عربي Español Русский Français 简体中文

Remarks by Ambassador Dai Bing, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. and Deputy Permanent Representative of Chinese Mission to the UN, at the High-level Event to Commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia

(From Chinese Mission to the United Nations)

2023-03-10 18:00

Your Excellency Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari,

China commends you and the President of the General Assembly for holding this high-level event to commemorate the first International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

Last year, thanks to the joint efforts of Pakistan and the OIC, the 76th session of the General Assembly adopted Resolution 76/254, proclaiming March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia. It was a great honor for China to be a co-sponsor of that resolution.

Our world today is undergoing tremendous changes unseen in a century. Global challenges such as the pandemic, climate change, and regional conflicts keep emerging; religious intolerance and racial discrimination are getting worse; the hatred towards Muslims has escalated to epidemic proportions; and racist attacks such as discrimination against African descendants and hatred towards Asians occur with distressing frequency.

To combat Islamophobia, we must first of all uphold equality. Every civilization and religion is special and unique, and none is superior to others. We must categorically reject claims such as superiority of certain civilizations and clash of civilizations.

Second, we must promote common development. Under-development is one of the root causes of discrimination and intolerance. We must support countries in choosing development paths suited to their own national conditions, promote inclusive development, and oppose decoupling,  cutting chains, and unilateral sanctions.

Third, we must cherish the role of education. We should help the younger generations enhance their understanding and respect for different civilizations and religions, and improve their ability for cross-culture communication, and the ability to spot and combat false information.

Mr. President,

Both Chinese and Islamic civilizations are ancient civilizations with significant global influence. The exchanges between us date back centuries, and enjoy a deep historical foundation and solid support from our peoples. Over the years, we have always respected and trusted each other, and supported each other on issues involving respective core concerns. We have always stood in solidarity and mutual support, and shared a commitment to common development. China and the Islamic world have found a path of friendship and win-win cooperation among civilizations. This is a fine example of how to practice the new type of international relations. And it also provides useful experience on how different countries and civilizations can interact with each other.

Mr. President,

In the face of global challenges, all countries must come together under the UN banner. China welcomes the agreement reached by Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic relations after talks in Beijing. The agreement will provide new momentum for regional peace, stability, development and cooperation. China is ready to work with Islamic countries to practice true multilateralism, promote the building of a community of a shared future for humankind, and together strive for a better world free from discrimination.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Suggest to a friend
Print