Brussels, February 7th, 2025
On February 4th and 5th, a high-level delegation of the Europe-Asia Center, including its Secretary General Yan Rui, its Director for Europe Jonathan Schwestka, and its Senior Cultural Advisor, Abbot of the Shaolin Temple the Venerable Shi Yongxin, proudly participated in the sixth edition of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.
Established in 2019 to mark the historic meeting in Abu Dhabi between His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb and His Holiness Pope Francis, during which they co-signed the Document on Human Fraternity, the award aims at honouring individuals and entities from all backgrounds and anywhere in the world, who are working to strengthen human connection and impact people’s lives by addressing divisions, building resilient communities, and fostering solidarity.
This year’s event welcomed esteemed global leaders, including:
H.E. Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO and Senior Advisor to the Europe-Asia Center
His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences
H.E. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, former Prime Minister of Spain
H.E. Charles Michel, former President of the European Council and Prime Minister of Belgium
H.E. Macky Sall, former President of Senegal
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization
H.E. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former President of Mauritius
H.E. Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders and the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity
H.E. José Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor
High-Level Engagements
The Europe-Asia Center engaged in several high-level dialogues during the event.
Strengthening Cultural Ties
The delegation was welcomed by H.E. Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Culture, who emphasized the importance of fostering cultural exchange between the UAE, Europe, and China, as well as the need to preserve cultural and national identity in the age of globalization, social media, and artificial intelligence. Both sides underlined the continued salience of faith and meditation to address current challenges, and agreed to collaborate on UNESCO-related projects concerning tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Additionally, the Minister invited the delegation to a high-level celebration of Islamic arts in Abu Dhabi this December and expressed interest in showcasing Chinese arts, highlighting cultural similarities.
Promoting Tolerance and Coexistence
The delegation also met with H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, to discuss ways to reinforce cultural dialogue and mutual understanding. Sheikh Nahyan praised the Venerable Shi Yongxin’s efforts in spreading the culture of tolerance through Chan Buddhism, which promotes compassion, love, and respect. Their discussion also covered the history of Muslims in China, the importance of treating all religions with dignity, and the value of in-person meetings in fostering trust and preventing misunderstandings.
Enhancing Interfaith Dialogue
The Europe-Asia Center further held talks with H.E. Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders and the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, to plan his upcoming visit to China and explore the preservation of intangible cultural heritage in both China and the UAE. Discussions also included the possibility of organizing a side-event on interfaith dialogue at the 2025 China-Eurasia Expo in Urumqi, Xinjiang, and establishing a Muslim-Buddhist Committee for interfaith cooperation.
High-Level Bilateral Meetings
The delegation further engaged in key discussions with prominent leaders:
H.E. Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO and Senior Advisor to the Europe-Asia Center: A high-level dinner meeting focused on the urgent need for intensified global peace efforts.
H.E. Charles Michel, former President of the European Council and Belgian Prime Minister: Talks reaffirmed the crucial role of strong EU-China relations in addressing 21st-century challenges and opportunities.
H.E. José Ramos-Horta, President of East Timor: The Abbot and the President agreed to exchange visits in 2025 and 2026 to further bilateral cooperation.
H.E. Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE: Discussions centered on advancing cultural and diplomatic engagement between China, the UAE, and Europe.
The Europe-Asia Center’s participation in the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity reinforced its commitment to fostering global cultural exchange, interfaith dialogue, and high-level cooperation for a more united and tolerant world.
For press enquiries:
Jonathan Schwestka, Director for Europe, Europe – Asia Center