Former Namibian president calls for multilateral exchanges in promoting peace, development

Former Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba underscored the importance of multilateral exchanges in promoting peace and development while speaking at the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Civilizations Dialogue which kicked off in Beijing on Thursday.

Taking the podium at the meetings, Mbumba said Namibia and other countries in Africa broadly support the concept of global dialogue as a means to promote understanding, foster cooperation, and develop sustainable solutions to shared global challenges.

"Like all peace loving nations, Namibia and Africa at large promote the concept of global dialogue as a means of fostering understanding," he said.

According to the former president, such dialogue forms the basis for encouraging collaboration and initiating sustainable solution to the myriad of challenges that the world faces.

"In this regard, we are in agreement with the fact that it is only through promoting friendship and understanding among nations and peoples that we can guarantee peace, stability and development, not only in our respective countries or regions but the world at large," he continued.

Mbumba highlighted Africa's cultural diversity and pointed to the concept of Ubuntu, which embodies values of harmony and sharing among members of a community, as central to the continent's values.

"On the African continent, we have many cultures. We have many traditions. But that is one that expresses most of it. That is of Ubuntu. That we are human beings through the connection with other human beings. That we shall only thrive as long as others are thriving. That we are free because others are free," said the former Namibian leader.

He concluded by calling for a future of free culture that respects the rights of all humans.

"Let us opt for the future, the future of free people, the future of free culture, the future of defending the rights of all human beings," Mbumba said.

The Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting focuses on the importance of cultural diversity and mutual learning in advancing human progress.

Themed "Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development," the two-day event has attracted over 600 guests from 140 countries and regions.

Former Namibian president calls for multilateral exchanges in promoting peace, development

President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday that his country and China can build a mutually beneficial relationship amidst competitions.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Lee will pay a state visit to China from Jan 4 to 7. It will be Lee's first visit to China since he took office in June 2025.

In an interview with the China Media Group (CMG) in Seoul, capital of the ROK, on Wednesday, Lee said that the ROK and China both place great importance on the development of high-tech fields, and this inevitably creates competitions between the two countries, but will also presents ample cooperation opportunities for both sides.

"To my knowledge, the Chinese government has made tremendous efforts in high-tech investment, research and development investment, and the talent cultivation in the field of basic research, just as the ROK has done. From this perspective, the ROK and China share similarities in economic growth strategies, which certainly creates competitions between the two countries, but it also presents broad cooperation opportunities for both sides. I believe that if we can explore areas for cooperation amid competitions and enhance our respective strengths through cooperation, we can build a mutually beneficial relationship that not only supports China's sustainable development strategy but also promotes ROK's growth strategy," Lee said.

ROK president eyes mutually beneficial relationship with China amid competitions