On behalf of 33 Member States of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue or the ACD, it is indeed my honor and privilege to deliver a statement on the role of the New Silk Road as an alternative forum for Cultural Globalisation.Since the beginning of human civilization, culture has never been static. With the interactions between human beings as agents of civilization, culture is constantly changing. Human societies across the globe have established closer contacts over many centuries, but recently the paces have dramatically increased.Currently, with the advent of communication and information technology, globalization contributes to the exchange of cultural values throughout the world. Moreover, globalization of culture accelerates the integration of nations in the global economy through the formation of transnational corporations and the borderless market. Yet, the speed of change under the flow of globalization has been so rapid and intense that it causes concern for cultures to become vulnerable to homogeneity.The phenomena of McDonald, Pepsi-Cola, or Hollywood, created potential impacts on the loss of cultural identity and cultural diversity; and it was the “weaker” cultures of the developing nations which have been most threatened. Depredations of globalization, causing cultural vulnerability will jeopardize every cultural identity, but the developing world is particularly at risk. Consequently, people in our region become much more concerned about the preservation of uniqueness and identity of their own cultures.Nevertheless, the fear that globalization will lead to homogenization should not preclude cultures from social interactions or the so-called cultural isolation at all, because the beauty of cultural exchange can create tremendous synergy and foster maximum constructive engagement. Instead, strategic plan should be implemented to enhance mutual understanding, strengthen cross-cultural communication and collaboration among nations.For this reason, there have been many endeavors to find alternative ways and means to balance local cultures from the fall under the mainstream culture, from the so-called Westernisation or Americanization.As a consequence, the New Silk Road initiative, revived by President Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, is an appropriate alternative to globalization. The significance of the the Belt and Road is absolutely not limited to only trade and economic cooperation because the cultural dimension in the Belt and Road will also play a very important role in increasing regional harmonization.The implementation of the New Silk Road in the cultural perspective would help create constructive engagement where minor cultures could express their identities, interact equally, and eventually survive the influence of dominant culture.Take the ancient Silk Road as an example. Retrospectively, Silk Road was not a simple trade route but also a mean to connect communities surrounding it. Businesses occurred between strangers as well as the infusion of foreign and local cultures along the Silk Routes. This connectivity was the spirit of peace and harmonious development of which some consequences are still persisting in the modern days.This Silk Road or Silk Route reflects the web of a unique link that not only became a source of prosperity and trade relations but also promotes the exchange of knowledge and inventions as well as wisdom and culture, including art and music among different communities. For me, Excellency, the Silk Road was more than international trade. It portrayed the interactions of human civilizations, which created the uniqueness of Asia or the so-called Asians.Land routes along the Silk Road, unlike the maritime, compelled caravans to interact with other communities and different cultures on the way to their final destinations. As a result of trade-driven interactions, even the smallest villages in the remote desert were exposed not only to the products of advanced civilizations but also to the exchange of ideas, knowledge, experiences, and philosophies.Accordingly, Silk Road was not merely a trade route but a road with plenty of economic and cultural activities in between. Silk Road commerce brought otherwise hostile communities into interactions based on a peaceful manner, the peaceful connectivity.Thus the historical Silk Road offers a template for modern international commerce “a modern metaphor for sharing and learning across cultures, art forms, and disciplines.”Now, in these present days, to bring the regional cooperation to the ultimate benefits, the new Silk Route or the Belt and Road needs a platform to support greater cultural interactions among Asian communities.With the purpose of promoting prosperity and understanding among human civilizations, Excellency, my organization, the Asia Cooperation Dialogue or the ACD, is a perfect platform for regional cooperation. With the geological proximity advantage, regional cultural communication, the regional cooperation of the ACD is an essential mechanism to accelerate not only economic but also social progress. Along with cultural interaction based on spirit and culture of the Silk Road, we could create a cultural bridge that connects people with different religious beliefs and backgrounds. With deeply connected ties between Member States, collaborations and talks become easier, less offense and less conflict. The role of ACD in cultural cooperation will be vital to help accelerate the collective approach in gathering and garnering support to empower the Asian Culture.In this regard, Excellency, I am more than happy to inform that ACD has set up the ACD Cultural Coordination Centre in Tehran as a mechanism to review the in-depth discussion on the wide variety of cultural issues and enhance cultural ties Asia-Wide. Furthermore, the Islamic Republic of Iran also proposes to host the 4th ACD Ministerial Meeting on Cultural Cooperation in Tehran in the year 2016. The gathering of Ministers of Culture next year will ensure materializing and implementation of cultural initiatives and ultimately establish coordination and coherence in cultural policy-making among Asian Countries.I would like to end my statement by referring to Speech by President Xi Jinping, at UNESCO Headquarters, which mentioned thatHistory proves that only by interacting with and learning from others can a civilization enjoy full vitality. If all civilizations are inclusive, the so-called “clash of civilizations” can be avoided and harmony among civilizations will become a reality.We all agree that Asia is the cradle of an ancient civilization. As the birthplace of world’s major cultures, we are rich in cultural diversities.Asia’s uniqueness is based on our constructive engagement with the basis of mutual understanding as well as the synergy of various cultures. And that is the beauty of interactions despite diversities, which encourage more cross-cultural relations on peaceful coexistence.Having signified all the exquisite elements, I believe that the collaboration between the the Belt and Road and the ACD forum as a dialogue partner will forge a stronger bond between distinctive civilizations, strengthen Asia to counter the hegemonic globalization and eventually bring about sustainable economic prosperity in the region.