Dunhuang: China's Vice President Han Zheng on Friday inaugurated the Fourth Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilisations, emphasizing the need for global cooperation in addressing urgent challenges through the Global Learning Initiative. The dialogue is aimed at fostering sustainable development by promoting shared responsibility, mutual learning, and respect among nations.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event addressed critical issues such as wars, health crises, global warming, trade disagreements, and migration challenges, highlighting the role of mutual learning in promoting peace, innovation, and inclusive development. The three-day conference, held in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, is themed "Carrying Forward the Spirit of the Silk Road and Gathering Momentum for the Implementation of the Global Civilisation Initiative" and has gathered over 300 participants from diverse fields worldwide.
The event commenced with cultural performances and videos showcasing the ancient Silk Road's values of openness, inclusivity, and cooperation as guiding principles for 21st-century global development. In his keynote address, Vice President Han Zheng underscored Dunhuang's historical significance as a center of dialogue and integration, calling for a renewed global commitment to the values that sustained the ancient Silk Road.
Han highlighted the importance of peace, cooperation, openness, tolerance, mutual learning, and mutual benefit in fostering East-West exchanges. He urged the international community to embrace shared human values as a unifying force and to draw cultural strength in addressing common challenges.
Reiterating President Xi Jinping's March 2023 launch of the Global Civilisation Initiative, Vice President Han emphasized the importance of respecting world civilisations' diversity and promoting cultural inheritance and innovation. He advocated for equal and inclusive dialogue to enhance cooperation and called for the innovative transformation of traditional cultures within modern contexts, asserting that tradition and progress are complementary.
Han cited China's proposal for an International Day for Dialogue on Civilisations as a testament to its dedication to mutual understanding. He affirmed China's commitment to advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, contributing to global civilisation with mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.
President Xi Jinping, through Han's speech, urged world leaders to unite around the Global Civilisation Initiative, proposing a new vision for global engagement based on respect, shared prosperity, and cultural harmony. Xi highlighted the Dialogue as a critical opportunity to consolidate consensus and inspire global civilisation's revival.
Botswana's National Assembly Speaker, Dithapelo Keorapetsa, praised China's support in addressing development needs, citing significant infrastructure and capacity-building assistance. He affirmed that the Silk Road spirit thrives through such partnerships, emphasizing mutual prosperity through openness and respect.
German Sinologist Professor Martin Woesler advocated leveraging Artificial Intelligence to foster mutual learning and share civilisational values, aligning with the event's goals.
