Aerial photo taken on Oct. 24, 2018 shows cars running on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

by Xinhua writer Wang Jiangang

UNITED NATIONS, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The wisdom of the Chinese civilization is conducive to improving Asian governance, the chief of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) has said.

"The ideological wisdom of the traditional Chinese civilization is conducive to improving Asian and even global governance," UNAOC High Representative Miguel Angel Moratinos told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"China is already back to the center of the world stage and playing an increasingly important role in safeguarding and building global and regional peace and security, and helping promote economic progress. There are many reasons for the ongoing rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Yet, its great civilization is playing a critical role," he said.

Moratinos, a veteran diplomat and former Spanish foreign minister, formally replaced Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser of Qatar as UNAOC high representative on Jan. 1.

"As one of the greatest civilizations in the world, the Chinese civilization has made great contributions to the emergence, development and progress of human civilization," said the UNAOC chief. "The Chinese civilization is at the center of the East Asian cultural circle dominated by Confucianism, having an important influence on the evolution of Asian cultures."

As for China itself, the wisdom accumulated in the development of its civilization over the past 5,000 years has become a strong booster, helping drive the country's social and economic development, he said, adding that it also helps, in many ways, Asian countries "seek common ground in their pursuit of social and economic advancement."

The key elements of the Chinese civilization include "striving constantly for self-improvement," "great virtues perfecting all things" and "living in harmony and valuing differences," which are "fantastic thoughts" good for this world with so many differences.

"All these shining ancient Chinese thoughts must be greatly valued and applied to modern bilateral and multilateral relations," he stressed.

Moratinos said he firmly believes that through exchanges and dialogues between different civilizations, Asia will usher in an even brighter future with more and frequent exchanges and dialogues, such as the ongoing Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations.

Speaking of the recent attacks on mosques, churches, temples and synagogues, the UNAOC chief said that "we should not only address the immediate threats, but also take measures so that in the near future, fanatics would not be produced."

The UNAOC chief noted that the effort to get rid of hate speech, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, islamophobia and other forms of hatred takes time. "It might be medium-run or even long-run, but we must take action right now" by primarily reforming education and taking all other necessary measures.

A "culture of peace" must be introduced into schools and universities, and UNAOC has been discussing with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization so that curricula teaching young people to respect all cultures, civilizations and religions could soon be introduced into classrooms worldwide, Moratinos said.

Through popular and extensive education, people living in all types of civilizations could be living in peace with each other happily, as "we are human beings and can be friends, brothers and compatriots if we know how to respect each other," said the UNAOC chief.

The UNAOC chief expressed the hope that China, as one of the main actors in international relations, could help and support UNAOC so that he himself could "really implement" his agenda.