On June 5, the United Nations Office at Nairobi and the Chinese Embassy in Kenya jointly held the Commemoration of International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. More than 200 people, including H.E. Guo Haiyan, Chinese Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat, H.E. Zainab Hawa Bangura, Director-General of the UN Office at Nairobi, and H.E. Ababu Namwamba, Kenyan Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNON and UNEP, foreign envoys to Kenya and UN staffs attended. H.E. Miguel Angel Moratinos, the UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations, delivered a video message.

Ambassador Guo introduced the Global Civilization Initiative, which advocates respect for the rich diversity of civilizations, proposed by President Xi Jinping. Countries should uphold the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and work together to build a global community of shared future for mankind.

Mrs. Bangura read the message of the UN Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, which calls on parties to celebrate the first international day and stresses that dialogue is the path to peace. Mr. Namwamba emphasizes that rich diversity of civilizations acts as the force to promote mutual understanding and global solidarity, and admires China for its global leadership and practice of true multilateralism.

Guests watched cultural performances, the movie “The Wandering Earth 2” and “Declaration of Civilization” scroll painting, to experience the charms of civilization dialogues.