Remarks by H.E. Wang Yi Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee And Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China at the 2026 Event to Celebrate The[...]

June 8, 2026

Distinguished Guests,
Dear Friends,

I am delighted to celebrate the annual International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations with friends all over the world.

The diversity of civilizations is a defining feature of our world. Three years ago, President Xi Jinping put forth the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), highlighting the need for civilizations to live together in harmony. The International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, established in keeping with the GCI, has been warmly welcomed by the international community. Last year, China, together with the United Nations and other international organizations, held a variety of events across the globe to celebrate the first International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations. The strong participation in these events demonstrates overwhelming support for and strong momentum behind dialogue among civilizations.

Today, human civilization is grappling with unprecedented challenges. Division and confrontation continue to escalate. Turmoil and conflict keep emerging. International rule of law is being eroded. The trust gap grows wider by the day. In this context, we must improve mutual understanding and trust through more dialogue, and build solidarity and consensus through more exchanges, which are the essential building blocks of a community with a shared future for humanity.

We should champion mutual respect and promote harmonious coexistence of civilizations. No civilization is superior to others. All civilizations are valuable and should be treated with equal respect. Civilizations are not each other's enemies-only superiority, high-handedness, and arrogance are. We should uphold the vision of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness between civilizations, rise above the narrow-minded notions of "civilizational superiority" and "clash of civilizations," and strive for the harmonious coexistence and mutual enrichment of diverse civilizations. We should view our planet as a garden in which all civilizations bloom and learn to appreciate each other's beauty.

We should champion putting the people first and cement the foundation of exchanges among civilizations. The people are the makers of history and the key interlocutors in inter-civilizational dialogue. We should enhance mutual understanding and amity between all peoples, and enable them to enjoy broader and more direct access to the benefits of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. With a commitment to high-standard opening up, China has adopted visa-free policies and other facilitation measures for international visitors to promote civilizational exchanges with concrete actions. China is also ready to work with other countries to strengthen dialogue among civilizations, deepen sharing of governance experience, address our common challenges, and chart new courses in pursuit of modernization.

We should champion both heritage and innovation to drive the progress of civilization. All human civilizations are rich and splendid. As such, they deserve to be preserved and revitalized by creative means. Home to a large number of world heritage sites, China will work hard to ensure the protection and utilization of its varied cultural heritage, while helping other countries realize creative transformation and development of their fine cultural traditions. Artificial intelligence and social media bring new opportunities for dialogue across countries, languages, and civilizations. We should fully tap into these and other new technologies and applications to empower civilizational exchanges, mutual learning, inheritance and innovation, and promote the shared prosperity of human civilizations.

We should champion exchanges and mutual learning and improve mechanisms for dialogue among civilizations. The vitality of civilization lies in openness and exchanges. We should actively expand global partnerships for inter-civilizational dialogue. The International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations provides a good platform for rising above ideology and bias. China supports the U.N.'s important role in promoting dialogue among civilizations, supports better use of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations, UNESCO, the Ancient Civilizations Forum and other platforms, and will continue to provide funding to U.N. bodies engaged in this noble endeavor.

Dear Friends,

Civilization, like water, silently nurtures all things; dialogue, like a bridge, brings the world together. The Chinese civilization, spanning 5,000 years, is noted for its continuity, creativity, unity, inclusiveness, and peacefulness. We are ready to work with all civilizations to illuminate the path forward, drive progress through dialogue and mutual learning, and create a brighter future for all humanity.

Thank you.