Working toward shared future of mutual respect

From the Fertile Crescent to the Indus Valley to the banks of the Yellow River, some of the world's earliest civilizations arose in Asia. Over the course of thousands of years, prosperous and diverse Asian civilizations nurtured innovations and technologies, boosted regional and global trade, and contributed to the development of global religions. Looking back over millennia of shared Asian experience and interaction via ancient networks such as the Silk Road, there is much to be learned about how individual cultures become enriched through mutual exchange and how shared values can in turn enrich the entire world.

Recognizing the fact that cross-cultural exchange and shared values are a conduit for shared prosperity has become a pressing priority in a contemporary political landscape where a few countries are increasingly turning inward and speak of building walls, not bridges.

All too often are we confronted with news of conflicts and saddened to see ever more lives shattered by violence and war. Many of these conflicts stem from fomenting intolerance and a hatred of diversity blind to the promise of a world built upon universal values of peace and respect. In these troubled times, dialogue is more relevant than ever to the United Nations 2030 Agenda, which recognizes that to achieve sustainable development, we should strive to build societies that are truly respectful and inclusive, where diversity is seen as an asset, not a threat.