(W.E. Talk) Irina Bokova: Cultural Exchanges Create a Space of Trust for Global Dialogue

Exclusive interview with Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO and Senior Advisor to the Board of the EU-Asia Centre.

By Han Yu & Li Jiayin

ECNS – The second Orchid Awards ceremony was held in Beijing on July 10, 2025, where Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO and Senior Advisor to the Board of the EU-Asia Centre, received the Lifetime Honor Award.

Irina Bokova. (The Orchid Awards Secretariat‌)

In an exclusive interview with China News Service’s “W.E. Talk”, Bokova reflected on key initiatives during her tenure, shared her observations on China’s role in global cultural exchanges. She firmly believes that cultural exchanges can create a space for trust in global dialogue. She also calls for, in an era where climate change and geopolitical conflicts intertwine, to continue using culture as a bridge to rebuild trust and reach consensus.

The following is a summary of the interview transcript:

CNS: During your tenure as UNESCO Director-General (2009–2017), you consistently emphasized the value that “cultural diversity and dialogue are the driving forces of human civilization.” How did this value guide UNESCO’s strategic direction?

Bokova: Thank you for this question. I believe it touches upon UNESCO’s core mission and responds to the fundamental purpose for which the organization was founded—to safeguard cultural diversity and promote intercultural dialogue.

UNESCO was established to protect cultural diversity worldwide and convey the idea that “we all belong to humanity”. We may practice different religions, come from different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds, but ultimately, we are all human beings. In 2014, President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at UNESCO headquarters, stressing that “today’s world is composed of different cultures, ethnicities, skin colors, religions, and social systems. The peoples of all countries are bound together in a community of shared destiny”. I believe this view is highly consistent with UNESCO’s mission.

As one of the earliest specialized agencies of the United Nations, UNESCO will celebrate its 80th anniversary this year. One of its central missions is to build intellectual and moral solidarity among humankind on the basis of shared values. I see cultural diversity as the core of these shared values.

On July 10, 2025, the second Orchid Awards ceremony was held in Beijing. Irina Bokova received the Lifetime Honor Award. The photo shows Bokova in Beijing on July 9, during an exclusive interview with China News Service’s W.E. Talk. In the interview, she reflected on key initiatives promoted during her tenure and shared her insights on China’s role in global cultural exchanges. (CNS)

CNS: You promoted the inclusion of 11 Chinese cities in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and facilitated the inscription of nine Chinese cultural heritage sites onto the World Heritage List. How do you view China’s role in advancing creative industries and cultural heritage protection? How has this influenced global cultural diversity?

Bokova: This not only reflects China’s emphasis on its own development, particularly in promoting creativity and culture, but also demonstrates its openness and willingness to engage in global cooperation.

During my tenure at UNESCO--and even now--I often point out that China is one of the best examples of how cultural and creative industries can drive economic growth. Today, cultural and creative industries are among the fastest-growing sectors of the Chinese economy, contributing about 4.5% of GDP. They play a vital role in employment, innovation, and social development. This is why China has consistently supported our efforts to include culture in the sustainable development agenda.

China’s active role continues today. Last year, several Chinese sites were added to the World Heritage List. Among them, the inscription of Beijing’s Central Axis is particularly significant. This heritage site offers an innovative perspective that broadens our understanding of “world heritage”. The Central Axis extends nearly eight kilometers, encompassing multiple groups of architectural complexes and public spaces, and illustrates the continuity of urban development in China from ancient times to the present. This kind of urban heritage expression may be adopted by other countries in the future. It is precisely through such contributions that China has continuously expanded the scope of world heritage. I am very pleased about this.

CNS: Why do you place such importance on China’s cooperation with UNESCO? In your view, what is China’s role in global cultural exchange?

Bokova: I am deeply grateful for China’s support of UNESCO, because I believe they both share the same vision. China has shaped a model: when a nation and its people rise, they do so with deep pride in their own culture and heritage. With its civilization spanning thousands of years, China is itself the best proof of this.

China firmly believes in UNESCO’s mission and values culture as essential for sustainable development and dialogue. Together, we have carried out many outstanding projects.

It is also important to note that China does not treat these achievements as “domestic matters” alone, but actively engages in global exchange—for example, through museum cooperation, cultural heritage protection, academic exchange, and scholarship programs. I see this as a concrete embodiment of the concept of a community with a shared future for humankind. To achieve this, we must know one another and respect one another.

CNS: In the face of new challenges such as climate change, digital transformation, and global migration, which areas and strategies should UNESCO prioritize in promoting cultural diversity and exchange?

Bokova: UNESCO must first pay closer attention to the ethical dimensions behind these challenges. We have issued recommendations on the ethics of climate change and artificial intelligence, but much more needs to be done. The world is changing rapidly, but we must not neglect the “moral” aspect—something that is sorely lacking yet greatly needed today.

Second, education. What we need is not only basic education, but also value-based education: education in cultural literacy, sustainable development, peace, and mutual understanding. Such education should begin early, equipping young people with the capacity to understand and respect differences in a globalized environment. Without this kind of “global cultural literacy”, peace will be out of reach.

UNESCO should also encourage more exchanges among young people. Young people are often less burdened by prejudice, making them the best candidates for cross-cultural dialogue.

CNS: With local conflicts flaring up around the world and unilateralism and isolationism on the rise, you have often stressed that intercultural dialogue is “the driving force of human civilization.” In the current context, how can intercultural dialogue help bridge divides and support the safe development of the world?

Bokova: The world is in a very fragile state. We are witnessing repeated geopolitical conflicts and a tendency toward isolationism. I have never believed that this is how the future world should be.

First, we face global challenges: climate change, biodiversity loss, and the global spread of pandemics. These challenges transcend political and geographical boundaries. Second, we are seeing deepening global inequality, with some countries trapped in poverty and the problem of climate refugees becoming increasingly acute. Unless we work together, these global challenges will remain unsolved and only worsen. Global challenges demand global responses. This requires multilateralism, with UNESCO and other international platforms and mechanisms playing key roles.

Moreover, cultural exchange can create a space of trust within global dialogue. The world needs more trust and more mutual understanding. It is within this “space of trust” that people can begin to address more complex political issues. I believe this is the idea behind President Xi Jinping’s Global Civilization Initiative proposed two years ago. What impressed me was that he did not present it in isolation, but linked it with two other major initiatives—the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. Connecting these three together is the key to achieving world stability, fostering mutual understanding, and ultimately realizing the peace that we urgently need today.

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