Chinese and Ethiopian Officials Advocate Diversity at Addis Ababa Dialogue

Addis Ababa, The Gulf Observer: In a significant call for global harmony, Chinese and Ethiopian officials underscored the importance of respecting and embracing the diversity of civilizations to foster peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding, and development worldwide. This call was made during a high-level dialogue, titled “The Civilization Lecture Series,” held in Addis Ababa on Saturday.

The event, aimed at strengthening civil society exchanges and cooperation between China and Ethiopia, featured prominent speakers, including Li Jun, vice president of the China NGO Network for International Exchanges, and Yonas Adaye, commissioner of the Ethiopian National Dialogue.

In his remarks, Li Jun emphasized the critical need to advocate for shared human values to promote peaceful coexistence among different civilizations and peoples. “We should respect the diversity of civilizations to promote mutual understanding, champion cultural differences based on equality and respect, and reject pride and prejudice, which have been proven to be the biggest obstacles to civilizations, cultural exchanges, and mutual learning,” Li stated.

Li further highlighted China’s commitment to supporting Ethiopians and other nations in preserving and developing their own cultures while choosing development paths that best suit their unique contexts. He expressed China’s willingness to engage in more dialogues on civilizations, intercultural exchanges, and governance experiences, asserting that a civilization can only sustain its vitality through learning from others and enhancing people-to-people exchanges.

Yonas Adaye, speaking at the event, reinforced the importance of dialogue on civilizations in maintaining world peace and development. He noted that China’s promotion of world peace through cooperation and solidarity serves as a model, particularly in times of increasing global confrontations. Adaye highlighted the crucial role of civil societies as bridges between states and societies, advocating for trust-building, education on rights and responsibilities, and democratic engagement.

Adaye also commended China’s Global Civilization Initiative for its contribution to promoting win-win cooperation among countries. He praised the Chinese government’s efforts in fostering civilizations and cultural exchanges, which have garnered the trust of many African nations.

The high-level dialogue followed the recent commemoration of the China-proposed International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, designated on June 10 by the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. This initiative underscores the ongoing commitment of both China and Ethiopia to advancing intercultural dialogue and cooperation for a shared future and common development.