On January 10, the second Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations, instructed by the International Department of CPC Central Committee and hosted by the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU), was held in Beijing online and in person. Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan video addressed the forum. Ji Bingxuan, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and president of CAFIU, delivered a keynote speech. Song Tao, head of the International Department of CPC Central Committee, presided over the opening ceremony.
Wang said that promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations is a major task to achieve world peace and development, as well as a better life for the people. “We need to deepen the understanding of our own and other civilizations, find the key to inter-civilization exchanges from the perspective of all mankind, gain confidence from history, culture and philosophy, and build consensus on building a community with a shared future for humanity,” he said.
Vice President Wang Qishan delivering a video speech
Wang noted that China will continue to strengthen solidarity and coordination with other countries to pool forces for the advancement of civilization and jointly create a better future. "We are willing to share the opportunity of development with the world, accelerate the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and deepen the Belt and Road cooperation," he said.
Cambodia's Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister, Bin Chhin, pointed out that there is no good or bad civilization. Strengthening exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations will help enhance mutual understanding and respect, which will lay a solid foundation for lasting world peace, social progress and prosperity.
Former Egyptian Prime Minister, Essam Sharaf, said that political system is rooted in culture. Therefore, it is important to enhance cultural exchanges, to respect each country’s own interpretation of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom and their exploration of approaches to realizing this. In doing so, according to him, we can promote the harmonious coexistence of multiple civilizations and jointly build a better world.
Former Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, believed that similarities exist in the history of different continents. He emphasized the importance of identifying similarities, seeking common ground while reserving differences. He also said that countries should work together to promote cultural cooperation and social progress, in order to address the challenges and risks facing humankind.
Chen Zhou, Vice-Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the second phase of the opening session. During the Dialogue among the Envoys of Civilization at the opening session, Lu Jianzhong, vice president of CAFIU and chairman of the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce, pointed out that different countries and civilizations can coexist. “As long as we share the vision of a better future, we can always achieve consensus among differences, be it in competitive sports, relations with major countries or mutual learning. We hope that this dialogue will provide useful reference for different countries and civilizations to resolve differences and work together. ,”Lu said. In conclusion, Lu wished success to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, an event that he believes will help all countries join hands and inject stronger impetus into the future.
With the theme of Upholding Diversity of Civilizations and Carrying forward Shared Values of Mankind, about 260 guests were present at the dialogue to exchange ideas. The outcome document Beijing Vision was released at the dialogue, expressing the hope that exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations will become a bridge of friendship among peoples, a driving force for human progress and a bond for world peace.
Other SRCIC leaders were also present at the online dialogue, including Alexander Tomov, senior adviser to the SRCIC and former Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister，Mr. Francis Chua, vice chairman of SRCIC and founding chairman of SRCIC the Philippines, Mr. Kassem Tofailli, president of the Arab Chinese Cooperation and Development Association (ACCDA), and Mr. Mohammad Omer, chairman of Somalia-China Business Council. They expressed in their own words that diversity of civilizations is a defining feature of human society. Exchanges and mutual learning are important driving forces for human progress and world peace and development. By fully developing the role of business associations for connectivity, they are ready to make positive contributions to enhancing friendship among peoples, promoting global economic and trade prosperity and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Alexander Tomov said 2nd Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations is undoubtedly a forum with an important meaning for the whole world. Today the world is undergoing an epochal change. We are passing from one to another generation of technology which makes world more integrated from ever before. In such a complex situation and environment, the historical perspectives are only two – either the accent will be stressed on the dialogue, mutual agreement and shared future for the mankind or the forces of the regress with get us back to the times of the Cold war and the mutual opposition. The speech of Mr. Wang Qishan in front of the 2nd Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations makes a powerful impression with its engagement for deepening the dialogue between the countries, peoples and civilizations. For me there is no doubt that these ideas will conquer more and more people because they are related with the objective changes of mankind. The lack of implementation of one will, one dictate but the dialogue and mutual agreement will define the look of the forthcoming decade. It that sense the holding of the 2nd Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations has a big contribution for sharing of ideas and values between people. We, in Bulgaria, believe that this is the only way that the peoples can develop successfully and to guarantee the progress of their countries.
