## Pak-China Civilizational Synergy Celebrated on International Dialogue Day

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, emphasized the profound cultural connection between Pakistan and China during remarks made on Tuesday. Speaking at a function hosted by the Chinese Embassy to mark the International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, Ambassador Jiang stated, Pakistan and China not only have equality between civilizations, “but we also love each other’s festivals and cultures.” He specifically noted China’s appreciation for Pakistan’s traditional festivals, including Eid.

Ambassador Jiang highlighted the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), proposed by China alongside 82 other UN member states last year and subsequently approved by the UN General Assembly. “This reflects the continuous expansion of global civilisation, and it also reflects the goodwill of the member states of the UN and the United Nations.” He added, “We all want to promote the mutual exchanges of civilisations to realise the great dream of improving human civilization.” He noted that UN members, including Pakistan, actively seek to promote mutual learning and progress among civilizations, calling it “the common aspiration of mankind, so today we are celebrating the first International Day for Dialogue Among Civilisations.”

The Ambassador asserted that this observance demonstrates China’s commitment to implementing the GCI incrementally and advancing human civilization. He expressed confidence that China and Pakistan possess a “very solid foundation and leverages” to effectively implement the GCI. “China will always practice the exchanges among civilisations,” Jiang Zaidong affirmed, adding, “China will always promote the progress of civilisations too.”

Reflecting on cultural similarities, Ambassador Jiang mentioned the Chinese Embassy’s pre-Eid congratulatory video message to Pakistani friends, which reminded him of Chinese Spring Festival celebrations. “It shows that there are some similarities between the Eid holiday and also our Spring Festival,” he observed.

Ambassador Jiang cited the Gandhara Arts Exhibition as a “shining example” of Sino-Pakistani civilizational exchange. He elaborated, “It combines Pakistan’s own culture with the ancient Rome and Greek and Buddhism culture and has formed its own unique style.”

Connecting the dialogue to broader international principles, Ambassador Jiang noted the occasion also marked the anniversaries of the World Anti-Fascist War victory and the founding of the UN. He stated the UN has “brought profound changes to the international system and order,” emphasizing that countries, “regardless of big or small, or strong or poor, are all equal.” He cautioned, “We should all treat each other equal, but some countries have forgotten about these principles.”

Ambassador Jiang argued that adherence to core UN principles would prevent global discord: “if all the countries uphold the international system with the United Nations as its core, and we defend the international order with the international law as its core, and we defend the international principle with the United Nations Charter as its core, there will be no trade wars or tariff wars, and there will be no such problems in the world.”

Concluding, he positioned China and Pakistan as “staunch forces of the international community” and “important members of the global south.” Ambassador Jiang declared that both nations “should always practise the true multilateralism and promote an equal and inclusive globalization.”