Participants pose for a group photo at the event themed on "Home of Confucius, Hub of the Belt and Road – A Real Story of the Global Civilization Initiative". [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A key event, which is an important part of the 2023 UN Chinese Language Day, kicked off at the United Nations office in Vienna, Austria on May 2 and served as a vital platform for China to expand its cultural influence on the global stage.

Themed on "Home of Confucius, Hub of the Belt and Road – A Real Story of the Global Civilization Initiative", the event attracted some 600 participants including government officials, diplomats and scholars from countries such as China, Germany, Austria and Italy to share views on historical civilizations and cultural communication. 

Li Song, China's permanent representative to the UN and other international organizations in Vienna, said in his speech that civilization is the crystallized, collective wisdom in the development of human society and a driving force for world peace and prosperity. He also said the diversity of civilizations constitutes the premise and condition for exchanges between cultures.

"We will unswervingly follow the path of Chinese-style modernization and learn from other civilizations," he added.

Bai Yugang, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and head of the Shandong province's publicity department, introduced that the Nishan Forum on World Civilizations is named after Nishan, the birthplace of Confucius, in response to the UN's initiative to carry out dialogue among different cultures. Since its launch in 2010, the forum has been held for eight sessions, and the ninth session is scheduled to be held in Qufu city, Shandong in September.

Bai Yugang, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and head of the Shandong province's publicity department, speaks at the event. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Shandong plans to take the opportunity to deepen exchanges among different civilizations with an open and inclusive mind, conduct in-depth studies on classical civilizations, promote academic exchanges and cooperation, and seek win-win solutions, he added.

Other topics discussed at the event included the contemporary significance of Confucianism from such perspectives as promoting inclusiveness and sustainable industrial development, realizing the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and strengthening cultural exchanges between China and Austria.

All parties reached a consensus on issues such as the equality of civilizations and protecting diversity.

Themed on "Home of Confucius, Hub of the Belt and Road – A Real Story of the Global Civilization Initiative", the 2023 UN Chinese Language Day's key event kicks off at the United Nations office in Vienna, Austria on May 2. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]