THE value of civilizations has become more salient than ever when facing profound transformations unseen in a century and immense challenges, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated as China marked the first International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations.
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, expressed this in a video message to mark the event on Tuesday 10 June, Xinhua reported.
He said the United Nations established the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations in response to the shared aspirations of people worldwide to advance dialogue among civilizations and promote human progress, and this earned enormous support unanimous support from all member states.
Wang said President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Civilization Initiative, which advocates promotion of the values of humanity, prioritization of the inheritance and innovation of civilizations and enhancement of international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, and this represents China’s significant effort to promote dialogue among civilizations.
Proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 80 countries, the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2024 designated June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Meanwhile, at a regular Foreign Ministry press conference on Tuesday 11 June, spokesperson Lin Jian said the creation of the International Day of Dialogue Among Civilizations meets the shared desire of people around the world for more dialogue among civilizations to drive human progress, and it reflects true multilateralism and the common values of humanity.
Lin said China will remain guided by the Global Civilization Initiative, and work with the international community to give full play to the International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations as an important platform to safeguard equality and promote exchanges and progress among civilizations, and jointly build a community with shared future for mankind.
“Today is the first International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations. China, together with international organizations including the UN and many countries, held a variety of theme events in host cities of UN bodies such as New York, Geneva as well as in many countries around the world,” Lin said.
Key to resolve conflicts
As various activities were held simultaneously at the UN Headquarters and other places around the world, officials and experts from different countries emphasized the significance of setting up the “International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations”, stating that this move provides a global platform for “going beyond conflicts and returning to dialogue.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for efforts to promote mutual understanding and global solidarity through dialogue.
He made the appeal via video link on the occasion of the first International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations.
“On this first International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, we celebrate that conviction and the rich diversity of civilizations as a force to promote mutual understanding and global solidarity.”
The International Day is a call to action, to listen, to speak, to connect, Guterres added.
China’s Deputy Director of National Academy of Governance Shao Sheng told Global Times that against the backdrop of profound evolution of the current international situation and the obvious increase in global uncertainty, countries have become more aware of the importance of strengthening exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. They believe that diversity of civilizations is the common wealth of mankind and that dialogue among civilizations is the only way to achieve peaceful co-existence and promote common development.
A professor at the School of International Relations of Beijing Foreign Studies University, Wang Shuo said the Global Civilization Initiative has laid an important theoretical foundation for the International Day for Dialogue of Civilizations.
The initiative advocates respecting the diversity of world civilizations, promoting the common values of all mankind, strengthening international cultural exchanges and cooperation, and clearly opposes the “clash of civilizations” and “theory of the superiority of civilizations” proposed by the western countries, Wang told Global Times.
Hopefully, inspired by the spirit of the “International Day of Dialogue Among Civilizations,” countries around the world could continue to transcend the barriers and conflicts between civilizations, eliminate disputes with the harmony of culture, and jointly write a new chapter of harmonious co-existence and joint development of different civilizations, Wang emphasized.
A global celebration
In the lead up to and during the 2025 International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, a series of impactful events were held in multiple places.
The exhibition “The Light of the Sun: Ancient Shu Civilization and the World” opened at the UN Headquarters on Monday (local time) as supporting event of the “International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations” theme activities highlighting the unique charm of ancient Chinese civilization.
On June 5, the Symposium on “Youth Dialogue on the Future along the Silk Roads” took place at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Headquarters in Paris, providing a platform for young people to discuss cross-cultural cooperation.
Diplomats and experts said these events, each with its own focus, collectively underscore the importance of cultural dialogue and mutual understanding in building a harmonious global community, Global Times reported.
Colombian Ambassador to China Sergio Cabrera Cardenas described art, literature and culture as pathways to mutual understanding and development between nations.
He told Global Times that the growing cultural exchanges between Columbia and China reflect a shared love for the arts, despite their differences.
“China’s proposal of the International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations showcases its dedication to global peace and unity,” a Pakistani political analyst and editor with Internews Pakistan based in Islamabad, Muhammad Zamir Assadi told Global Times, adding that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Confucius Institutes, the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations and many other cultural exchanges reflect China’s promotion of multilateral cooperation and understanding among different cultures.
“We are not only scholars of Chinese civilization but also bridges connecting different cultures in this increasingly divided world,” a sinologist from the Knowledge Centre of Sinology at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Igor Radev, who just participated in the World Conference on Sinology 2025, told Global Times.
Radev said sinologists aim to promote cross-cultural exchanges, resolve prejudices through academic practice, and foster civilizational mutual learning.
Peruvian Congressman Roberto Sanchez Palomino highlighted the significance of the International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, underscoring the international community’s value of civilizational dialogue in pursuing prosperity and peace.
“China a transcendental role, demonstrating tolerance, responsibility and global leadership,” he said, suggesting Peru and China prioritize “technological transfer, university education, languages and cultural exchanges.”
By DELI-SHARON OSO
In Beijing, China
