Wang Yi at International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations: four principles — from mutual respect to technological exchange, China calls for unity in face of unprecedented challenges
Artificial intelligence and social media as tools for dialogue. China supports UN platforms, UNESCO, and the Ancient Civilizations Forum. The goal is to build a community with a shared future for humanity through mutual understanding and trust.
As reported by CCTV+, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, spoke via video link at an event marking the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations on Monday. He called for improving mutual understanding and strengthening mutual trust through dialogue.
He urged all sides to promote unity and seek consensus through exchanges, and to continuously strengthen the people to people and cultural foundation for building a community with a shared future for humanity in the face of unprecedented challenges.
Wang Yi stated that China proposes a four pronged approach to developing dialogue among civilizations.
First, all sides should adhere to mutual respect and promote the harmonious coexistence of different civilizations, upholding equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations.
Second, all sides should adopt a people centered approach and lay a solid foundation for exchanges among civilizations. Efforts should be made to promote mutual understanding and friendship among peoples of all countries, ensuring that the fruits of mutual learning bring broader and more direct benefits to the people. China is ready to expand dialogue among civilizations with all countries, deepen exchanges on governance experience, and jointly broaden the path of global modernization.
Third, Wang called for efforts to preserve and develop traditional culture to strengthen the driving force of civilization and progress. China will assist all countries in achieving creative transformation and innovative development of their outstanding traditional cultures. He also urged full use of technological advantages such as artificial intelligence and social media to expand exchanges, mutual learning, preservation and development of civilizations, and to promote the common prosperity of human civilization.
Fourth, Wang said all sides should adhere to exchange and mutual learning and improve the mechanism for dialogue among civilizations. China supports further use of platforms such as the UN Alliance of Civilizations, UNESCO, and the Ancient Civilizations Forum, so that they can play an important role in intercivilizational dialogue.
The International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations was established by the UN to highlight the value of cultural diversity and the need for cross cultural understanding. China's four principles are a concrete step within the framework of the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), which China promotes to overcome conflicts and challenges through dialogue.
In a world where wars and climate crises remind us of the fragility of our common home, dialogue among civilizations ceases to be mere diplomatic courtesy. It becomes a necessity. And when China speaks of four principles — from mutual respect to digital technology — it offers not just slogans, but tools. Tools that can turn conflict into cooperation and misunderstanding into a shared future.
