Belt and Road Initiative and Greater Eurasian Partnership
New Aspects for Intercultural Dialogue
Intercultural dialogue and the promotion of mutual understanding are key elements of multilateral cooperation among nations and cultures across the Eurasian continent, as well as on a global scale. Dialogue between cultures is a primary condition for contributing to peacemaking efforts and ensuring the sustainable development of humanity.
As we may see from history, building strong economies might not harmonious development and comprehensive success. Economic development is vital, but it will not succeed if education, scientific research, and the arts are ignored.
Multilateral cooperation between countries is especially important now in the 21st century, as the world faces serious challenges and changes in all spheres of public life: technical, geopolitical, and others. Mutual support, understanding, and benefit are hardly possible without an open exchange of views and opinions between different cultures.
Dialogue is essential for avoiding conflicts and enhancing inclusive progress. Throughout history different countries have always influenced each other, and this influence may finally become completely positive, profound, and beneficial.
A good example of intercultural development is China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which addresses the interests and expectations of many parties and stakeholders. In this initiative China is going to use its experience in construction and infrastructure investment for helping other countries. At the same time, as a part of this initiative, many new cultural centers in countries along the Silk Road will be built. This two-way initiative is an example of how practical and technical solutions can also strengthen cultural understanding and exchange, creating a stronger bond between countries.
Various programs and initiatives of the Eurasian Economic Union and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) contribute to global economic development, but cultural exchange within these institutions is of the same importance. Adding and expanding these initiatives within the framework of the Greater Eurasian Partnership, guarantees the comprehensive development intercultural cooperation.
Bridges between cultures should be treated as the first priority, and respective ‘cultural infrastructure’ should be designed and built to prepare the grounds for strengthening relations and future collaborative development. In order to facilitate mutual understanding between people, we urgently need to establish ‘warm and hearty contacts’, that may be created only by means of cooperation in science, education, culture and art. Economic progress will be a natural consequence of such cooperation. Such initiatives, developed in tandem with economic projects, will make the formation of a greater Eurasian Civilizational Partnership possible.
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