The culture ministers attending the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing called on ASEM members to increase dialogue among diverse cultures and civilizations in a bid to wipe out misunderstanding and conflicts, thus to prevent terrorism and exclusiveness.

At the ASEM Conference on Cultures and Civilizations, which opened in Beijing Wednesday, ministers and officials from 26 ASEM members warned of the increasingly grave threats to non-traditional security, such as the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States and the Bali bombings in October last year.

They claimed that the radical reaction to the globalization in some countries led to aggravated violence and terrorism against the background of unbalanced economic development and cultural misunderstanding.

Cultural diversity based on mutual understanding and mutual respect should be considered a shield against terrorism, they said.

Due to insufficient understanding of each other's ideas and thoughts, culture is playing a more complex role in society than political, economic and scientific factors, said Rais Yatim, Malaysian minister from the prime minister's department.

Gunter Mulack, German ambassador of the federal foreign office, said that the world's cultures are moving toward unity in parallel with information technology, which in turn has led to cultural disputes.

The dialogues should be conducted to achieve understanding and tolerance and curb terrorism, racism and exclusiveness, said Mulack.

Terrorism is increasing in Singapore, a multi-national and multi-racial country, said Lee Boon Yang, Singaporean minister for information, communications and arts.

The ASEM countries should remove cultural conflicts and differences, and create more channels for mutual understanding among peoples, said Lee.

Portuguese Minister for Culture Pedro Roseta said any intention to cover up cultural diversity is doomed to failure. The people should understand each other's differences, learn to respect and appreciate what they may have no idea, which would be helpful in curbing terrorism, said Roseta.

Only when people volunteer to conduct cultural exchanges on an equal footing, would the world peace and development be ultimately achieved, said L Gde Ardika, Indonesian state minister for culture and tourism.
 
(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2003)