Wang Yi Calls for Dialogue and Mutual Trust Among Civilizations

Beijing — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for improving mutual understanding and trust through dialogue among civilizations. Speaking via video on Monday at an event marking the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, Wang said dialogue, exchanges and mutual learning are important foundations for world peace and common development.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the world is facing unprecedented challenges. In this context, he called on all parties to promote unity through exchanges, seek consensus, and continuously strengthen the popular and cultural foundation for building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Wang said China proposes a four-pronged approach to promoting dialogue among civilizations.

First, he said all sides should uphold mutual respect and promote harmonious coexistence among different civilizations. He called for equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations.

Second, Wang said exchanges among civilizations should follow a people-oriented approach. He said efforts should be made to promote mutual understanding and friendship among the peoples of all countries, and to ensure that the benefits of mutual learning among civilizations reach people more broadly and directly.

Wang said China is willing to enhance dialogue among civilizations with all countries and deepen exchanges of experience in state governance. He said this would help countries jointly address the challenges of the times and work together to broaden the path of world modernization.

Third, he called for strengthening the inheritance and innovation of traditional culture to enhance the driving force of civilization and progress. Wang said China is ready to support countries in achieving the creative transformation and innovative development of their outstanding traditional cultures.

He also said technological advances such as artificial intelligence and social media should be fully used to support exchanges, mutual learning, cultural inheritance and innovation among civilizations. Such efforts, he said, would help promote the common prosperity of human civilization.

Fourth, Wang said all sides should continue exchanges and mutual learning while improving mechanisms for dialogue among civilizations. He said China supports giving fuller play to platforms such as the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, UNESCO and the Forum of Ancient Civilizations so that they can play an important role in inter-civilization dialogue.

According to Wang, these international platforms can make an important contribution to dialogue, cooperation and shared understanding among civilizations. He said all parties should work to promote dialogue among civilizations as a path toward coexistence and shared progress, rather than division.