"The barriers to peace are complex and steep. No one country can solve them alone," Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, once said. The big question for us all is how can peace, as important as it is, be forged and maintained? 

September 21, marked the International Day of Peace, celebrating the power of international solidarity. The ideals behind the day have never been so important as the world faces an unprecedented number of challenges: the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula; terrorism and extremism fuelling greater and wider violence; and domestic conflicts driving more people away from their homeland. 

In celebration of the International Day of Peace, the 2017 Peace Garden Peace Festival was held in Beijing, co-organized by the China World Peace Foundation, Beijing International Peace Culture Foundation and UNESCO.

Dr. Hans d’Oville, an expert on strategic planning at the event, made the point that peace does not only entail the absence of wars, but also means cultures and societies coexisting with each other with mutual respect and understanding, despite differences between races, religions and languages. He also commented that the basic principles of peace should respect cultural and social differences, rather than being designed according to one single standard.

In this regard, as the second largest economy and a major political power, China’s efforts to keep peace should not be ignored, or, at least, not be misunderstood.

When explaining China’s contribution to global peace and stability, Sha Zukang, former Under Secretary General of the United Nations, referred to the Belt and Road Initiative, the establishment of the Asia Development Bank and the Silk Road Fund as major international public contributions from China. They are conducive to world’s peace and development, rather than so-called "geopolitical tools", as perceived by some countries.

Li Ruohong, President of the China World Peace Foundation, said at the event, peace is one of the most important concepts for the world to ponder on.