By Gamal Elsayed
Journalist specializing in international affairs of Broadcaster at The Egypatian National Media Authority, Egypt
In the face of calls for the expansion of wars and conflicts around the world, China is proposing numerous initiatives toward a world of peace and security. These Chinese initiatives call for a dialogue of civilizations, not a clash of civilizations.
China believes that the rate of wars has increased in the world in recent decades and views intercultural dialogue as a rational and important way to defuse these conflicts by creating common mechanisms for cooperation and development.
Through China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the largest infrastructure project in history, Beijing believes that the development of peoples and the improvement of their living standards are effective means to a more secure and stable world. China has taken rapid, safe, and sustainable steps toward comprehensive development. Beijing has not closed itself off to itself, but rather opened its doors wide to all countries, sharing the Chinese experience with the world, especially developing countries that have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the control of international powers over their resources, even depleting them for their own benefit, without any regard for the welfare of those peoples. Beijing, for example, came to Africa to tell the African masses that we can offer you science, technology, and development without imposing political, economic, or cultural agendas.
The essence of this initiative is a call for peace, development, justice, and fairness for all the peoples of the world, and a call to respect the cultural diversity that abounds in this world. Throughout history, civilizations have been established on the banks of rivers and trading centers, maintaining their unique characteristics and extending their arms to neighboring civilizations for cooperation and understanding.
This initiative aims to open a green corridor for communication between civilizations, overcoming barriers between them, exchanging knowledge, and learning from each other. This initiative also calls for a new framework for shared values for all of humanity, the establishment of an open network of civilizational acquaintances, and the expansion of channels of cooperation, bearing in mind that no civilization is superior to another, as history has taught us.
Indeed, the Global Civilizations Initiative injects new energy into the river of human civilizations, fostering a benign harmony among civilizations for the benefit of humanity, nature, and the peace of the planet as a whole. It creates a global environment characterized by peaceful coexistence among various civilizations and nations, and a retreat from the banners of war and civilizational superiority. In brief, the Global Civilization Initiative is a call for peaceful coexistence, the promotion of dialogue among peoples, the enhancement of cultural and intellectual exchange among civilizations, adherence to values, understanding and respecting the traditions and patterns of different civilizations, maximizing the benefits of the world’s diverse civilizations, and creating a peaceful human civilization based on cooperation, mutual interests, achieving the well-being of peoples, enshrining noble values, respecting the rights of peoples to self-determination, and non-interference by one state in the affairs of another, or imposing its hegemony and influence over another state. It also calls for building political consensus, strengthening cooperation and strategic alignments that fulfill peoples’ aspirations, establishing sound foundations for building civilizational progress, promoting mutual benefit among different cultures and civilizations, and working to support developing countries and help them achieve the aspirations of their peoples, as this will bring peace to all of humanity. The Chinese Initiative for Dialogue of Civilizations has provided Arab and Middle Eastern capitals with a golden opportunity for cooperation and coexistence between the Chinese and Arab peoples, especially Egypt, whose characteristics, qualities, and culture are similar to those of Chinese civilization. Indeed, Cairo, the capital of Arab decision-making, welcomed this Chinese initiative with great love, deep appreciation, unwavering faith, and a profound understanding of its goals.
Beijing, Cairo, and Prospects for Cooperation
Egypt, which possesses a unique civilization spanning more than 7,000 years, and China, whose civilization spans thousands of years, share commonalities. Cairo can be the most important hub and primary gateway for China’s Initiative for Dialogue of Civilizations in Africa and the Arab region, given Cairo’s significant political, economic, and cultural influence in that region. Cairo and Beijing have realized this, and over the past ten years, trade and cultural exchange between the two countries has doubled. This was clearly evident during the exchanges of visits between the two leaders and various officials, the most recent of which was the recent visit of the Chinese Prime Minister to Cairo. In conclusion…
Beijing has realized that the world is in danger and that there are major powers that do not want peace and stability, nor do they want a role for Beijing. Therefore, it has presented its initiative for a dialogue of civilizations. The ball is now in the court of the leaders and peoples, many of whom I believe understand the value of this initiative. However, this awareness is not enough in a rapidly accelerating era of expanding conflicts and wars that ravage everything. Peoples and leaders must now open lines of communication with Beijing to benefit from the Chinese experience in progress and development. They must realize that the path to spreading peace is not easy and is not paved with roses. However, they must now open the door wide open to achieve the goals of the Chinese initiative for dialogue of civilizations.
*The views and opinions expressed in the articles are solely those of the individual authors and do not reflect the position of the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Journalist Network.