Premier Li asks integration of civilizations

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang asks integration of world civilizations in a congratulatory letter to the Beijing Forum which opened on Friday, saying that he hopes the forum would spark new ideas.

As the world enters a state of greater global interdependence, different traditions, cultures and development should receive mutual understanding and respect, live in harmony and develop jointly, Li said in the letter.

An ancient country with "great traditions and a splendid civilization and a "vigorous developing nation", China is willing to build a modern, civilized country and contribute more to a harmonious and prosperous world, through more open and inclusive exchanges and cooperation with the rest of the world, he said.

After ten years, the forum has become an influential academic exchange platform both in China and overseas, said the letter, read by Vice-Premier Liu Yandong at the opening of the three-day 11th Beijing Forum.

Delegates are expected to share ideas conducive to the integration of different cultures at the forum which was themed "Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All -- China and World: Tradition, Reality and Future".

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke highly of the forum's attention to key global and regional issues in a congratulatory video. He said he hopes delegates will contribute to the realization of the millennium development goals.

The forum, initiated in 2004, is sponsored by Peking University and government agencies of various countries and aims at promoting the study of humanities and social sciences in Asia Pacific.