Global civilizational dialogue builds bridge through cultural exchange

The Ministerial Meeting of the Global Civilizations Dialogue opens in Beijing, China, July 10, 2025. /VCG

Over 600 participants from around the world joined the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting held in Beijing on Thursday and Friday.

Under the theme "Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development," participants at parallel sub-forums on Friday emphasized the importance of mutual learning among civilizations.

They highlighted that drawing on the wisdom of diverse cultures can serve as a powerful catalyst for shared prosperity, as well as for advancing cultural inheritance and innovation.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a congratulatory message to the forum, emphasizing that dialogue is the path to peace. He stated that conflict, intolerance and misinformation are pushing the world to the brink of fragmentation. Against this backdrop, dialogue is more crucial than ever and that the rich diversity of civilizations is a powerful force for mutual understanding and global solidarity.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio offered full support for China's Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). Against the backdrop of some countries reverting to zero-sum mentality and recurring wars and confrontations around the world, China has upheld peaceful development, connecting the world through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and building consensus through the Global Development Initiative (GDI), he said.

By proposing the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, China transcends hegemonic logic, and embraces the diversity of civilizations, injecting sustainable strength into global governance, he added.

Former Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba reinforced this vision, emphasizing that Namibia and China's all-weather friendship is rooted in mutual respect, understanding and trust. He called on all countries to support the GCI, believing it will guide humanity toward a more inclusive, stable, peaceful and prosperous future.

Belgium's former Prime Minister Yves Leterme delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Civilizations Dialogue in Beijing, China, July 10, 2025. /VCG

Belgium's Former Prime Minister Yves Leterme said the need to strengthen dialogue among civilizations is urgent in today's challenging times.

In a bid to promote the shared values of all humanity, countries should foster constructive dialogue to encourage exchanges among civilizations, create more opportunities for groups and individuals to understand each other's cultures, he said, calling for eliminating barriers and misunderstandings, building consensus and actively pursuing cooperation.

Roger T. Ames, a professor at both the University of Hawaii and Peking University, noted that civilizational dialogue offers an alternative to nation-state-centered geopolitics.

"Instead of merely tolerating other cultures, we should activate our differences to make a difference for each other," he said.

Simon Lichtenberg, the All China Founding Chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China, emphasized that mutual understanding and respect are fundamental to global development. "International exchanges and development require everyone to understand and respect each other," he said.

Speaking about the importance of cultural inheritance, Salim AlMalik, director-general of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, described culture as the identity of a nation and its people.

"We cannot understand the present, let alone shape the future, if we do not preserve our culture, especially that of the past," he said on the sidelines of a sub-forum focused on cultural inheritance and innovation.

Protecting cultural heritage is essential to preserving and passing on culture, said Su Bomin, dean of the Dunhuang Academy, urging greater efforts to deepen research and embrace new technologies.

"Cultural inheritance is how we pay homage to these legacies," said Wong Foon Meng, former president of the Senate of Malaysia, adding that the most powerful innovations often emerge from a profound engagement with cultural heritage, reinterpreted in ways that resonate with new generations.

Source: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-07-12/Global-civilizational-dialogue-builds-bridge-through-cultural-exchange-1EWnVIONZSw/p.html