The Academy for International Business Officials, under China’s Ministry of Commerce, on Wednesday opened a two-week Seminar on Ethnic Policy and Practice for Belt and Road countries, calling for stronger cross-cultural understanding, governance cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

The opening ceremony brought together officials, scholars and participants from countries across Asia and Africa to discuss ethnic governance, cultural integration and development experiences.

Wu Wei, the director of Executive Department III at AIBO, described the seminar as a platform for mutual learning and international cooperation.

“On behalf of the Academy for International Business Officials and in my own name, I extend my sincerest and warmest welcome to all participants who have travelled from afar to join this seminar,” Mr Wu said.

“This seminar is a journey of cross-border experience sharing, civilisational dialogue, and friendship building.”

He said countries, despite differences in history, culture and governance systems, shared common aspirations of ethnic unity, development and social stability.

“Countries differ in their history, culture, ethnic composition, and development context, yet maintaining ethnic unity, protecting diverse civilisations, advancing common development, and achieving social stability are shared goals and aspirations of all countries worldwide,” he said.

Mr Wu said people-to-people connectivity, mutual learning among civilisations and governance cooperation had become essential pillars of Belt and Road cooperation.

He said China had developed practical approaches to ethnic governance suited to its national conditions.

“China has explored and persevered in forging a path of ethnic development that suits its national conditions and embodies pluralism and inclusiveness,” he said.

According to him, China’s experience includes the protection of equal rights, the promotion of ethnic unity, the preservation of culture, and the improvement of governance systems.

“We have developed a series of practical, effective, replicable and scalable governance experiences in ensuring equal rights for all ethnic groups, promoting unity and progress, and fostering interaction and integration,” he stated.

Mr Wu added that the seminar’s curriculum was designed around innovation in ethnic policies, governance practices and mutual learning among civilisations.

The two-week programme will feature lectures, field visits, panel discussions, and cultural exchange activities in Beijing and Wuhan, focusing on ethnic governance, rural revitalisation, and cultural integration within the Belt and Road framework. 

(NAN)