Dialogue of civilizations offers benefits in long term

Memories of my just-completed trip to a number of Asian countries convinced me that the upcoming Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations in Beijing is set to reap rich fruits that will benefit the area's development over the long run.

As a member of a delegation of Chinese journalists, I managed to cover a handful of cities of Vietnam, India and Myanmar within 10 days. While exchanging ideas with local journalists and other people, I was impressed with the pride they showed in their respective civilizations. Driving or walking through the broad streets or narrow lanes, one couldn't help but be amazed by the timeworn structures that are hundreds or thousands of years old. They stand there to remind us of the splendid civilization that has survived until today.

Asia is the mother of a large number of ancient civilizations. When the babies were born, they looked very much alike - in fact I was a little shocked to find that the stone and bone tools and weapons of the Neolithic Age as exhibited in these countries' museums are very similar to those of the same age in China. Then, because of geography, religion or politics, civilizations in Asia developed in different directions, sometimes so different that we wonder if they are from the same mother.