(Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, June 12, 2025)
(Lanka-e-News -21.June.2025, 11.10 PM)
Hon. Sun Chunlan, Presidentof International Confucian Association,
Hon. Chandana Abayarathna，Minister of State Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government,
Distinguished Sinologists, University Presidents, Scholars, and Colleagues,
Ladies, Gentlemen, and Friends,
Good morning to you all!
Today, we gather in Colombo—the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”—at this Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, a symbol of friendship and cooperation, to jointly inaugurate the 2nd South Asian SinologistsConference& Civilization Dialogue Between Chinese and Sri Lankan Scholars.This grand event is co-hosted by the Sri Lanka-China Association, the World Center for Sinology, and the University of Kelaniya, with the strong guidance and generous support of organizations including the International Confucian Association. The conference aims to focus on China-Sri Lanka civilization dialogue and deeply explore innovative pathways for mutual learning among civilizations and regional cooperation. On behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka, I extend our highest respect and sincere greetings to the International Confucian Association, the organizers, supporting institutions, and all distinguished guests present today!
At present, the world is undergoing profound transformations unseen in a century. Humanity shares a common destiny, and mutual learning among civilizationsendures. Only by replacing estrangement with dialogue, resolving conflicts with wisdom, and enabling diverse cultures to achieve symbiotic coexistence through exchange and shared prosperity through inclusiveness, can we forge a collective force to address global challenges.In 2023, President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, advocating the promotion of common values of humanity. Last year, the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution co-sponsored by China, Sri Lanka, and 81 other nations, designating June 10 as the "International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations". The day before yesterday marked the inaugural observance of this special day, making today's event a continuation of global civilization dialogue.Civilization dialogue weaves bonds of peace, powers the engine of development, and builds bridges of friendship.Today, all Sinologists present are the torchbearers and ferrymen of civilization. We rejoice in witnessing Sri Lankan scholars translate the Analects of Confucius into Sinhala in its entirety, allowing the Eastern wisdom of "Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire" to resonate across the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, Chinese teams have restored Sri Lanka’s epic The Legend of Mayura Sandesaya (Peacock God), revitalizing South Asia’s unique cultural DNA. These vivid examples powerfully demonstrate the vibrant vitality of civilization exchange. AsPresident Sun Chunlan has consistently emphasized: Civilization diversity is not a barrier but the wellspring of human progress.
China and South Asian countries are geographically proximate, sharing a time-honored history of exchanges. Throughout history, the civilizations of China and South Asia engaged in mutual exchange, learning, and inspiration, creating a wealth of civilization achievements and setting a paradigm for global civilization dialogue. As distinguished representatives of Eastern civilizations, China and Sri Lanka exemplify the essence of civilization dialogue through three "unwavering commitments":
Unwavering Commitment to Peaceful Engagement. From the 5th century AD, when Sri Lankan bhikkhuni Tissara led a monastic delegation to China to transmit Buddhist precepts to Chinese nuns, to the 15thcentury voyages of Zheng He’s fleet to Ceylon, where stone inscriptions of peace were left behind, the radiant legacy of the Silk Road has perpetually illuminated the peoples of both nations.
Unwavering Commitment to Standing Together Through Adversity. The 1952 Rice-Rubber Pact—breaking Western blockades through "rice for rubber"—wrote a golden chapter in South-South cooperation, forging an eternal bond of solidarity between our two countries.
Unwavering Commitment to Innovative Mutual Learning. Today, the Colombo Port City and Hambantota Port, with their modern port management, digital logistics, and smart urban development, stand as dual cornerstones of the Digital Silk Road, injecting robust momentum into our economic and social cooperation.
It is particularly noteworthy that during President Dissanayake’s visit to China in January, our leaders formally incorporated "deepening civilization mutual learning" into the China-Sri Lanka Joint Statement, announcing the joint pursuit of a China-Sri Lanka Community with a Shared Future. This reflects not only political consensus but also the shared aspiration of our peoples.To my knowledge, over 30,000 Sri Lankan primary and secondary students now study Chinese. Confucius Institutes and classrooms are spread across the island. In Quanzhou, Fujian, the restoration of the "Shijia Pit"—the ancestral home of Prince Kotte’s descendants—preserves a 500-year-old bloodline memory. Meanwhile, Chinese archaeological teams contribute to the restoration of Sri Lanka’s sacred city of Anuradhapura, revitalizing the splendor of ancient Buddhist heritage. These myriad threads of civilization exchange, like countless converging streams, flow into the mighty river of China-Sri Lanka friendship.
Hon.President Sun Chunlan and Esteemed Scholars,
From the solitary sail of Faxian’s maritime journey centuries ago, to today’s galaxy of ideas illuminating the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, history testifies: the depth of mutual learning among civilizations determines the height of human progress.We are delighted to announce two landmark achievements emerging from this conference:First, the establishment of the Sri Lanka Council of Sinologists under the World Center for Sinology. This pioneering institutional platform will catalyze academic exchanges in South Asian Sinology and China Studies, marking a firm stride toward building a more cohesive scholarly community. It will inject fresh vitality into the sustainable development and methodological innovation of Sinological research across South Asia.Second, the release of the seminal publication: The Debate on Sri Lanka-China Rubber Rice Agreement. This work will provide invaluable historical insights into our nations’ solidarity in breaking through blockades during adversity, further illuminating the timeless relevance of China-Sri Lanka friendship. It offers critical inspiration for exploring collaborative pathways between China and South Asia in building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind.These twin achievements epitomize our concrete actions to:Deepen civilization mutual learning, implement the Global Civilization Initiative, and advance the China-South Asia Community with a Shared Future.
In closing, let this dialogue be the seed of a new Bodhi Tree--growing a forest of wisdomin the shared soil of human civilization! Let us raise the sails of civilization dialogue, compose the symphony of cultural harmony, and co-create a brighter future for humanity.I wish the event a resounding success! Thank you!
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by (2025-06-21 21:01:02)
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