The Belt and Road Institute in Sweden organised a webinar on June 28th under the title “Decoupling or Bridging Civilizations: A Call for a Global Civilization Initiative” that brought together diplomats, former officials, and experts from China, India, and Europe
The speakers and audience discussed the following questions:
Are there common or universal values and principles that nations can agree upon to exist and build upon them to bridge the geopolitically induced widening gap between East and West and North and South today? Are there precedents for this type of dialog of civilizations that can be used as reference points? Can GCI and a genuine dialog of civilizations overcome the distorted view that “might makes right” and the powerful must inevitably dominate the rest? The combination of this lust for power together with an inherent belief in the egotistic nature of human beings has for far too long played a major role in spreading conflict and war. Zero-sum game mentality and imperialist policies no longer have a place in humanity’s future; rather respect for the dignity of diverse civilizations is the road to peace and economic development, or what President Xi calls “a community for a shared future for mankind”.
Speakers:
Stephen Brawer, Chairman of the Belt and Road Institute in Sweden, Opening remarks. (Watch video!)
H.E. Mr. Cui Aimin, Ambassador of The People’s Republic of China to Sweden (watch keynote speech).
H.E. Mr. Dmitry Mironchik, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to Sweden. (Watch video!)
Erik Solheim, Vice President Green Belt and Road Coalition, Former Executive Director of the UN Environment Program, Norway. (Watch video!)
Professor Jessie Qing Li, Executive President, Guangdong Institute of International Strategies (GIIS), China. (Watch video!)
Professor Faisal Ahmed, Professor of International Business New Delhi, India. (Watch Video!)
Mr. Lev Panin, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), Russia. (Watch video!)
Hussein Askary, Vice-Chairman of the Belt and Road Institute in Sweden. (Watch video!)
Professor Li Xing, Professor of Politics and Society at Aalborg University, Denmark. (Watch video!)
Stephen Brawer, Chairman, Belt and Road Institute in Sweden. (Watch video!)
Discussion Session. (Watch the video!)