UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Saturday that differences and similarities of cultures offer opportunities to advance peace and development.
"As globalization, technology, and migration continue to bring cultures together, we should understand that our differences and our underlying similarities can offer invaluable opportunities to advance peace and development for the betterment of humanity," said Ban while delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the China Arts Global Tour, sponsored by Jian Nan Chun, a signature maker of baijiu, Chinese liquors made from grain.
"Regardless of our traditions and histories, we are all conjoined by something inherently greater," said the former UN chief, who is now the chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, one of the many hats he is wearing.
Speaking to a full house of some 200 guests from different cultural backgrounds at the UN headquarters in New York, Ban said that "while we may hail from different cultures and backgrounds, we share this one planet as a single family of humanity. We are all global citizens with similar hopes and dreams, struggles and hardships."
Noting that he was born and raised in a culture "heavily influenced by Chinese arts and philosophy," Ban said he sometimes practices calligraphy, as it centers his mind and provides him with great balance, reflection and clarity.
He said he firmly believes that "culture can serve as one of the most important tools in promoting sustainable development, building inclusive societies, and forging guiding values."
"Culture crosses borders, builds bridges, and brings the world together through dialogue and mutual understanding," he said.
"Culture is what makes who we are and what shape our identity," he added.
Placing culture at the heart of development policies is the only way to ensure a human-centered, inclusive and equitable development, the former UN chief added.
Speaking of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of the UN's most significant achievements, Ban pointed out that if the SDGs are grouped around the economic, social and environmental objectives as the three pillars of sustainable development, then "culture and creativity contribute to each of these pillars transversally."
The former secretary-general also called on the international community to protect culture itself.
"Cultural heritage is under threat as a result of conflict, climate change, terrorism, looting and aggressive industrialization," he said, stressing that "we must increase the urgency of our responses in the protection of intangible cultural heritage."
"We need to combat terrorism and violent extremism, address their root causes, and build peace in vulnerable areas where extremist groups seek to erase history and identity through the destruction of cultural heritage," he said.
Highlighting the importance of "scaling-up critical ties between nations and societies," Ban said that "our interconnectedness and cultural diversity can offer consequential opportunities to build peace in the minds of men and women."
"Culture is an essential element in promoting tolerance, understanding, and dialogue around the world, both between and within nations," he concluded.
