(October 26, Palais des Nations)

President Shen Haixiong,

Director Pisano,

Ms.Lidiya Grigoreva,

Excellencies,

Dear Friends,

In this beautiful season of autumn, the Permanent Mission of China is honored to co-host the special exhibition “Journey Through Civilizations” together with UN Office at Geneva and China Media Group (CMG). I wish to extend warm welcome to you for your presence. I also wish to thank all those behind the scene for all your tremendous efforts to make this exhibition possible: team of the UN, team of CMG, and also the staff of my mission.

Dear colleagues,

It is gratifying to know that civilization of mankind today has reached a new height with the rapid progress of science and technology. In the meantime, we have to admit that enormous challenges remain, traditional and non traditional, within and between states, thematic and specific. To address the common challenges and build a better future, we need more than ever before to tap the potential and strength of culture and civilizations. In this respect, Geneva is a unique platform as host of dozens of international agencies, especially at this very difficult moment. I hope this exhibition unveiled here today would provide a platform for better mutual learning and mutual understanding.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Civilizations are diversified. Planet Earth is our common home with more than 200 countries, over 2,500 ethnic communities and over seven billion people on it. It is true that civilizations vary from one to another. But differences should not become obstacles to communication, still less causes for conflict. Diversity, I should say, is the very charm of human civilizations and constitutes an important driving force of world peace, development and common prosperity.

Civilizations are equal. All countries have their own cultures, customs and ways to organize themselves. There are so many examples. Some people may prefer to use forks and knives while other may prefer chopsticks. For the weddings, some parts of the world prefer white, while in Asia and in China, we prefer red. Countries and civilizations are unique and beautiful in their own way. Only when treated with mutual respect and on an equal footing can they interact in harmony for common prosperity.

Civilizations are inclusive. The United Nations promotes respect and preservation of cultural diversities, and encourages dialogue among different civilizations. The future of us all is so closely intertwined in today’s world. In this context, China proposed the Global Civilization Initiative with a view to overcome obstacles with cultural exchanges, to avoid clashes with mutual understanding, so as to work together for the common progress of human civilization.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Chinese civilization, as indicated by President Shen just now, is an important part of civilizations in the world . Over the past 5,000 years and more, it drew wisdom from other civilizations with an open mind, progressed in tandem with the times with a pioneering spirit, and made contribution, like other civilizations, to the development of human society. I hope that you could know more about Chinese civilization through today’s exhibition, so that we can work together to expand common ground for cultural exchanges and mutual learning, and contribute to the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Thank you very much for you attention. Please enjoy the program.