BEIJING: The burning of the Holy Quran in Sweden has been strongly condemned by China, which also declared that it “opposes all forms of Islamophobia and recognizes the significant contribution made by the Islamic civilization to the world.”
During a press conference, Mao Ning, the spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said that Muslims’ religious beliefs and freedom of speech should be respected, and neither should be exploited to stir up conflict or incite the clash of civilizations.
Mao was reacting to the Holy Quran desecration incident in Sweden, which drew harsh criticism from Muslim and Arab nations.
China promotes inclusivity, respect
She asserted that China has consistently promoted inclusivity, respect, and understanding amongst various civilizations and steadfastly opposed extremist acts that target other people’s religious convictions and lead to a clash of civilizations.
Mao remarked that the Global Civilization Initiative, presented by China, encouraged mutual understanding, equality, inclusivity, and conversation among civilizations and allowed for the transcendence of cultural differences, conflicts, and superiority complexes through mutual understanding and inclusiveness.
According to Mao, China is prepared to collaborate with the international community to advance the Global Civilization Initiative’s principles, implement practical measures to foster inter-civilizational discourse, and jointly protect the diversity of the world’s civilizations.
APP—
