China reaffirms commitment to UN's International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan during the International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations at UNON in Nairobi on June 5, 2025/LEAH MUKANGAI 

The Chinese government has reaffirmed its strong commitment to implementing the United Nations resolution designating June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations.

Speaking during a commemorative event at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan underscored China's vision for enhanced cultural understanding and global cooperation.

Guo emphasised the critical role of cultural exchange in bridging divides, especially amid growing global uncertainty and division.

“From hunter-gatherer societies to artificial intelligence, the torch of civilization has been passed down through generations,” she said. “Today, more than ever, we need dialogue among flourishing civilizations to foster mutual understanding.”

She called for open-minded engagement among peoples, highlighting the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) proposed by President Xi Jinping. The GCI advocates respect for cultural diversity, preservation and innovation of cultural heritage, and robust international people-to-people exchanges.

Guo urged the international community to embrace mutual learning and collaboration as tools to transcend conflict, citing African and Chinese proverbs to underscore the power of unity in addressing shared global challenges.

Cultural differences, she noted, should not be sources of division but catalysts for progress and creativity.

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan, UNON Director General Zainab Hawa Bangura and Kenya's permanent representative to UN and UNEP Ababu Namwamba poses for a photo with some of the participants during the meeting on June 5, 2025. /LEAH MUKANGAI 

Addressing rising narratives of cultural superiority, she stressed the need for inclusivity and equality among all nations.

“Whether Chinese or African, each civilization is equal. They are all fruitful results of human wisdom,” she stated. “Only when each country’s development path is respected can diversity become a wellspring of appreciation.”

The China-backed initiative was adopted by consensus during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly and is now observed annually.

In a message marking the occasion, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised the importance of dialogue in promoting global unity and cooperation. He described the day not merely as a symbolic observance, but as a collective call to action.

“Dialogue is essential for building bridges of understanding and trust,” Guterres said in a statement delivered on his behalf by UNON Director-General Zainab Hawa Bangura. “This day is a call to action—to listen, speak, and connect. Let us answer it with humanity. Let us choose dialogue over division and commit to being one human family: rich in diversity, united in solidarity, and equal in dignity and human rights.”

Guterres also commended China for its central role in advancing international dialogue and urged all nations to keep communication and cooperation at the heart of multilateralism.

Bangura welcomed the observance as a timely and vital platform for fostering intercultural understanding, describing it as a practical step toward peacebuilding, inclusion, and sustainable development.

The Nairobi event is one of several global commemorations marking the inaugural International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. Other ceremonies are scheduled at UN headquarters and offices in Geneva, Vienna, Paris, Rome, and Bangkok, among others.

Guo concluded by encouraging nations to continue cultivating international friendships and shared understanding.

“Today, we gather to build friendship through dialogue, to reach common ground through exchanges, and to nurture a full bloom in the garden of global civilizations,” she said.

Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UNON and UNEP, Ababu Namwamba, also addressed the gathering, applauding China’s leadership in bringing the resolution to fruition.

“I commend China, under the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping, for the foresight that has made this day a reality on the UN calendar,” said Namwamba. “This is yet another contribution of the long-enduring Chinese civilization to making the world a better place for all.”

Kenya's Permanent Representative to UN and UNEP Ababu Namwamba has a word with Kenya's Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan during the meeting at UNON on June 5, 2025. /LEAH MUKANGAI 

Namwamba reflected on the universality of human experience, invoking the African philosophy of Ubuntu to highlight the shared values underpinning global dialogue.

“Across diverse civilizations, the universal truth of our shared humanity has been proven beyond doubt. I find a particularly striking expression of this truth in the African spirit of Ubuntu,” he said.