Int'l day for dialogue among civilizations marked at UN organizations -Xinhua

Miguel Moratinos, the high representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), speaks during a thematic event organized by the Permanent Mission of China to the UN, at the UN headquarters in New York on June 10, 2026. The International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations was celebrated here on Wednesday. Proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 80 countries, a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in June 2024 designated June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. (Xinhua/Xie E)

BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations has been celebrated by United Nations organizations in New York, Vienna and Paris.

The Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations organized a thematic event on Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York, with nearly 300 high representatives and UN officials participating.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, in their written statements, highlighted the importance of promoting dialogue among civilizations.

The high representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Miguel Moratinos, called for efforts to reduce differences and promote cooperation through dialogue.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in his statement, stressed the importance of getting the wisdom to tackle global challenges through dialogue among civilizations.

The event was co-sponsored by the permanent missions to the United Nations of Armenia, Colombia, Ethiopia, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq and Mexico, as well as UNAOC and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

A similar event was held at the United Nations in Vienna on Wednesday, attracting more than 300 guests, including heads of international organizations, representatives of various countries and institutions.

Li Song, China's permanent representative to the UN and other international organizations in Vienna, expressed China's willingness to continue promoting exchanges among all parties to enhance unity and seek consensus, and jointly be defenders of cultural equality, practitioners of cultural exchanges, and promoters of cultural progress.

Catherine Perret, representative of the United Nations Office in Vienna, Mohamed Nasr, permanent representative of Egypt to the United Nations in Vienna, and Padraig Lysaght, dean of the Confucius Institute of the University of Vienna, commended China's leading role in the dialogue among world civilizations in their speeches. They also called on all countries to further promote mutual understanding and friendship among peoples and harmonious coexistence among different civilizations, and devote their wisdom and efforts to safeguarding the authority of the United Nations, and reforming and improving global governance.

Local enthusiasts performed Tai Chi for the audience. A Chinese painting exhibition kicked off the same day, depicting the national flowers of the UN member states. Cultural workshops on traditional Chinese paper-cutting, ink painting and Western oil painting were also staged.

At the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the Permanent Delegation of China to UNESCO and the UNESCO "Silk Road" project jointly hosted a similar event on Wednesday, gathering more than 400 people, including representatives from multiple countries to UNESCO, officials from international organizations, experts and scholars, and people from all walks of life.

Proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 80 countries, a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in June 2024 designated June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. ■

Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks during a thematic event organized by the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations, at the UN headquarters in New York on June 10, 2026.