UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the critical need for cross-cultural dialogue to combat rising intolerance and xenophobia during a high-level event marking the first International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations on Monday. The day, established by a UN resolution proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 80 countries, aims to foster mutual understanding amid global divisions.
"Where dialogue is missing, ignorance fills the void," Guterres warned, addressing a gathering organized by the permanent UN missions of China, Egypt, Peru, Spain, Uzbekistan, and the UN Alliance of Civilizations. He highlighted the role of online misinformation in amplifying hate speech and stressed that dialogue is "essential for building bridges of trust."
UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang echoed the sentiment, noting that Earth’s 8 billion people—spanning 5,000 ethnic groups and 7,000 languages—require mutual respect to thrive. "Diversity defines human civilization," he said, urging nations to "promote tolerance and inclusiveness."
The resolution designating June 10 as the International Day underscores China’s diplomatic focus on multilateral cooperation. Guterres called the day a "force to promote global solidarity" and urged individuals to "answer hate with humanity" by prioritizing unity over division.
