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Greetings of peace from China.
This is to inform you that I represented URI at Chang’An Forum on Dialogue of Civilizations. The Forum was held in the ancient capital (Chang'an), today known as Xi'an, in China's northwestern Shaanxi province at the Modern College of North West University from May 13 and 15.
Representatives from local government, leading academia, religious leaders, think tanks, civil society, business circles, university students and the media discussed ways of promoting mutual understanding, inclusiveness and connectivity between civilizations.
The Forum was organized by Shaanxi Prov. Government, Department of Education, Shaanxi Prov, North West University, Modern College of North West University and Shaanxi Qiaolology Institute on Dialogue of Civilizations (URI CC member from China).
I was invited by the organizers as one of the guest of honor and my remarks focused on the need of constructive dialogue as a road map for peaceful co-existence among different followers of religions and cultures. In my remarks, I highlighted that our world needs more than ever intercultural and inter-religious constructive dialogue to build trust and understanding, and to avoid the fear of the unknown that causes most of the problems. This is what URI member organizations are doing in different part of the world.
At the official opening remarks and during my presentation, I conveyed to the participants of the Forum greetings of peace on behalf of URI members from 95 countries, and introduced URI and expressed the support of URI for the Forum on Dialogue of Civilizations to enhance peaceful co-existence among different civilizations. I also introduced our first and only Cooperation Circle member in China to all the participants, and on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the Forum, I acknowledged our Cooperation Circle from China with a Peace Medal for the good work they are doing in promoting dialogue of civilizations in China.
I am happy to inform you that the participants endorsed the proposal of URI to promote the teaching of the Golden Rule “Treat others as the way you want to be treated” in China to enhance inter-religious harmony, to promote universal declaration of human rights, and to use it as a guiding principle for peaceful co-existence. They also agreed to translate the Golden Rule in the Chinese language and to promote it in different schools and universities in China.
The initiative of the Chang’An Forum on Dialogue of Civilizations was inspired by the call of President Xi Jinping, in which he said last year, ”We have only one planet, and countries share one world. To do well, Asia and the world could not do without each other. Facing the fast-changing international and regional landscapes, we must see the whole picture, follow the trend of our times and jointly build a regional order that is more favorable to Asia and the world. We should, through efforts towards such a community for Asia, promote a community of common interest for all mankind. To build a community of common destiny, we need to make sure that all countries respect one another and treat each other as equals. Countries may differ in size, strength or level of development, but they are all equal members of the international community with equal rights to participate in regional and international affairs. On matters that involve us all, we should discuss and look for a solution together. Being a big country means shouldering greater responsibilities for regional and world peace and development, as opposed to seeking greater monopoly over regional and world affairs.”
Participants at the event proposed the city of Xi`an to be the hub of "Conference for Dialogue of Civilizations," as it has a very rich culture and history as the capital city of dialogue for civilizations.
I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank URI Cooperation Circle members in China; namely, Professor Gao Ping, President of Shaanxi Qiaology Institute on Dialogue of Civilizations and Dr. Zhongliang Ren External Relation Director of Shaanxi Qiaology Institute on Dialogue of Civilizations, for their outstanding effort for the success of the second Chang'an Forum. The Forum would not have been possible without the initiative and active involvement of Shaanxi Qiaology Institute on Dialogue of Civilizations. This is one good example of the active ground work of URI Cooperation Circle members.
The event was well covered by different media in China.
May Peace Prevail on Earth.
