By Zamir Ahmed Awan of People’s Daily Online

ON June 10, the first United Nations International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, the world paused to reflect on a bold vision that seeks to bring humanity closer at a time when division, misunderstanding, and hostility are too common. Introduced by President Xi Jinping in March 2023, the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) has grown into a significant pillar of China’s global engagement strategy, complementing the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI). Together, these three initiatives present an inspiring roadmap toward building a community with a shared future for mankind.

What is the Global Civilization Initiative?

The Global Civilization Initiative is founded on four fundamental principles:

• Respect for the diversity of civilizations
• Advocacy for the common values of humanity — peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom
• Commitment to the inheritance and innovation of civilizations
• Support for robust international people-to-people exchanges and co-operation

These principles echo the core ideals of the United Nations Charter, which calls for unity in diversity, peaceful co-existence, and the sovereign equality of nations. The GCI does not seek to impose one model over another. Instead, it embraces the idea that all civilizations have intrinsic value and can learn from one another. It recognises that modern-day challenges cannot be solved by any one nation or culture alone but through mutual understanding and cooperative action.

Significance and geopolitical impact

In today’s global environment, where geopolitical rivalry, cultural chauvinism, and ideological polarisation are creating deep fissures, the GCI offers a much-needed alternative. Western ideologies rooted in imperialism and colonialism have historically fuelled what has been termed the “clash of civilizations.” This philosophy often justifies interventionist policies, economic domination, and cultural superiority to maintain global hegemony.

China, drawing on its Confucian heritage and millennia-old wisdom, offers a counter-narrative. It promotes harmony over hegemony, dialogue over discord, and co-operation over confrontation. The GCI does not negate the differences between civilizations but turns those differences into an opportunity for growth and enrichment. It asserts that diversity is not a cause for conflict but a driving force for human progress.

By encouraging a pluralistic worldview and fostering an environment for equal dialogue, the GCI serves as a stabilising force in global geopolitics. It promotes peace through cultural diplomacy and mutual respect rather than coercion. This is especially critical in the current context of heightened tensions in many parts of the world, from Eastern Europe to the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific.

A shared philosophy: The three global initiatives

The Global Civilization Initiative is one of three interconnected frameworks proposed by China to promote international co-operation:

• Global Development Initiative (GDI): Introduced in 2021, it aims to accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by focusing on poverty reduction, food security, green development, digital economy, and connectivity.
• Global Security Initiative (GSI): Launched in 2022, it promotes common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security. It calls for resolving disputes through dialogue and opposes unilateral sanctions and the use of force.
• Global Civilization Initiative (GCI): The newest pillar, launched in 2023, calls for cross-cultural dialogue, mutual respect, and people-to-people exchanges.

Together, these initiatives embody the Chinese vision of a “community with a shared future for mankind.” This vision aligns closely with the UN Charter, particularly in promoting sovereign equality, non-intervention, peaceful resolution of disputes, and human rights through inclusive development.

Relevance in a turbulent world

The world today is facing numerous interconnected crises — geopolitical rivalries, economic inequality, climate change, and cultural misunderstandings. In such a climate, the GCI offers a path away from zero-sum thinking. It promotes co-existence rather than conflict and common prosperity rather than exclusive growth.

As developing countries seek greater agency in international affairs, the GCI serves as a guiding principle for South-South co-operation. It offers an inclusive platform where every nation, regardless of size or wealth, has an equal voice in shaping global governance.

Pakistan’s support and participation

Pakistan strongly supports the Global Civilization Initiative and views it as a natural extension of its enduring friendship with China. As a country rich in cultural diversity and history, Pakistan understands the value of dialogue among civilizations.

Pakistan has also been an active partner in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the GCI and the GDI. The benefits of these initiatives are already visible in infrastructure development, regional connectivity, and socioeconomic uplift. With the GCI, Pakistan sees a new dimension of co-operation that goes beyond economics and security to include cultural enrichment, educational exchange, and intellectual dialogue.

As a founding member of the newly established International Organization for Mediation (IoMed), Pakistan also reaffirms its commitment to peaceful conflict resolution. The IoMed reflects the spirit of the GCI in providing a neutral, inclusive platform for dialogue and reconciliation. It is a concrete step toward institutionalising the principles of non-coercive diplomacy and mutual understanding that lie at the heart of the GCI.

A human-centric approach to globalisation

What sets the Global Civilization Initiative apart is its human-centric vision. It reminds us that behind every policy and every agreement are people — with hopes, fears, histories, and dreams. The GCI proposes a form of globalisation that is inclusive, respectful, and sustainable.

It invites us to see the world not as a battlefield of competing powers but as a garden of diverse flowers, each adding beauty and fragrance in its own way. It calls for an end to arrogance and the rebirth of humility, where nations listen to each other, learn from each other, and grow together.

Summarizing

As we celebrate the first International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, let us recognise the GCI for what it truly is: a blueprint for peaceful coexistence in a world hungry for hope. It reflects the deep wisdom of Chinese civilization and the aspirations of billions around the world for a more just, peaceful, and inclusive international order. In a time of walls, the GCI builds bridges. In an age of echo chambers, it encourages dialogue. In a world of differences, it inspires unity.

Pakistan, as a civilizational partner and trusted friend of China, stands firmly behind this vision. Together, let us work for a future where civilizations do not clash but converse, where diversity is not a threat but a treasure, and where humanity walks hand in hand toward a shared destiny.

About the author: Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founding chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance (GSRRA). He is a sinologist and former diplomat. He is also a Researcher at the Global South Economic and Trade Cooperation Research Center and a non-resident fellow of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG). (E-mail: awanzamir@yahoo.com).