Former Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova said the Global Civilizations Initiative and its advocacy are a gift to UNESCO and the world during a panel discussion session at the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting in Beijing on Thursday.

The Global Civilizations Initiative was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2023. It advocates for respect for the diversity of civilizations and the shared values of humanity, as well as the importance of innovation and the inheritance of civilizations. It also encourages stronger international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.