The International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations was observed Thursday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, with a call to foster bridges of friendship and understanding among people from different cultures.

NAIROBI, June 7 (Xinhua) -- The International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations was observed Thursday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, with a call to foster bridges of friendship and understanding among people from different cultures.

Co-hosted by the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) and the Chinese Embassy in Kenya, the event brought together over 200 attendees, including senior government officials, diplomats and scholars, and featured speeches and cultural performances.

In June 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a China-sponsored resolution to designate June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. Endorsed by consensus, the resolution underscores the importance of respecting civilizational diversity and the crucial role of dialogue in fostering global peace and advancing inclusive development.

Director-General of UNON Zainab Hawa Bangura, who read UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' message, said multilateralism is rooted in the firm conviction that dialogue among civilizations is the path to lasting global peace and cohesion.

Celebrating the rich diversity of civilizations will foster mutual understanding and global solidarity, Bangura said, stressing the urgency of embracing dialogue to heal a world grappling with growing intolerance and xenophobia.

"Let us choose dialogue over divisions, and let us strive to be one human family, rich in diversity, united in solidarity and equal in dignity and human rights," Bangura said.

In a video message, High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos said that geopolitical tensions, violent conflicts, social fragmentation and the climate crisis have escalated, while dialogue and mutual respect among different cultures and creeds can provide some respite.

Through dialogue, global civilizations can defuse tensions, build trust, and contribute positively to shaping a shared destiny for the human race, said Moratinos.

Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan said that rising turbulence in the world is a wake-up call for all civilizations to engage in dialogue and achieve mutual respect and understanding.

According to the ambassador, in the face of global challenges, no country can stand alone. Cultural differences should not be a source of confrontation but rather a driving force for progress. To build a global community of shared future for mankind, each civilization should pursue harmony through diversity and seek common ground while reserving differences.

"Standing at a historical crossroads, humanity is in urgent need of great ideas to shed light on the way forward and open minds to bridge cultural divides," Guo said, adding that "only when each country's path of development is truly respected can the diversity of civilizations become a wellspring of understanding and appreciation."

Ababu Namwamba, Kenya's permanent representative to UNON and the United Nations Environment Program, said the day reaffirms the central role of multilateralism in realizing global solidarity, peace and harmony.  ■