Why civilizations dialogue is needed ?
Beijing: The Ministerial Meeting of the Global Civilizations Dialogue is going on in Beijing from July 10 to 11. The meeting, themed “Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development”, has attracted over 600 participants from approximately 140 countries and regions worldwide.
The Global Civilization Initiative
On March 15, 2023, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote address at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting. Titled “Join Hands on the Path Towards Modernization,” the address first mentioned the Global Civilization Initiative.
The initiative advocates the respect for the diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.
Why civilizations dialogue is needed ?
In June 2024, the 78th UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a China-proposed resolution to designate June 10 as the “International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations.”
The resolution aligns with the four points advocated by the Global Civilization Initiative.
The resolution emphasizes that dialogue among civilizations plays a crucial role in maintaining world peace, promoting common development, enhancing human well-being, and achieving shared progress. It calls for equal dialogue and mutual respect among different civilizations.
To address common challenges and advance toward a better future, we need economic and technological strength, as well as the power of culture and civilization. Dialogue is the pathway to peace, and promoting the diversity of civilizations is more urgent than ever.
In an era marked by intertwined changes and turbulences, we need to listen, talk, and communicate more.
What’s the dialogue about ?
On June 10, 2025, the world celebrated the first-ever International Day for Civilizations Dialogue with vibrant events:
At UN Headquarters in New York, a forum themed “enhancing inter-civilization exchanges for global solidarity” drew active participation from diplomats worldwide.
In Denmark, the “dialogue through music” concert bridged cultural gas, embodying the spirit of “harmony in diversity.” In Thailand, the 2025 “Hehe Civilization Forum” fostered consensus on tackling shared challenges through cross-cultural dialogue.
In Mauritius, the “Tea for Harmony” salon showcased tea’s historic role in connecting Eastern and Western civilizations. As stated on the United Nations’ dedicated webpage for the International Day for Civilizations Dialogue:
The International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations provides an opportunity to enhance awareness of the value of cultural diversity, promote dialogue, mutual respect and global solidarity, and advance the building of a more harmonious and interconnected world.
Over the past year, China has worked hand in hand with countries around the world to build platforms for equal dialogue among different civilizations. From the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS civilizations dialogues to the China-Latin America and China-Africa civilizations exchanges, the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations goes beyond merely assigning special significance to a particular date. More importantly, it institutionalizes and regularizes exchanges and dialogue among different civilizations. This represents yet another gift the Global Civilization Initiative contributes to the world. By YICC reporters
