In a world of intertwined challenges and accelerating transformation, mutual respect and understanding among civilizations and cultures remains vital to bridging divides.
Against this backdrop, the China-proposed resolution of establishing the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations was officially adopted at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2024. This significant move demonstrates the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) in action, creating a crucial platform for promoting exchanges and dialogue among civilizations and upholding world peace and development.
The Hehe Civilization Forum, initiated by the International Confucian Association (ICA), represents a concerted effort to promote Confucianism and broader Chinese culture, advance global civilization exchange and mutual learning, and better safeguard world peace and common development. It fully embodies the vision of the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, which will be celebrated for the first time on June 10.
Also on June 10, this year's Hehe Civilization Forum will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, under the theme "Harmonious and Coexistence: Promoting the Prosperity and Progress of Civilizations". The forum will seek to build a consensus for addressing the challenges of the age through in-depth dialogue among diverse civilizations, exploring effective solutions to common challenges facing humanity, and contribute Eastern wisdom to global civilization dialogue and common development.
Co-hosted by the ICA and the Thai-Chinese Cultural and Relationship Council, the forum will include an opening ceremony, guest speeches and a keynote forum. Nearly 200 participants from China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other regions worldwide will attend the event, including distinguished scholars in studies of civilizational dialogue, officials from international organizations, former political leaders, international entrepreneurs, university presidents, and outstanding young scholars from various disciplines.
In addition, four parallel sub-forums will be held under the themes of "Dialogue among Civilizations and Global Development," "Technological Innovation and Cultural Exchange," "Youth and Global Sustainable Development," and "Cultural Inheritance and Economic Development", allowing participants to explore innovative pathways for mutual learning among civilizations.
The term "Hehe", meaning harmony and coexistence, embodies the traditional Chinese cultural philosophy of "valuing harmony while seeking common ground". Since its inception in 2020, the Hehe forums have featured 89 speakers who have engaged in thematic discussions across five main topics and 10 sub-topics. It has evolved into a significant platform for cross-civilizational dialogue, academic exchange, and intellectual integration.
The 2025 forum will feature keynote speeches and four parallel forums, aiming to provide harmonious solutions to better addressing global challenges and promoting the progress of human civilization. By convening on the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, the forum is not only serves as a concrete practice of the GCI but also an important initiative to deepen cultural exchanges and mutual learning among countries worldwide, and promote the common development of diverse civilizations.
To mark the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand and the Golden Jubilee of China-Thailand Friendship, this year's forum will further promote cultural exchanges between China and Thailand, as well as between China and ASEAN and beyond, injecting fresh momentum into the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
