let cultural exchanges transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcend clashes, and coexistence transcend feelings of superiority. Through the GCI, China calls for jointly advocating respect for the diversity of civilizations, jointly advocating the common values of humanity, jointly advocating the importance of continuity and evolution of civilizations, and jointly advocating closer international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. The GCI has gained widespread recognition and active support from the United Nations and the international community, becoming a key element of joint statements and declarations between China and numerous partners. This growing trend underscores the global appeal of China’s approach to civilizational dialogue and inclusive development.
China’s approach isn’t limited to words. It’s backed by concrete actions and practical results. The Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the China-CELAC Forum held in Beijing last month is a perfect example. In his keynote speech at the Opening Ceremony, President Xi Jinping proposed 5 programs for further promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and the LAC countries, which are Solidarity Program, Development Program, Civilization Program, Peace Program and People-to-People Connectivity Program, demonstrating China’s willingness to work more closely with LAC countries to implement the GCI. It calls on us to uphold the vision of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness between civilizations, and champion humanity’s common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom, and enhance China-LAC civilizational exchanges, mutual learning and mutual understanding.
Human civilizations, shinning like brilliant stars, scattered across the long river of history. From hunter-gather society to agricultural civilization, and then industrial civilization, from steam engine in the past to artificial intelligence at present, the torch of civilization has been passed down through generations, piecing together a colorful spectrum. Today, in the face of such a turbulent world with increasing challenges, no country can stand alone. We need even more dialogues among flourishing civilizations than ever before to gain mutual understanding. Cultural differences should not act as source of confrontations, but rather driving force for progress. To build a global community of shared future for mankind, each civilization should pursue harmony through diversity and seek common ground while reserving differences.
China has a long history of civilization of more than 5000 years and has made great contribution for the world civilization progress and social development. China has gained great achievements in nation building and socio-economic development since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, particularly over the past 46 years since China adopted the opening up and reform policy. We fully believe that the sustainable development and successful modernization of a country are deeply rooted in the inheritance of its own culture and civilization, as well as exchanging, mutual learning and complementing with other culture and civilization. I would like to mention that, one of the “two combinations” of the innovative theories developed by the Communist Party of China is the combination of Marxist Theory with China’s fine traditional culture, which is also one of the “codes” for China’s fast development.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the world Anti-Fascist War. We must not forget the past pain, we should cherish peace even more, firmly oppose confrontation and war, join hands and move towards a brighter future. In this regard, cultural mutual learning and dialogue among civilizations are particularly important.
No matter when and where civilization originated, it has its value and freedom of development and inheritance, and deserves respect. Caribbean countries, Grenada included, have your rich cultures and colorful civilizations which we Chinese admire very much. I have been working in Grenada as Chinese Ambassador for four and a half years, and I have visited almost every corner of this pure tri-island country. I really enjoy my stay here and love the richness of the Grenadian culture. In my view, even the design and color of the national flag and the national anthem resonate with Grenada’s local culture and diverse musical traditions. The Carnival and traditional mas, Jabjab, Calypso, soca, steel pan, big drum dance, shortknee masquerade, Carriacou Maroon & String Band Music Festival, Salaka Festival in La Poterie of St.Andrew, Camerhogne Folk Festival in Sauteurs, traditional wooden boat-building in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, Underwater sculpture park, oil down, cocoa and tea culture, etc.
All of the above make us excited about Grenada, in addition to its beautiful natural scenery, also has charming, attractive and well preserved cultural tradition that make it a paradise of tourism.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Grenada. The friendly relations and practical cooperation have yielded fruitful results in various fields including cultural exchanges between our two countries over the past two decades. The Confucius Institute at TAMCC, established in 2015, serves as a key platform for the people of Grenada to explore Chinese language, culture and civilization. Thirteen Chinese art troupes have visited Grenada, showcasing a diverse range of performances. In the mean time, several Grenadian art groups have toured China. The cultural bonds between our two nations, transcending geographical distance, continue to inject new momentum and vitality into the further enhancement of bilateral relations and people’s mutual understanding.
In China, we have a saying which reads, “The going is difficult when doing it alone, the going is made easier when doing it with many others”. Cultural differences should not act as source of confrontations, but rather driving force for progress. To build a global community of shared future for mankind, each civilization should pursue harmony through diversity and seek common ground while reserving differences. So, standing at a historical crossroads, humanity is in urgent need of great ideas to shed light on the way forward and open minds to bridge cultural divides.
Looking forward, China is committed to implementing the GCI, positively participating in the activities of International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations and deepening civilization exchanges and dialogues with other countries. China is also giving positive consideration to hosting the Global Forum of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations in 2028, and to providing funding to the U.N. body designated to promote inter-civilizational dialogue. We will continue supporting the work of mechanisms such as the Ancient Civilizations Forum with a view to enhancing the platform for dialogue among civilizations around the world.
In conclusion, let us reiterate that dialogue among civilizations is a bond of peace, a driver for development and a bridge of friendship, we should uphold equality among civilizations, promote exchanges among civilizations and advance the common progress of civilizations. Humanity has only one Earth and only one shared future. Let our dialogues play a harmonious symphony and raise the sails on the voyage toward an even better future of human civilizations. We are confident that through dialogue, global civilizations can defuse tensions, build trust, and contribute positively to shaping a shared destiny for the human race.