— The Global Civilization Initiative Injects Chinese Wisdom into Human Development
By: Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan, Zhao Xing
On June 7, 2024, the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proposed by China, designating June 10 each year as the International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations. This day aims to enhance global awareness of the value of civilization diversity and to promote dialogue, mutual respect, tolerance, and global solidarity. Recently, on the occasion of the first International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a video address, calling on all countries to engage in civilization dialogue and jointly build a better world.
Today’s world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. In the face of intensifying geopolitical tensions and escalating regional conflicts, humanity once again stands at a historic crossroads. Civilizations must engage in dialogue to jointly explore paths toward harmonious coexistence and common development. In 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, which advocates for inter-civilization exchanges and mutual learning and advances the progress of human civilizations. It injects strong positive energy into the global modernization process and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and contributes Chinese solutions to addressing global challenges.
The Global Civilization Initiative aligns with the trend of the times toward the development and progress of world civilizations. Chinese modernization is rooted in China’s fine traditional culture — a modernization that both continues Chinese civilization and draws on the best achievements of all human civilizations. China supports all countries in independently exploring their own paths to modernization. Twelve years ago, China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, fostering partnerships in economic and political development. Civilizations have since engaged in exchanges and mutual learning through trade and cultural interaction, promoting shared growth and prosperity.
The Global Civilization Initiative responds to the common aspiration of the international community to safeguard the diversity of world civilizations. The world is rich in diverse civilizations, and none is inherently superior to another. President Xi has repeatedly emphasized the importance of diversity for human civilization. The Initiative begins by advocating for respect for the diversity of global civilizations, demonstrating China’s grand vision and willingness to work hand-in-hand with all countries to write a new chapter of civilization cooperation — a world in which countries treasure their own distinct heritages, appreciate other cultures and promote shared prosperity.
The Global Civilization Initiative charts the course for meeting the shared desire of people from different countries to enhance intercivilizational exchanges and promote cultural prosperity and development. With economic globalization deepening, various civilizations increasingly seek to learn from one another while thriving through the revitalization of their own traditions. The Initiative encourages letting cultural exchange transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcend clashes, and coexistence transcend feelings of superiority. It represents China’s latest significant effort to advance global civilization exchange and cooperation.
Afghanistan boasts long history and a splendid ancient civilization. I am pleased to see recent media reports that the National Museum of Afghanistan acquired more than 6,700 valuable cultural relics last year alone — a meaningful enrichment of the country’s heritage. As neighbors with a friendship spanning millennia, China and Afghanistan have a long history of exchanges, rooted in mutual respect and cultural appreciation. The enduring bonds formed through the ancient Silk Road continue to this day. The ancient civilizations of our two countries have become more colorful through interaction and more enriched through mutual learning.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Afghanistan. China is ready to work with Afghanistan to expand people-to-people exchanges, strengthen cultural ties, and inject civilizational strength into our common pursuit of prosperity and development — working together to build an even closer community of shared future.
On this first International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, let us take this moment as a new starting point to actively implement the Global Civilization Initiative, deepen dialogue and cooperation among civilizations worldwide, and gather the powerful force of the common values of humanity,peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom. Together, let us move toward a brighter future in which countries treasure their own distinct heritages, appreciate other cultures and promote shared prosperity.
