China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Fu CongMelissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global CommunicationsXu Haoliang, UN Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of UNDPFormer UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

During the event, the calligraphy piece “Peace” created by Li Guiming, Honorary President of the American Fujian Association and Honorary President of the American International Arts Association, became the cultural highlight of the day. Each stroke carried not only the strength and grace of Chinese calligraphy but also the heartfelt call of the Chinese people for world peace. As an outstanding Chinese artist active on the international stage, Li Guiming has frequently appeared at major UN events over the years—from the 67th annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women, to the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, and the Lunar New Year gala “Dance of the Snake, Heralding a New Chapter.” He has consistently used culture as a medium to convey China’s voice and promote dialogue among civilizations.

At this year’s High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, Li Guiming presented his calligraphy piece “Peace · Blessing” to representatives from around the world. The unique lines and rhythms of Chinese calligraphy vividly illustrated the UN’s core values of “peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit,” winning high praise from participants. Lok Bahadur Thapa, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN and Vice President of ECOSOC, lauded Li Guiming’s practice of promoting cross-civilizational exchange through the culture of “blessing,” believing this innovative form provides valuable inspiration for cultural approaches to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Calligraphy is the essence of Chinese civilization, and also a carrier of national spirit and values. Li Guiming’s “Peace” and “Blessing” are not only artistic expressions of ink and brush but also vivid expressions of cultural confidence—heartfelt messages from the Chinese nation for world peace and human well-being. Against the backdrop of a turbulent international situation, this cultural power is particularly precious. It does not argue with words, yet it stirs resonance deep in the soul; it does not impose by force, yet it builds consensus through dialogue and mutual learning.

“Peace” is the common language of the world, and “Blessing” is the shared pursuit of humanity. From UN Headquarters to Chinese universities, from diplomatic platforms to cultural exchanges, Li Guiming has used his brush to spread the gentle power of Chinese culture to every corner of the world. This is both the responsibility and the grace of a Chinese artist, as well as China’s wisdom and sentiment in contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Even more meaningful is that immediately after the August 8 event, Li Guiming set off back to China and rushed to meet philanthropist Cao Dewang at the university he founded. A carefully created “Blessing” character by Li had already been engraved on a large boulder as a congratulatory gift when the university was established. This treasured work not only symbolizes the auspicious meaning of Chinese culture but has also become the cornerstone of Cao Dewang University’s “Blessing,” carrying wishes for talent to gather and for society to flourish.

At UN Headquarters that day, peace calligraphy intertwined with songs of world peace; in the campus of a Chinese university, the fragrance of the “Blessing” character blended harmoniously with dreams of technological innovation. Together, these scenes form vivid chapters of how Chinese culture in the new era is reaching the world and bringing blessings to all humanity.