Director-General's remarks for the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations

International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations
Monday, 8 June 2026 at 3.00 p.m. 
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Ambassador Jia [Mr. JIA Guide, Permanent Representative of China]
Ambassador Ren [Mr. REN Yisheng, Vice Secretary-General of the International Confucian Association]
Ms. Saulo [Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization]
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to join you today to mark the International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency Ambassador Jia Guide and to the Permanent Mission of China for organizing this important event, and to Celeste Saulo for hosting us.  

Established by the United Nations General Assembly two years ago, this Day reminds us that all civilizational achievements constitute the collective heritage of humankind, and that respect for civilizational diversity is essential. It also reaffirms the crucial role of dialogue in maintaining global peace, advancing shared development, enhanced human well-being, and achieving collective progress.

In today’s context, this message carries particular urgency. The international community is facing a growing range of interconnected challenges, while divisions and mistrust persist. In such an environment, the absence of dialogue can lead to misunderstanding, reinforce stereotypes, and deepen existing tensions.

By contrast, open, honest and empathetic dialogue offers a practical path forward. It creates space for listening and meaningful exchange and fosters relationships based on trust. It allows different perspectives to be expressed and understood, helping to bridge divides and support peaceful coexistence.

This spirit has been at the core of the UN’s activities. For over two decades, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations has been central to advancing these efforts. By bringing together governments, organizations and individuals across cultural and social boundaries, it has worked to counter growing global fractures. As Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High-Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations, remarked recently: “Humanity has shown—again and again—that crisis can awaken courage, and division can be overcome by dialogue.”

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dialogue is not only a tool of multilateralism, it is also one of its founding principles.  The United Nations itself was built on the conviction that dialogue enables cooperation, allows for the peaceful resolution of differences, and fosters a more inclusive and interconnected world.

As we mark this International Day, I invite us all to consider how we can further strengthen intercultural dialogue at all levels, so as to build trust, encourage solidarity, and respond, together, to the challenges of an increasingly complex global landscape.

Thank you.