The Global Peace Depends on the Peace and Harmony of Every Country, Region, City, Village, Family

Natalia Khalturina

?

The Global Peace Depends on the Peace and Harmony of Every Country, Region, City, Village, Family

Natalia Khalturina

Secretary General, the Russian Committee of Solidarity and Cooperation with the Peoples of Asia and Africa

Honorable Wan Qishan,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my pleasure and honor to attend and to be given the privilege to speak at this prominent event on behalf of the Russian Committee of Solidarity and Cooperation with the Peoples of Africa and Asia and its President Mr. Umakhanov. We would like to thank the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament, the People’s Government of Jiangsu Province and the United Nations system in China that have jointly organized the international Day of Peace in Nanjing.

This year’s theme for the International Day of Peace 2018 in Nanjing is “Work Together to Build a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind & a World of Lasting Peace and Universal Security”. We all agree that peace is the ultimate requirement for assuring the mutual benefit and development, progress and evolution, by applying win-win approach in all the initiatives globally. It is our firm belief that it is our everyday mutual effort, which is vital in attaining what we all see as the harmony and peace on our planet and between our nations. Moreover, while in reality, like in every human relationship, there are differences of views and disputes, it is so imperative to focus on rather what unites us and brings us together in the today’s volatile international context. Therefore, the more we create the platforms and work on various projects in the different spheres of our lives and economies together, the better ties we establish for lasting peace and security.

(It is always hard or at least harder to destroy something that you took part in building).

In this respect, the activity of people’s diplomacy and public organizations play a great role in consolidating peace and international security as well as for development of friendly ties between nations. We, at the Russian Committee of Solidarity and Cooperation with the Peoples of Africa and Asia, respectably carry on the best traditions of cooperation with African and Asian countries, established over six decades ago. During the Soviet times, the committee had made a fundamental impact on decolonization, freedom and independency struggles of peoples of African and Asian countries. The Committee’s activities over the years helped the intercultural and humanitarian exchange, as well as the enhancement of trust and confidence between our nations.

Taking on the traditions, history, experience and achievements of our soviet colleagues, we strive to reach a number of set goals while facing the challenges of the modern world.

One of our organizations goals, that especially echoes with this year’s International Peace day, is to promote human rights and civil liberties protection, democracy, freedom of conscience and press, social protection, mutual acceptance and constructive interaction between religions and cultures, friendship and solidarity between peoples living in the Russian Federation and Asia and Africa for the purposes of their well-being and prosperity.

We see it as another objective of ours as to support the cause of peace and disarmament, contribute to the prevention and elimination of conflicts, stand against racial and national discrimination, provide full support to the UN peacekeeping constructive mission on the global stage, and participate within its powers in projects and initiatives aimed at solving problems of Asia and Africa. While achieving this particular goal we look at accomplishing this task primarily through the prism of solidarity and paying more attention with the social factors and drivers.

In June 2017, our Committee held the conference, which was attended by 250 participants, including prominent politicians, diplomats, orientalists, international journalists, and cultural figures, who met to discuss the strengthening and development of social and political ties with Asian and African countries. One of the key speakers of the conference was Mr. Li Hui, the Chinese Ambassador to Russia, who reasonably noted that due to its geographical location, Russia has the unique advantages when it comes to the contact with counties of Asia and Africa. Mr. Li Hui also underlined that China and Russia have the common position and goal in building profound friendly relationships with countries of Asia and Africa. Our countries positions coincide in our intention to maintain peace, stability and development in the regions.

Moreover, as the continuation of the dialogue between our countries and its public organizations, we were very happy and honored to welcome the delegation of the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament, led by Mr. Zhou Li in Moscow and St. Petersburg in May this year.

The meetings in Moscow were conducted on a high level and included, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council (the upper chamber of the Federal Assembly, the Russian parliament), Iliyas Magomed-Salamovich Umakhanov, who is in fact the RCSCAA President; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Leonidovich Bogdanov; Academic Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Chairman of the RCSCAA Expert Council Vitaly Vyacheslavovich Naumkin.

During this visit and meetings in the governmental and academic institutions, there was a chance to discuss the issues of bilateral cooperation between Russia and China. It was stressed that the current high level of comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and China require further enhancement of collaboration between public organizations. Therefore, we have agreed to maintain partnership and exchange information on the struggle for peace, strengthening systems of regional and international security and solidarity of peoples.

So, today there are participants from various organizations and countries present at this observance of the International day of Peace, and we would like to express our gratitude for the enormous contribution to the aspiration to build and maintain the World peace.

We should all further aim at that best possible consensus in the international relationships establishment. It is possible only based on mutual respect, open dialogue and on achieving the balance of interests. And yet again, the more we work together, shoulder to shoulder on common initiatives, whether economic, social or cultural, the closer our agendas become and the tighter our bond is going to be.

It is a universal truth that the global peace depends on the peace and harmony of every country, region, city, village, family and in fact each soul. Therefore, it’s our sincere desire that at the beginning and at the end of each day, every one of us has the peace at home, harmony in our souls, knowing that we have acted with a kind heart.

Thus, simply due to the nature, women today play the key role in establishment of a culture of peace, the humanization of international relations and the formation of a dimension for the free dialogue of nations that aim to ensure the harmonious development of mankind. Moreover, right now the Second Eurasian Women’s Forum is being opened in St. Petersburg, where the top female leaders from politics, governments, international public and private organizations and global institutions gather together to address a number urgent issues, while also honoring the seventieth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights by the UN General Assembly.

And even almost 7 000 km apart (from St. Petersburg to Nanjing) we appear to focus on similar questions and problems, and it is sign of our joint effort on the path of building a World of Lasting Peace.

Finally, I wish the Commemoration of the International Day of Peace 2018 a complete success!

Thank you very much for your attention!