China's contribution to promoting dialogue among civilizations widely acclaimed: spokesman

Guests at events marking the second International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations have spoken highly of the significance of the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) and commended China's contribution to promoting dialogue among civilizations, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

At a press conference in Beijing, spokesman Lin Jian briefed the reporters on the events held at the UN headquarters and in cities home to multiple UN entities to mark the second International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, as well as on a report on dialogue among civilizations released by the China Institute of International Studies on the day.

"Three years ago, President Xi Jinping put forth the GCI, highlighting the need for civilizations to live together in harmony. Establishing the International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations is an important step to implement the GCI. Today marks the second International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations. As the initiator, China, together with the UN and other international organizations, held a variety of events across the globe," Lin said.

"Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi delivered a video address and proposed to facilitate dialogue among civilizations from four aspects: First, champion mutual respect and promote harmonious coexistence of civilizations; second, champion putting the people first and cement the foundation of exchanges among civilizations; third, champion both heritage and innovation to drive the progress of civilization; fourth, champion exchanges and mutual learning and improve mechanisms for dialogue among civilizations," said the spokesman.

"President of Colombia Gustavo Petro, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Miguel Angel Moratinos, and heads of UN entities and other international organizations in cities including Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi, and Hague have voiced their support for the events and delivered remarks. Various parties have spoken highly of the significance of the GCI in the world and commended China's contribution to promoting dialogue among civilizations. They also call on the international community to strengthen solidarity and cooperation to promote peace and development through dialogue among civilizations," he said.

"To further review and summarize China's experience, practices and major achievements in facilitating global dialogue among civilizations, the China Institute of International Studies today released the report China's Actions for Advancing Global Civilization Dialogue, which systemically states China's concepts, policies and achievements in promoting dialogue among civilizations and also looks ahead to China's next steps in this regard. You are all welcome to read the report," Lin said.

"Joint efforts from the international community are needed to promote dialogue among civilizations. China will work with all parties to take the International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations as an opportunity to draw wisdom through dialogue among civilizations to tackle global difficulties and embrace more partners in this regard so as to build a community with a shared future for humanity together," he said.

China's contribution to promoting dialogue among civilizations widely acclaimed: spokesman

Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities politicizing a cross-Strait zoo animal exchange program involving red pandas is absurd and ridiculous, said a spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday.

A handover ceremony for two red pandas from Shanghai to Taipei was held on June 5, following a black-footed penguin-red panda exchange agreement between the two cities' zoos under the 2024 cooperation memorandum of the Shanghai-Taipei City Forum.

While the red pandas' handover under the memorandum drew widespread attention and warm praise from netizens on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, some DPP politicians claimed the twin-city forum would become a "breach" for "infiltration."

In response, Zhang Han, the spokesperson, highlighted the forum's role in promoting exchanges, and slammed the secessionist forces in Taiwan for politicizing an animal conservation exchange program.

"The Shanghai-Taipei City Forum serves as an important institutionalized exchange platform between the two cities and has played an important and positive role in promoting exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Animal conservation exchanges involve no confrontation, only warmth. Such activities are highly beneficial and the more the better," Zhang told a press briefing in Beijing.

"More interaction and exchanges are the shared aspiration of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. We will, as always, support exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including cross-Strait city exchanges, to continuously enhance the well-being of compatriots across the Strait, and promote closer bonds between compatriots on both sides. 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces routinely smear cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation with so-called 'breaches for infiltration' claims, and now they are making a political issue out of red pandas, which is absurd and ridiculous," she said.

Spokesperson dismisses Taiwan's DPP for making fuss over red pandas