SCIO briefing on the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations

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Read in Chinese

Speakers:
Xu Lin, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, minister of the State Council Information Office (SCIO), vice president of the CDAC organizing committee and executive committee;

Kong Xuanyou, vice minister of foreign affairs;

Zhang Xu, vice minister of culture and tourism;

Du Feijin, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Committee, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Committee

Chairperson:
Guo Weimin, vice minister of SCIO

Date:
May 9, 2019

The State Council Information Office of China invites four officials to brief the media about the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations in Beijing, May 9, 2019. [Photo by Liu Jian/China SCIO]

Guo Weimin:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning. Welcome to this press conference. The Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC) is to convene soon and has drawn great attention from Chinese and foreign media. Today, we hold this press conference to brief you on the CDAC. 

Present at this conference are: Xu Lin, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, minister of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and vice president of the CDAC organizing committee and executive committee; Kong Xuanyou, vice minister of foreign affairs; Zhang Xu, vice minister of culture and tourism; and Du Feijin, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Committee. They are all vice presidents of the CDAC executive committee, and I'm honored to be a vice president too. 

Mr. Xu will offer an introduction first, and then the four gentlemen will answer some of your questions. Now I'll give the floor to Mr. Xu.

Xu Lin:

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. The Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC) will be held in Beijing on May 15. First of all, on behalf of the preparatory committee of the CDAC, I would like to welcome all our friends to today's press conference and express my heartfelt thanks to all those who care about and support the CDAC.

In recent years, President Xi Jinping, in his attempts to build a beautiful world and a community with a shared future for mankind, has put forward a series of important ideas and expositions on strengthening exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, which have produced positive responses from the international community. At the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, held in Shanghai in 2014 and the 2015 Boao Forum for Asia, President Xi Jinping twice advocated for the convening of the CDAC, and received positive responses from the participating countries. Since then, China has carried out multi-level and interdisciplinary dialogues and cultural exchanges with the relevant countries in Asia and around the world, creating good conditions for holding the CDAC. The convening of the CDAC implements President Xi Jinping's initiative. It also further promotes exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations in Asia and the rest of the world, and encourages us to achieve common progress.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the CDAC. President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the CDAC, deliver a keynote speech, and attend relevant activities.

The Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations is another important diplomatic event following the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition. It will be a landmark international event. I would like to summarize the conference with the ensuing five points:

First, the theme is clear. The theme of the conference is "Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Asian Civilizations and a Community with a Shared Future", which reflects important philosophies articulated by Chinese President Xi Jinping. These include exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, the establishment of an Asian community with a shared future and building of a shared future for mankind. The conference not only reflects the general hopes and wishes from Asian countries but also those of the entire world. The activities of the conference are designed and developed around this theme.

Second, the response has been enthusiastic. More than 2,000 people, including government officials from 47 countries in Asia as well as from outside the region, plus representatives from the fields of culture, education, film and television, think tanks, media and tourism, will attend the opening ceremony and sub-forums. Entertainers, artists and people of all walks of life from Asian countries and other countries in the world will participate in Asian Culture Carnival, Asian Civilization Week and other events. The conference organizers also invited leaders of Cambodia, Greece, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Armenia and Mongolia, as well as officials from UNESCO and other international organizations to attend the conference.

Third, the conference boasts diversified events, including the opening ceremony, sub-forums, Asian Culture Carnival and Asian Civilization Week. Leaders from China and foreign countries, as well as heads of international organizations who participate in the conference, will share and explore ideas through exchange and mutual learning among Asian civilizations. In additional, the conference has six parallel sub-forums, inviting government officials, experts and scholars, and those engaged in particular fields to join discussions. A grand Asian Culture Carnival will be held, with more than 30,000 people from home and abroad expected to attend. In order to showcase diversified Asian civilizations, Asian Civilization Week will be held, including events like Asian Civilization Parade, Asian Culture Festival, Asian Culture and Tourism Exhibition, Asian Film and TV Week, and a Joint Exhibition of Asian Civilizations. Meanwhile, an Asian Cuisine Festival will be held simultaneously in the cities of Beijing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Chengdu.  

Fourth, we will provide an effective guarantee. This year's conference has a large number of participants and a long duration. We are striving to create a first-class conference environment and provide warm and thoughtful services to all participants. At present, the official website of the conference has been officially launched and all kinds of important information related to the conference will be published on that site. Beijing has recruited more than 3,700 volunteers to provide services to participants. At present, more than 2,800 Chinese and foreign journalists have signed up for the conference. The conference has set up a news center and will hold a series of news release activities to provide services for journalists.

Fifth, the conference is expected to achieve a fruitful outcome. Some documents will be issued based on the major consensus reached during the conference, which will showcase the fruitful outcomes of the conference, and present a bright and prosperous future of the exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations and other civilizations in the world. At the same time, a series of multilateral and bilateral initiatives and agreements will be signed in various fields, such as media, think tanks, tourism, films and television, cultural heritage protection, etc. The results of some major projects and research reports will be announced during the conference. Concrete measures will be proposed to implement the conference outcomes and advance exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. 

President Xi Jinping said that our civilizations have become richer and more colorful through exchanges and mutual learning. We believe the CDAC will present a rich and colorful display of Asia's civilizations to the world. We will warmly welcome guests from all over the world. On behalf of the conference's organizing committee, I would like to sincerely invite you, friends from the press, to cover the grand event, spread the beauty of civilizations, and join our efforts in making the conference a success. Now, my colleagues and I are ready to take your questions. Thank you.