An Open Letter to the representatives of The First World Conference of Global Civilization

Secretary-General of the Organization for Promoting Global Civilization Secretary-General of the First World Conference on Global Civilization

On behalf of the Organization for Promoting Global Civilization and the preparatory committee of the First World Conference on Global Civilization, I would like to express my sincere welcome to you all!

Our meeting here would not have been possible without the generous support of the Australian Commonwealth Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, who have helped tremendously with the issue of visas. I would like to take the opportunity of this conference to express my gratitude for their help in this respect.

Our meeting here would not have been possible without the cooperation and team work spirit of the chairman and his wife, the vice-chairmen and colleagues of the secretariat of the preparative committee.

Our meeting here would not have been possible without the generous and unconditional financial support from mainland China - in particular the Henghua Advertising Company from Guangzhou; the Beijing Zhengping Solicitors; Yinguang Plastics Co. from Henan, Ltd., to name only a few.

Last but not least, our meeting here would not have been possible without the long time free services provided by our numerous friends in Australia, China, Russia, Singapore, Iran and the UK etc.

Dear Friends,

The 21 century, which has only just begun, is definitely not a peaceful one. The dominating theme of last century's hymn is still in the air: "Me! Me! Me!"… "Money! Money! Money!"…"Murder! Murder! Murder"… When looking at the world surrounding us, we can see: The Relationship between man and nature is worsening instead of improving. The gap between the nations is widening instead of becoming narrower and shallower. Conflicts between different religions are aggravating instead of being eliminated. What is even more obvious is the increasingly severe incompatibility between black and white people, white and yellow people, yellow and brown people, men and women, famous and ordinary people, experienced wise men and immature young men. While the phenomenon is taking a worsening course, it is hard to specify who is in the right and who is in the wrong. It is hard to find an arbitrator, should we turn east or west for solutions? There are no satisfactory leaders.

 This is a clear expression of the speedy process of globalization, which on the one hand widens people's visions and minds, but on the other hand narrows their thoughts and feelings. It proves that the linear development of modernization doesn't necessarily push people toward a more civilized status, but instead can throw them back into barbarism. Clearly the trend towards global modernization clashes with traditional ethnic as well as national heredity. What shall we do? Return to old confinements? Lock ourselves up? Live behind closed doors - each going our own way? Or do we have to mutually adjust our respective cultural models to the extent that others can accept them in the process of global modernization?

 All of these problems are inevitable considering the logic behind the course of human development until today.  They are common problems that we are subjected.  This is an academic problem as well as a real life problem.  These are problem that not only political and religious leaders of today must confront, but they are also problems we as scholars and common people must answer.  Precisely because it is a global problem affecting us all and for which we all have our own individual understandings, we have come to meet here today from more than 40 countries from every continent of the world.

Friends,

Actually, there are various differences among the participants of this conference, differences between white, black, yellow or brown people, differences between oriental and occidental cultures, differences between citizens from economically developed countries and developing countries, differences between the rich and famous of top 500 world enterprises and the penniless scholars, differences between world famous academicians and regular scholars, differences between the presidents of countries and regular citizens, and differences between men and women. Focussing on any one of these random difference would leave us red in the face after heated discussions that could last 3, 13 or 30 days.  Unfortunately, we only have three days at this conference, and in any case, to do so would leave our conference indistinguishable from other ordinary international meetings.

We do not mean to deny these differences nor do we mean to be controlled by them. Because, in fact, these differences mask deeper and more meaningful commonalities than readily apparent.  What might appear to be fields of conflict may actually provide the space for mutual understanding.  Let us take this opportunity to take these "common points" as the basis for "mutual study and discussion" carried out in a calm and rational way.

"Seeking great unity despite minor differences" is one of the coined phrases often heard in contemporary international relations. This is correct, because only if we look at the minor differences from the perspective of the great unity will those minor differences begin to fade and will that great unity become larger and larger.  Unfortunately, the same mistake is being made today as it has been for the last thousands of years.  People always consider themselves correct, they consider their own ideas as superb and like to find fault in others.  In fact, truth is not usually born of debate, neither in tit for tat, nor in implacability.  Sure it cannot be produced in double-talk and genteel diplomatic talks. On the contrary, mutual tolerance is truth itself, mutual sincerity is truth itself, and our search for unity despite minor differences is truth itself.  Only if we start from this kind of truth, can we discover new truths and find a common truth.

So, here I have a seemingly very naive suggestion:

During the three days of our meeting, altogether 18 hours, let us all try to forget our colors, forget our nationalities, forget our social positions, forget our habits and leave behind our cultural clashes.  Let us try to treat each other as a "people of the globe", "people of the world" and "people of freedom" during the short eighteen hours of this meeting.

Primarily, we are individuals, members of humanity, and at the same time a small cell within society sharing common needs and desires.  Only secondarily, are we oriental or occidental, white or black, men or women, rich or poor, immortals or commoners.  Thus, why can't we simply discuss the common topics of human concern with other human beings in a humane way from a human point of view.

Let us forget our selfish habits and realize our true selves.  In this way we might be able to understand what Westerners mean by "freedom" and "democracy", what Easterners mean by "harmony" and "great unity," what people from the Middle East mean by "dedication" and "benevolence."  Perhaps in this way we will be able to love own our motherlands and local cultures while also respecting those of others.  Perhaps in this way, too, we will be able to work out the unique new broad-minded ideas that global civilization affords us, those ideas which have brought us here today to gather for this conference.

Friends, OPG's goal is to "care for humanity and construct a new civilization."  The guiding purpose of OPGC is to advocate the global civilization's spirit of "the unity of all things", the "unity of humanity", and "the unity of the human and the spiritual form."  According to the OPGC plan, the first five conferences will be held bi-annually. From the sixth conference, the meetings will be held every four years.  The first world congress, that is to say, this session, takes as its main theme the establishment of the concept of "global civilization."  In the year 2003, the second congress will take as its main theme "the unity of all things," focusing on the relationship between global civilization and the human ecological environment.  In the year 2005, the third world congress will take as its main theme "the unity of humanity," focusing on the problems of global civilization of the world order.  In the year 2007, the fourth world congress will take as its main theme "the unity of the human and the spiritual form," focusing on the problems of global civilization and religious belief.  In the year 2009, the fifth world congress will take as its main theme the relationship between global and local civilizations, one of the most sensitive topics of the century which has drawn great concern from the people of the world.  We are confident that by the sixth world congress in the year 2011, after tens of hard work, we will all be able to sense more clearly the meaning of the above-mentioned "very naive suggestion", and will be able to more easily understand the importance of initiating global civilization.

 Therefore, this conference is the starting point on the long road towards global civilization.  In this we are realizing the dreams of the Buddha and Gandhi of India, Laozi and Confucius of China, Mohammed of Islam, Rousseau of France, Kant of Germany, and Lincoln and Roosevelt of the USA.  This is also the task they have assigned to us as human beings in the 21st century. Let us comply with the times, join hands, and take up this responsibility.  For the future of humanity, for the children of the future, and also for ourselves, we must be willing to shoulder these necessary burdens and make the necessary sacrifices.

Please allow me once again to welcome you all here today!