BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China is ready to work with other countries in building a global network for dialogue and cooperation among civilizations.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the statement in a congratulatory letter to the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting, which opened in Beijing.
He pledged that China will work with other countries to champion equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and implement the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), in a bid to provide fresh impetus for advancing human civilizations and promoting world peace and development.
“The world is, in nature, a place of diverse civilizations,” Xi said in the letter. “History has shown us that exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations are essential for civilizations to flourish and human progress to be made.”
In a world where transformations and turbulences are interwoven and humanity stands at a new crossroad, there is an ever-pressing need for civilizations to transcend estrangement through exchanges, and to transcend clashes through mutual learning, Xi said.
He also expressed his hope that participating representatives would engage in in-depth exchanges to build consensus and contribute their wisdom and strength to the goal of promoting understanding and friendship among peoples, and achieving harmonious coexistence among civilizations.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, said the GCI proposed by President Xi more than two years ago has received enthusiastic responses and positive echoes from the international community.
The initiative, which upholds the core principle of seeking common ground while reserving differences, is deeply rooted in China’s fine traditional culture and resonates with cultural values shared by many other nations, Cai said.
Themed “Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development,” the meeting is co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent his message of congratulations to the event, which has attracted over 600 guests from about 140 countries and regions.
Former heads of state and government from Indonesia, Namibia, Japan and Belgium also delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
