China and Lesotho Celebrate First International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations

Strategic Insights -

On June 10, 2024, China, together with the United Nations and other international organizations, celebrated the first UN 'International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations'. This significant event marks a new era in dialogue and cooperation among different civilizations. China and Lesotho, with a long history of dialogue and cooperation, plan to hold more cultural activities and enhance understanding and friendship through cultural exchanges. In the spirit of this new initiative, Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China put forward three proposals to promote dialogue among civilizations, including being defenders of civilizational equality, practitioners of civilizational exchanges, and promoters of civilizational progress.

Key Takeaways:

  • The first UN 'International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations' was celebrated on June 10, 2024, with China, the United Nations, and other international organizations participating.
  • China and Lesotho have a long history of dialogue and cooperation, with a strong sense of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit.
  • The Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2023 has four core concepts: jointly advocating respect for the diversity of world civilizations, jointly advocating the promotion of common values of all mankind, jointly advocating attention to the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and jointly advocating strengthening international cultural exchanges and cooperation.
  • Over 200 countries and regions and more than 2,500 ethnic groups in the world have created colorful civilizations in the process of production and life, complementing each other in constant exchanges and mutual learning.
  • China has been actively promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and enhancing understanding and friendship among peoples of all countries, adhering to the concept of "harmony but difference".
  • China and Lesotho are planning to hold more cultural activities and enhance understanding and deepen friendship through cultural integration as part of the 'China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.'
  • Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed three proposals to further promote dialogue among civilizations: to be defenders of civilizational equality, to be practitioners of civilizational exchanges, and to be promoters of civilizational progress.

Statistics:

  • Over 200 countries and regions and more than 2,500 ethnic groups in the world exist.
  • The Global Civilization Initiative has four core concepts: jointly advocating respect for the diversity of world civilizations, jointly advocating the promotion of common values of all mankind, jointly advocating attention to the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and jointly advocating strengthening international cultural exchanges and cooperation.
  • In two years since the Initiative was proposed, it has received widespread support from countries around the world.
  • The International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations has won the unanimous support of all member states of the United Nations.

Sources:

  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
  • The Post (Lesotho mainstream media)
  • The United Nations
  • Global Civilization Initiative (proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2023)