Address at the Opening Ceremony for Commemoration of the International Day of Peace 2018

Ma Biao, Vice-Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament

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Address at the Opening Ceremony for Commemoration of the International Day of Peace 2018

Ma Biao, Vice-Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament

Dear and Respected Vice President Wang Qishan,

His Excellency U. Enkhtubsin, Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen, friends:

It is a great pleasure to gather with friends from all over the world in Nanjing, a beautiful city of international peace, to attend the observance of the International Day of Peace 2018. On behalf of the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the distinguished guests and representatives attending the observant event.

The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the observant event. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President of the PRC, sent a special congratulatory letter to the event. Wang Qishan, Vice President of the PRC, is present and will deliver a keynote speech, which fully demonstrates the love and perseverance of the CPC, the Chinese Government and the Chinese people for peace.

The United Nations has themed the International Day of Peace this year", which is of great significance. Over the past 70 years, mankind has made remarkable achievements in the unremitting struggles for peace. The force of peace has been growing and the mega-trend of peaceful development is irreversible. However, mankind still faces complex and severe challenges, the world is still far from tranquility, and there is still a long way to go to achieve the goal of peace for all to enjoy.

In line with the general trend of international peace and development and the common expectation of mankind, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposes to promote the construction of a community with a shared future for humankind. He hopes that people of all countries would work together to build a peaceful, tranquil, prosperous, open and beautiful world and turn their yearning for a better life into reality. Today, we hold the observance of the International Day of Peace to gather the wisdom of peoples of various countries in the world, jointly build a community with a shared future for humankind, and build a world of lasting peace and universal security. Here, I would like to share with you a few ideas as follows.

First, we should practice the new concept of security and strive to be a builder of world peace. Ideas lead action. The purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations need to be observed and the destiny of the world should be commanded by all countries. We should persist in resolving disputes through dialogue and consultation, seek peace through win-win cooperation, strive to forge partnerships without alignment, firmly establish a new concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and lay a solid foundation for peace. The Chinese people are well aware of the value of peace. China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development and continue to provide the world with greater peace dividends.

As representatives of non-governmental organizations around the world, we should actively disseminate and practice the new concept of security, and call on various governments, international organizations and peoples of all countries to jointly maintain and build peace, so that the torch of peace can be handed down from generation to generation.

Second, we should adhere to the new thinking of win-win cooperation and strive to be actors for common development. Development is the cornerstone of peace. Only development can eliminate the root causes of conflict. We should practice the people-centered development concept, adhere to innovation-driven, open and cooperative, inclusive and common development; eradicate poverty, improve people's livelihood, promote social fairness and justice, enhance people's sense of happiness and security, and consolidate the foundation of peace in the course of development. China is the "engine" for common development, and a large number of cooperation projects in the process of jointly building the Belt and Road are landing and taking root, promoting the common development and prosperity of various countries along the routes and constantly enhancing the peoples’ sense of gain.

As representatives of non-governmental organizations around the world, we should become actors for common development, oppose protectionism, assure the achievements of development to benefit more ordinary people, eliminate the root causes of war, and jointly build a beautiful world in which everyone can achieve development and enjoy peace.

Third, we should promote a new direction for civilizations exchanges and mutual learning and strive to be communicators for human civilizations. Inclusiveness is the condition for peace, and diversity of civilizations is the basic feature of the world. Civilizations exchange and integration are the inevitable trend of human progress and an important driving force to push forward world peace and development. China is a supporter of diversity of global civilizations, upholds an open and inclusive attitude and actively promotes mutual learning and harmonious coexistence among various civilizations.

People-to-people friendship and connectivity are the foundation for promoting world peace. As representatives of non-governmental organizations in various countries, we should actively carry out people-oriented cultural exchanges, and through every message, every email, and every gathering, increase positive energy for people-to-people connectivity. May the people-to-people communication transcend national, ideological and cultural boundaries, enhance mutual understanding and support among peoples of all countries, and strengthen the concept of peace in the minds of peoples of all countries in the world.

There is a Chinese proverb: "Everything comes from harmony, and strength comes from unity". I look forward to your in-depth exchanges, contributing wisdom, consolidating consensus and building up strength during this observant event, so as to make a positive contribution to the common construction of a community with a shared future for humankind and a world of lasting peace and universal security.

Thank you.