Last year, China together with other 82 countries proposed a resolution，which was unanimously adopted by the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, June 10th was thus designated as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. It is a successful practice of China’s implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative, and a significant contribution to promoting exchanges and dialogue among different civilizations worldwide, as well as advancing global peace and development.
The Global Civilization Initiative, put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2023, following the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, can be summarized with four common advocacies: to respect the diversity of civilizations, to uphold the common values of humanity, to attach importance to inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and to strengthen international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. This initiative calls on facilitating humanity’s modernization process by tolerance, coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, advancing the progress of human civilization.
The exchange and mutual learning of civilizations is the bond that maintains world peace and the driving force for the progress of human society. In the face of shared challenges such as climate change, terrorism, and global inequality, no civilization can stand alone. We must draw upon the wisdom of different civilizations to reform global governance and build a more equitable and sustainable community with a shared future for humanity. When we embrace dialogue among civilizations, we dissolve prejudice and build shared future.
We advocate to respect the uniqueness of each civilization and reject civilizational superiority or ideological bias. History has taught us that arrogance and prejudice only deepen divisions. Only by listening with an open mind and engaging in dialogue as equals, can we achieve true understanding and coexistence among diverse civilizations. True partnership begins when cultures intertwine. We believe cultural exchanges transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcends clashes, and coexistence transcends superiority.
We advocate to promote women’s participation and advance gender equality. Women’s participation plays an important role in dialogue among civilizations. Women’s equal participation in culture, education, science, politics, and all other fields, breaks down gender barriers and empowers women’s voices as a vital force in civilizational dialogue. We’ve seen girls’ education lift economies, maternal healthcare transforms communities, and female entrepreneurs ignite innovation. Only inclusive society can foster lasting peace and development. Women empowerment goes beyond empowering half of the world, it unlock humanity’s full potential. China will host the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Beijing in the second half of this year, which will inject new momentum into the development of women.
We also advocate to explore the value of traditional culture. Long before modern history, our ancestors sailed across oceans, weaving bonds that transcend time. The Keqiutou Site Museum in Pingtan, Fujian province of China, stands as testament to this shared heritage—preserving the origins of the Austronesian civilization that flows through Tonga’s cultural veins. Though separated by ocean, we are never truly apart. In the future, we should honor tradition while sparking innovation, using sustainable technology to scale kava production, making ancient wisdom accessible to younger generations through AI-powered museum exhibits, and sharing experience in culture, agriculture, and climate resilience as Pacific neighbors. Our 3,000-year kinship grows stronger when tradition is empowered by innovation.
We are ready to expand platforms for dialogue in education, science, technology and arts, empowering youth to become envoys of cross-civilization exchange. Young people represent the hope of the future, and their innovative thinking and intercultural adaptability will inject new vitality into mutual learning among civilizations.
A single flower does not make spring, while one hundred flowers in full blossom bring spring to the garden. Civilizations become rich and colorful through exchange, and gain depth through mutual learning. China and Tonga both enjoy long term history and splendid culture, together we will contribute to global cultural diversity through more cross-civilization dialogue and mutual learning.
Last month, His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince attended the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. During his stay in China, the Crown Prince visited Shandong Province, where Confucius first taught Treat others as you would like to be treated. China’s Ren-Benevolence (仁) echoes Tonga’s ‘Ofa (love), our Li-Ritual (礼) embraces Faka’apa’apa (respect). As the Crown Prince commended, China treats all countries as equals regardless of their size and wealth. Facing a changing and turbulent world, our values remind us civilizations do not clash, they clasp hands. When beauty meets beauty, harmony blooms.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tonga in 1998, we have engaged in extensive dialogue and cooperation across multiple fields based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits, setting an example for South-South cooperation and cross-civilization exchange.
People-to-people exchanges constitutes an important part of civilization dialogues. China started to offer scholarship for Tonga in 1999. Up to now, more than 400 Tongan students have studied in Chinese universities. About 1500 people have participated in the short term training programs offered by China. Since 2003, China has been sending teachers to Tonga to teach Chinese language and other courses. Last Friday, The Tonga National Final of the 18th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students was successfully held. 16 Tongan high school student contestants demonstrated their Chinese language skills and passion for Chinese culture through performances including speeches, singing, dancing and even calligraphy. I am happy to see that many of these people engaged in bilateral exchanges have become special envoys of our two countries.
Furthermore, we are partnering with each other, including with non-governmental organizations, to actively explore pathway to empower women, and help build a more resilient and inclusive society together .
The Chinese community in Tonga conducts business in accordance with the law and regulations, and has become an integral part of this country. They actively contribute to the local development by securing essential supplies, broadening consumer choices, stabilizing market prices and creating local jobs. Chinese people and Tongan people become brothers and sisters.
Looking ahead, we are full of confidence for the development of relations between China and Tonga. On the broad platform of civilizational dialogue, we will further strengthen cultural exchanges and mutual learning, launch more colorful cultural activities, and enable the people of the two countries to enhance understanding and deepen friendship through cultural integration. We will continue to expand cooperation areas, innovate cooperation models, and achieve mutual benefit, win-win results and common development. In addressing global challenges, we will stand side by side, speak with one voice, and contribute to promoting the reform of the global governance system. Let us take the International Day for Dialogue among Civilization as a new starting point, uphold dialogue among civilizations featuring equality, mutual learning and inclusiveness, and build a stronger and broader bridge for cultural exchange between China and Tonga. Let us join hands, draw wisdom and gather strength from the exchange of different civilizations, jointly write a new chapter in China-Tonga friendly relations, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind, so that the garden of world civilizations blossoms more brilliantly!
Source: Embassy PRC Tonga
