Saturday, June 30, 2007

CHINA'S HARMONY RENAISSANCE BOOK ANNOUNCED

WWW.WORLDHARMONYORG.NET
World Harmony Organization proudly announces our ground breaking book "China's Harmony Renaissance:What the World Must Know." It is a compilation of timely foreign affairs articles recently published in prominent world media. These articles reveal a major harmony renaissance movement that is taking place in China today and discuss its impact on the world in the 21st century. Through the illuminating and concise exposition of world religion, European democracy, and Chinese harmony renaissance, one is led to the compelling question "World Harmony Renaissance, promise for a better world?"

A glimpse of our historical insights and perspective on the significance of China's harmony renaissance is provided by our partial table of contents below. Be the first to read this revealing and thought provoking book. It is the result of 50 years of world affairs research by Dr. francis C. W.Fung (class of 1960 Brown University.) In the words of the Hon John Prescott, British Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State "Fung maintains that China's Harmony Socialism will provide an alternative model, as the leading system of governance in the 21st Century."

For those who do not understand China's peaceful development, it is time to learn China's harmony renaissance. Special attention is given to Sino-American relations over the past 50 years. The book is on sale through amazon.com and Foreign Affairs Journal.

PARTIAL TABLE OF CONTENTS
Human civilization from the perspective of harmony.
China's harmony renaissance how it all began?
Chinese harmony culture old and new, promise for a less confrontational world?
Socialism with Chinese characteristics is socialism with Chinese harmony.
American democracy and Chinese harmony in 21st Century.
Can the world ignore China's harmony renaissance?
East and West temperament difference.
The ultimate principle of harmony.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

BASIC LAW CORNER STONE OF HK STABILITY

Basic Law, cornerstone for HK stability
www.chinaview.cn 2007-06-27 11:42:03


BEIJING, June 27 -- The Basic Law has withstood many challenges over the past decade, but its role in maintaining stability in Hong Kong has remained unchanged, members of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee and legal experts said.
However, Hongkongers must still develop a better understanding of the mini-constitution, which guarantees them a high degree of autonomy from the central government.
The mini-charter en-countered some difficulties when the National People's Congress promulgated it in 1990. Elsie Leung, the former secretary for justice and deputy director of the Hong Kong Basic Law Committee, said few Hong Kong people understood the Basic Law initially, leading to several controversies. The National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) eventually had to issue three interpretations to clarify the most contentious provisions.
The first came in 1999, when the SAR's government, acting through the State Council, sought an interpretation of the provisions concerning the right of abode in the SAR after a ruling by the Court of Final Appeal had threatened to trigger a flood of 1.6 million mainland-born children with Hong Kong parents into the SAR, which would have posed a heavy burden on the city.
Then, in 2004, the NPCSC ruled that neither the 2007 chief executive (CE) election nor the 2008 legislative election would feature universal suffrage, emphasizing that changes to the electoral system would be made in a gradual and orderly manner as stipulated in the Basic Law.
For its part, the NPCSC helps steer the SAR's political system, said Hong Kong Basic Law Committee member Albert Chen.
"The high degree of autonomy in the SAR was based on the existing political system. However, the central government has the right to say whether the system is to be changed," he said.
The third interpretation came at the request of the SAR government in response to a controversy over the term of office of the new CE after the existing one resigned. The NPCSC ruled that should the office of CE become vacant, the next CE should serve out the remainder of his predecessor's five-year tenure.
The interpretation acts should not be viewed as the central government's interference in Hong Kong's internal affairs, Chen said.
"The NPCSC is highly self-restrained. It only exercises its power to interpret in very extreme conditions," Chen said.
Indeed, the NPCSC's timely moves have cleared up several cases of uncertainty, allowing Hong Kong's society and government to continue as normal.
"The society of Hong Kong remains stable. The economy, which was facing hardship at first, has recovered smoothly. The legal system and the independence of the judiciary are respected," said Chen.
While the final power to interpret the Basic Law lies with the NPCSC, the Court of Final Appeal has issued several judicial reviews over the years that have touched on the mini-constitution. These rulings have helped shed more light on the meaning of certain provisions of the Basic Law as well as their relationship to locally enacted laws.
(Source: China Daily)

2008 OLYMPIC GAMES WILL STIMULATE EAST-WEST EXCHANGES

2008 Games will stimulate East-West exchanges
www.chinaview.cn 2007-06-28 09:24:12

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BEIJING, June 28 -- The Beijing Olympics will leave China and the world at large a unique legacy, claimed the evaluation report submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in May 2001 by an IOC assessment group.
The 2008 Games are indeed expected to make great contributions not merely to the world of sport but human civilization as well.
The contributions boil down to four areas, in the opinion of this author.
First, the athletic accomplishments made by Chinese athletes and the sportsmanship demonstrated by them are bound to impress the world audience deeply.
Second, China, with its unique ways, will help enrich the sports culture of humanity.
Third, the Games will largely promote the friendship between Chinese and the people of the world.
Fourth, the Games will serve to power the development of the world's sports-related sciences and technology, sports culture and sports-related industries.
However, the contributions go far beyond these. The 2008 Games promise to go down in the annals as a brilliant chapter of communication and understanding between different cultures.
This author still remembers clearly the description of the Beijing Olympic torch relay itinerary announced by the Beijing 2008 Games Bidding Committee in the summer of 2001 in Moscow. The description of the route obviously drew its inspiration from the ancient Silk Road.
The Silk Road was representative of exchanges between China and the rest of the world. The extensive exchanges and interactions benefited the economies and cultures of China and other countries in the Eurasia landmass. To our regret, however, the communications via the Silk Road came to a halt in the latter periods of the Chinese feudalist society.
During the Cold War period, exchanges between China and the West were reduced to a trickle, if not totally stopped, owing to a host of complicated factors.
When the reform and opening up were launched in the late 1970s, China opened its door wide to the rest of the world and exchanges between Chinese and foreign cultures sprouted wings.
But the inertia of history is still at work. Some people in the West still harbor misgivings and skepticism about China. A handful of them go so far as to interpret China's domestic and foreign polices through the lens of a Cold-War mentality.
This can be attributed to a string of factors such as ideological and cultural differences and Western-style pride and prejudice. More important, however, their ignorance of China is the root cause of their bigotry.
A Chinese saying goes: "It is better to see something once for yourself than to hear about it a hundred times." What do China and the Chinese look like? Is the country a paradise or hell? Is it a place where you can make money or the fountainhead of the "Yellow Peril?"
Buy an Olympic Games ticket and visit China to see for yourself.
Laughter and applause at the competition venue are free from propaganda. Instead, they stand for truth and sincerity. And truth and sincerity make the bridge leading to understanding.
Exchange is a two-way thing. The Chinese are presented with a host of questions, too: How to absorb those elements of foreign cultures, Western culture in particular, that are pouring into the country? How to properly handle the relationship between foreign and Chinese cultures in the general context of globalization? How to differentiate between the cream and dregs of foreign cultures and choose the former over the latter? These are the questions nobody should avoid.
Some Chinese media and individuals are showing narrow nationalist feelings, which indicates that a blind area exists in the Chinese public's understanding of the outside world.
In view of this, the remarks of Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China's reform and opening up, are of enlightening significance, in the opinion of this author.
Deng said: "I am the son of the Chinese people and love my country and people profoundly." He also said: "I, as a member of the Chinese nation, am very much honored to become a world citizen."
His remarks are a good example of the combination of nationalism and cosmopolitanism.
If everyone of us can "retain our roots and also open our hearts", as was exemplified by Deng, our ancient motherland will evolve into a "youthful China".
But how should the average Chinese approach foreign cultures? By traveling abroad? No. The average Chinese is not that well off. In addition, they would run into many barriers on their travels, not only linguistic but also cultural and psychological.
Which is why the Beijing Olympic Games will provide the average Chinese with the best chance to get to know foreign cultures through the athletes, tourists, officials and journalists.
When the 13,000 athletes and coaches from around the world arrive in Beijing, when the army of foreign journalists shuttles between competition venues and wanders through Beijing's streets and alleys, when 300,000 foreign visitors are present everywhere in the city, when millions of people in all countries watch the Games on TV, are the Chinese still isolated from the Global Village?
The day will have come when the Chinese nation is integrated into the world.
(The author is a researcher with the China Foundation for International and Strategic Studies)
(Source: China Daily/Qin Xiaoying)
Editor: An Lu
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Wednesday, June 27, 2007

WORLD HARMONY DIPLOMACY VERSUS POWER DIPLOMACY

WORLD HARMONY DIPLOMACY VERSUS POWER DIPLOMACY
By Francis C. W. Fung, PH.D.
http://www.worldharmonyorg.net/

World Harmony Organization (WHO) pursues world harmony renaissance by seeking truth. Our principle and goal deems it necessary to advocate world harmony diplomacy by initiating Harmony Diplomacy Watch. In this spirit we began with articles entitled “Harmony Diplomacy Essential for World Development”, “Harmony Diplomacy in Work” and “It is Important to Cover Good Examples of Harmony Diplomacy.” In this tradition, we continue our entrusted mission to compare and contrast innovative, influential and state of the art theories on world diplomacy. http://www.worldharmonyforum.blogspot.com/

America as a young, dynamic, and endowed nation earned its place as the leader of world democracy during and immediately after the Cold War. The scope of success of America Cold War diplomacy has no parallel in human history, in part due to the competitiveness of American economic system but also largely brought about by execution of Power Diplomacy made possible by the largest economy and the most powerful military. The after effects of America winning the Cold War remained today, good or bad. The good is that the world has enjoyed unprecedented prosperity due to relative peace and stability. On the other hand the American public is constantly being reminded by their media and government that we are destined to be the leader of the world because God is on our side.

This self defeating arrogance is in contrast to the universal harmony principle that the more powerful we are, the more we need humility. The damaging consequence of deviating from this all encompassing truism is evident by the dilemma of our embroiled involvement in unilateral Iraqi war. As a result of continuing our Cold War Power Diplomacy we have too often infringed on the dignity of many disadvantaged nations in the world. After 9/11 we declared war against terrorism and were eager to launch the unilateral war on Iraq without giving diplomacy a chance.

Our pride blinded us from seeing the need of dignity by the poor and disadvantaged. We have become immune to other nation’s needs for development. Instead from our ethnocentric perspective, we continue to be critical of other striving nation’s efforts to modernize. This lack of understanding of other nation’s loss of dignity and desperate need of modernization did not go without notice by America’s elite, experienced in foreign policy. In fact the extensive survey conducted by Pew Research Center involving 45,239 people and 46 nations from April 6 to May 29,2007 found majorities in many countries reject the main planks of current U.S. foreign policy and express distate for American style democracy. According to the polled results, there is a wide spread perception that the U.S. acts unilaterally in making international policy decisions. And majorities in most every country polled, including 97 percent in France, 80 percent in Argentina, and 75 percent in Lebanon, said the United States promoted democracy mostly where it served U.S. interests. This, according to Pew, helps explain why U.S. ideas about democracy are rejected by vast numbers around the globe.

Caution for change to a softer and more understanding American world diplomacy is being sounded in unison by many notable and seasoned formal high ranking diplomats such as Kissinger, Brezezinski, Albright and Slaughter. New theories such as Faith Diplomacy, Value Diplomacy and Diplomacy by Deeds are being advanced, (for reference please see my afore mentioned papers on world harmony diplomacy.)

In today’s multilateral world, Power Diplomacy as preached by the bygone wisdom of “speak softly and carry a big stick” has lost most of its relevance. The unpopular unilateral Iraq War makes it clear that “speak loudly and carry a big stick" as practiced by the present administration has not worked so far either. In fact there are signs that Harmony Diplomacy is on the rise, witnessed by the softening of U.S. position in the Sixth Party denuclearization talk ( see “Harmony Diplomacy in Work” http://www.worldharmonyforum.blogspot.com/ .)

On the other hand, in catering to the interest of the uninformed and proud American public, the theme of Power Diplomacy is still echoed among U.S. 2008 presidential candidates. In a July/August 2007 Foreign Affairs Journal article titled “Renewing American Leadership”, fore running U.S. Democratic Party presidential candidate, Barack Obama expounded Power Diplomacy as key U.S. foreign policy to revive American leadership. The central theme of Power Diplomacy, instead of dialogue and mutual understanding, is American leadership. The truth is that commerce and cultural exchange will increase understanding not American leadership. Gradual increase of understanding will enhance trust. Trust will lead to harmony. This is the essence of Harmony Diplomacy.

According to Obama “we must harness American power to reinvigorate American diplomacy. Tough minded diplomacy backed by the whole range of instruments of American power—political, economic, and military—could bring success even when dealing with long standing adversaries such as Iran and Syria.” Notice the perennial emphasis of “success against our adversaries” instead of dialogue and win-win mutual development. The presumption that those who disagree are enemies, will surely not win us friends. In contrast, Harmony Diplomacy espouses mutual development between any two nations powerful or weak, developed or developing, rich or poor. As demonstrated by my article “Harmony Diplomacy in Work” misunderstanding and distrust between U.S.-China can only be resolved by dialogue through discussion of commonality. Confrontation and threat will only extend animosity as exemplified by prolonged U.S. - Cuban and U.S. - Iran mutual accusations with shouting matches that are becoming permanent features of U.S. Power Diplomacy.

Through out Obama’s foreign policy exposition, words such as “power, pushing, pressure, aggressive, tough, tough minded, American leadership and instrument of power” are used freely. Words such as dialogue, mutual understanding, trust, tolerance are noticeably absent. Instead, proud of our past Cold War confrontational expertise, the intensity of cold war diplomacy is called on to deal with a small band of extreme radicals. The war on terror advocated by Bush will certainly become an over kill that will unsettle world diplomacy for years to come. The world certainly can not afford to have another debilitating cold war. The over enthusiastic inclination to use confrontation and ever increasing force without consideration of neutralizing force with dynamic balance, totally neglects the first principle strategy in counter terrorism or any warfare for that matter. Dynamic balance of harmony is more fluid like in nature.

Without the consideration of humility, the narrowly defined American value is trumpeted as a cure all for world ills. To quote directly from Obama's essay, “I will show the world that America remains true to its founding values. We lead not only for ourselves but also for the common good.” On self reflection we must admit that some of our values great as they are, cannot avoid being dated, unilateral and ethnocentric. They have not been keeping up with the multilateral world development. For the future world, Power Diplomacy must gradually evolve towards Harmon Diplomacy by accepting and expanding to more universal values as expounded in Harmony Diplomacy Watch essays.

Despite the claim to the contrary, wisdom and humility have no place for self glorification. Yet we are told “I believe the American people will be eager to see America lead again.-----it is time for a new generation to tell the next great American story----this was the time we defeated global terrorists and brought opportunity to forgotten corners of the world.” The final conclusion is the crowning moment for Obama. “This is our moment to renew the trust and faith of our people—and all people—in an America that battles immediate evils, promotes ultimate good, and leads the world once more.” Humility may be the only single most effective reflection to restore others lost of dignity due to our past trespasses.

Can we Americans be any more unilateral and presumptive in our own self glorification? We can easily see our failings through following selections of essays on Harmony Diplomacy by contrast to our aggrandized proclamations, in tone and reason. Following is an excerpt of a recent article by WHO World Harmony Diplomacy Watch quoting the concluding statements of the recent Asia-Europe Meeting . The spirit of harmony in this article is in strong contrast to the prevalent American Power Diplomacy to renew American leadership.In the article, Dialogue, Mutual Understanding, Commonality and Tolerance are emphasized. In the pursue of Harmony Diplomacy, it is important to pursue mutual understanding through dialogue and harmony through tolerance.

A harmonious future for Asia and Europe hinges on wisdom that can steer the course of their interactions. So said delegates at the third annual Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Interfaith Dialogue, which wrapped up June 23, 2007 in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province. In the Nanjing Statement, issued at the conclusion of the event, participants from the two continents vowed to deepen and broaden the dialogue process to foster a peaceful and harmonious partnership. Cui Tiankai, assistant minister of foreign affairs of China said at a joint news conference with Senator Gianni Vernetti, undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Building on the achievements of the first two meetings, in Bali in 2005 and Cyprus in 2006, the two-day dialogue co-hosted by China and Italy served as a platform for religious and political leaders and academics to address their diversity and commonality in faiths and deliberate on further tapping the potential of interfaith talks in enhancing mutual understanding in an era of globalization, he said.

"In Chinese culture, harmony is underpinned by diversity. Seeking harmony while acknowledging differences means that a country or an ethnic group, while preserving its own cultural heritage, should be open and tolerant to other civilizations," In a world wrought with uncertainties, it is vital to pursue mutual understanding through dialogue, and achieve harmony through tolerance, he said. If nations collide because of different values, globalization may be giving a new spin to the multiple values involved in international relations. From the dim past to the present, international relations could be categorized as relations of war and peace - nations clashing over values. This approach does not project a bright future for relations among states as it doesn't provide a paradigm for the peaceful co-existence of different value systems.

A way to avoid conflict has long been sought. A seemingly uncomplicated approach is for nations to share peace and prosperity through dialogue and tolerance. The recipe of dialogue entails not imposing ones values or faith on others. It involves respecting different peoples' treasured values and beliefs. It is necessary to understand and appreciate, or at least tolerate, different cultures and religions. The ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Interfaith Dialogue, under the framework of the Asia-Europe Summit, is just such a platform. It brings nations together from two continents to address their diversity and commonality in faith and culture, with the hope of convergence for the sake of humanity.

Following is an excerpt of a recent article by WHO World Harmony Diplomacy Watch quoting People’s Daily. The spirit of harmony in this article is also in strong contrast to the prevalent American Power Diplomacy to renew American leadership as discussed previously. The title of the original speech is China's Diplomacy: Pursuing Balance to Reach Harmony. President Hu Jintao made the speech on China's new foreign policy of building a harmonious world at the United Nations Summit marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the world body. His words received wide approval and the policy is thought fruitful in 2005. The policy helped to lift China's international status, fundamentally because of its pursuit of balance. That is, to balance national development against international responsibilities, economic benefits against political and security interests, relations with world powers against those with various countries, and reform against the maintenance of world order.

We should build a harmonious world by aiming at "performing great deeds". Although a developing country, China is a rising big nation. Change in international environment casts a direct impact on China's rise, and the country will suffer from its negative effects if she doesn't take the initiative to push it towards a more harmonious direction. Such a pro-active approach will benefit both the international environment of China and the advancement of the whole world.In the spirit of "performing great deeds" China has decided to take responsibilities of a big nation. During his meeting with President Bush, President Hu said explicitly that the China-US cooperation will be on global scale.

We should build a harmonious world by taking the overall national interest as a starting point. Both national and international interests are multi-faceted, and different interest claims can clash. For example, globalization can raise economic efficiency, but also worsen the wealth gap and interest conflicts at home and abroad. To build a harmonious world, we must, on top of economic interests, give due consideration to political interests such as China's image, influence and status on the international arena. We should build a harmonious world by following the policy of a greater neighborhood diplomacy.To the end of a harmonious world we must maintain friendly ties with as many countries as possible, so we should avoid sacrificing relations with other countries for the sake of stable Sino-US ties.

We should build a harmonious world in the principle of gradualness. In proposing such a long-term objective, China has no intention to reach it in one step. China fully understands the difficulty in constructing a harmonious world under anarchy, so she stressed on safeguarding UN authority and conducting necessary reforms.To reshape the world order is a permanent task, and as time changes the old international order is for sure to be replaced by a new one. To ensure peace and order during such a course, China believes that reforms should be carried out in a measured, cautious way based on the current world order, so that the reforms can benefit the greatest majority of world countries.

Monday, June 25, 2007

CHINA'S DIPLOMACY: PURSUING BALANCE TO REACH HARMONY

China's Diplomacy: Pursuing Balance to Reach Harmony

Chinese President Hu Jintao made a speech on China's new foreign policy of building a harmonious world at the United Nations Summit marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the world body. His words received wide approval and the policy is thought fruitful in 2005.
The policy helped to lift China's international status, fundamentally because of its pursuit of balance. That is, to balance national development against international responsibilities, economic benefits against political and security interests, relations with world powers against those with various countries, and reform against the maintenance of world order.
We should build a harmonious world by aiming at "performing great deeds". Although a developing country, China is a rising big nation. Change in international environment casts a direct impact on China's rise, and the country will suffer from its negative effects if she doesn't take the initiative to push it towards a more harmonious direction. Such a pro-active approach will benefit both the international environment of China and the advancement of the whole world.
In the spirit of "performing great deeds" China has decided to take responsibilities of a big nation. During his meeting with President Bush, President Hu said explicitly that the China-US cooperation will be on global scale. The year 2005 marks the most frequent Chinese participation in UN peacekeeping missions. At the UN Summit President Hu promised debt cut to the Third World, the biggest slash over years.
We should build a harmonious world by taking the overall national interest as a starting point. Both national and international interests are multi-faceted, and different interest claims can clash. For example, globalization can raise economic efficiency, but also worsen the wealth gap and interest conflicts at home and abroad.
In building a harmonious world, we must give equal attention to political, security and economic interests, and refrain from developing economy at the cost of political and security benefits. The enlarging world economic scale is fuelling conflicts in energy, resource, market, talent, international rules and so on. The WTO conference and anti-WTO demonstration serves a classic example. Clashes between developed and developing countries, transnationals and SMEs, the rich and the poor are being sharpened at each passing day. To build a harmonious world, we must, on top of economic interests, give due consideration to political interests such as China's image, influence and status on the international arena.
We should build a harmonious world by following the policy of a greater neighborhood diplomacy. To the end of a harmonious world we must maintain friendly ties with as many countries as possible, so we should avoid sacrificing relations with other countries for the sake of stable Sino-US ties.
The United States, as the world only superpower, comes into strategic interest conflicts with many a country in maintaining her world dominance. By frequent visits to Europe and Russia this year, Chinese leaders effectively raised the importance of China-EU and China-Russia ties so as to strike a balance in relations with the three parties of the United States, EU and Russia.
China also increased visits to other developing countries this year to achieve a relative balance between policies towards developed and developing countries. In regional policy, China worked hard to score a balance between neighbors and countries from other regions such as Latin America and Africa.
We should build a harmonious world in the principle of gradualness. In proposing such a long-term objective, China has no intention to reach it in one step. China fully understands the difficulty in constructing a harmonious world under anarchy, so she stressed on safeguarding UN authority and conducting necessary reforms.
To reshape the world order is a permanent task, and as time changes the old international order is for sure to be replaced by a new one. To ensure peace and order during such a course, China believes that reforms should be carried out in a measured, cautious way based on the current world order, so that the reforms can benefit the greatest majority of world countries.

INTERFAITH DIALOGUE COULD BE NEW ROAD TO PEACE

Interfaith dialogue could be new road to peace
www.chinaview.cn 2007-06-21 09:15:35

BEIJING, June 21 -- If nations collide because of different values, globalization may be giving a new spin to the multiple values involved in international relations.
From the dim past to the present, international relations could be categorized as relations of war and peace - nations clashing over values.
This approach does not project a bright future for relations among states as it doesn't provide a paradigm for the peaceful co-existence of different value systems.
A way to avoid conflict has long been sought. A seemingly uncomplicated approach is for nations to share peace and prosperity through dialogue and tolerance.
The recipe of dialogue entails not imposing one's values or faith on others. It involves respecting different peoples' treasured values and beliefs. It is necessary to understand and appreciate, or at least tolerate, different cultures and religions.
The ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Interfaith Dialogue, under the framework of the Asia-Europe Summit, is just such a platform. It brings nations together from two continents to address their diversity and commonality in faith and culture, with the hope of convergence for the sake of humanity.
For the first time, China is hosting the three-day ASEM Interfaith Dialogue in Nanjing which concludes today. This is China's contribution to the multiethnic conversation of the two continents. This is of particular relevance as Asia still has a long way to go to reconcile differences among nations and continents.
The ASEM Interfaith Dialogue helps build mutual understanding between Asians and Europeans in the fields of interfaith and inter-religious relations.
The two previous meetings, in Bali, Indonesia in 2005, and in Larnaca, Cyprus in 2006, addressed the relations of interfaith dialogue to peace, justice, compassion and tolerance. They called for more concrete action by religious leaders, academia, government and the media.
The dialogue approach actually has a lot to do with democracy. In a democracy, the majority makes decisions which affect the entire group. At the same time, democracies protect the right to individual beliefs without necessarily endorsing them.
Historically, Europe has been a place of feuds and strife. The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 finally introduced the notion of non-aggression. Meanwhile, the Protestants left Britain for North America for freedom of religion.
Three centuries later, the two world wars erupted in Europe. It took the Cold War for Europeans to develop the concept of the European Security Council between two ideological and military blocs. The purpose was to talk and act for collective security.
The Asians might have more problems. First, in terms of recent history, all three major wars since World War II - on the Korean Peninsula, in Vietnam and Iraq - have occurred in Asia.
Second, while the US has aspired to balance security in the region, it has not always been constructive in its dealings with Asia. In fact, Washington has waged all three of the most recent major wars here, without first pursuing negotiations.
Third, there exists a number of religions in Asia - Buddhism, Hinduism, Islamism, Christianity, as well as various ideological concepts. It is daunting to reconcile all these factors to minimize conflicts. In Northeast Asia alone, numerous security and trust problems have existed over inter-Korea rivalry, cross-Straits tension, China-Japan discord, and the abduction issue between Pyongyang and Tokyo. All these tensions make it truly difficult to build a pan-Asia dialogue to advance mutual trust and understanding.
The existence of these problems proves the need for an interfaith dialogue, or confrontations will ensue.
In recent decades, some Asian states have developed regional dialogue groupings such as ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), ASEAN Regional Forum, Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation, Gulf Cooperation Council and Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific as well as the non-governmental Shangri-La Dialogue.
Most of these sub-regional mechanisms are not yet Asia-wide. But with the systems in place, Asian countries are now enjoying a greater chance for peace and prosperity, though their capacity for building peace and stability is still far behind that of Europe.
At the national level, with globalization, most of Asia is developing rapidly as investment and technology are more accessible. In the meantime, various social tensions are emerging over the unequal distribution of wealth and national economies' need to develop in more sustainable ways.
This entails domestic dialogue among various social strata and the development of a fair and legal system that protects the interests of people from all walks of life.
It is of the utmost importance to balance the interests of efficiency and fairness in various Asian countries. Europeans can share their experience in handling social cohesion and harmonious development.
Among nations, globalization has not only facilitated outsourcing and trade but it has also challenged state authority and governance. With advances in communication, nationalism could be more readily stirred up to meet the needs of narrowly defined national interests.
At the intercontinental level, Asia and Europe have many areas for dialogue. Europe has left its colonial legacy in Asia but is now the main collaborator in Asia's economic and social development.
Nanjing is well suited to be the host city for the current ASEM Interfaith Dialogue. As the costal capital of many dynasties, Nanjing has its own glamour of cultural cohesion for generations of Chinese. More tragic, the Nanking Massacre of 1937 is embedded in the Chinese national psyche affecting relations with Japan.
It is much desired that a genuine interfaith dialogue between China and Japan could put to rest the different perspectives on that period. The two continents have much in common in seeking a fair world political structure but differ to a certain extent in their understanding of human and civil rights.
The Nanjing round of the ASEM Interfaith Dialogue brings their communication to a higher level, strengthening peace and civilization across the Asian-European landmass.
The author is executive dean, Institute of International Studies, and director, Center for American Studies, Fudan University.
(Source: China Daily)
Editor: Song Shutao

ASIA-EUROPE MEETING INTERFAITH DIALOGUE

Interfaith Dialogue Concludes in Nanjing

A harmonious future for Asia and Europe hinges on wisdom that can steer the course of their interactions.

So said delegates at the third annual Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Interfaith Dialogue, which wrapped up yesterday in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province.

In the Nanjing Statement, issued at the conclusion of the event, participants from the two continents vowed to deepen and broaden the dialogue process to foster a peaceful and harmonious partnership, Cui Tiankai, assistant minister of foreign affairs of China said at a joint news conference with Senator Gianni Vernetti, undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Building on the achievements of the first two meetings, in Bali in 2005 and Cyprus in 2006, the two-day dialogue co-hosted by China and Italy served as a platform for religious and political leaders and academics to address their diversity and commonality in faiths and deliberate on further tapping the potential of interfaith talks in enhancing mutual understanding in an era of globalization, he said.

China adheres to the policy of guaranteeing the freedom of religious belief, and acknowledged the active role religion plays in building a harmonious society, he said.

It has been proved by history that faith is an objective reality, it can neither be imposed nor deprived, Ye Xiaowen, Minister of China's State Administration for Religious Affairs said at the closing ceremony.

"In Chinese culture, harmony is underpinned by diversity. Seeking harmony while acknowledging differences means that a country or an ethnic group, while preserving its own cultural heritage, should be open and tolerant to other civilizations," Ye said.

In a world wrought with uncertainties, it is vital to pursue mutual understanding through dialogue, and achieve harmony through tolerance, he said.

The Fourth ASEM Interfaith Dialogue will be co-hosted by the Netherlands and Thailand next year in Amsterdam.

(China Daily June 22, 2007)2007-06-22 09:14:05Interfaith Dialogue Concludes in Nanjingasem1007International -- Newswww.china.org.cn/enpproperty-->

Sunday, June 24, 2007

IMPORTANT TOPICS FOR FIRST INTERNATIONAL HARMONY RENAISSSANCE SYMPOSIUM

WWW.WORLDHARMONYORG.NET

WHO First International Harmony Renaissance Symposium(IHRS) call for papers could include and not limited to the following topics:

Harmony Renaissance, Harmony Philosophy old and new, harmony consensus, harmony diplomacy, harmony and nature, harmony science, harmony ecology, religious Harmony, harmony socialism, harmony declaration and harmony constitution. We can add more as we prepare our formal call for papers and the executive summary for the Symposium business plan. I have a suggested Harmony Declaration in my second book. I am ready to publish my third book.

I believe soon countries will be drafting harmony clauses into their constitution based on universal writings of Harmony Declaration, just like democracy, human rights and freedom. As an ideal, harmony is more comprehensive, more sustainable, in keeping with nature's order more adaptable to the future world.

Keep up the good work and do not work too hard. Harmony tide is with us. We can enjoy ourselves. We are the pioneers. There is no deadline. We will always be at the crest of the tide as long as we have creativity and innovative ideas. This memo is published on our website http://www.worldharmonyorg.net/ and our blogsite http://www.worldharmonyforum.blogspot.com/

Best

Francis C. W. Fung, PH.D.
Director General
World Harmony Organization

IT IS IMPORTANT TO COVER GOOD EXAMPLES OF WORLD HARMONY DIPLOMACY

www.worldharmonyorg.net

It Important to Cover Good Examples of Harmony Diplomacy
www.chinaview.cn 2007-06-25 10:45:06 Xinhua Net Article

By Francis C. W. Fung, PH.D.
BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhuanet) -- World Harmony Organization(WHO) deems it important to cover outstanding examples of harmony diplomacy in work. This is the value we place on world harmony renaissance and world harmony diplomacy watch. When two of the largest East and West news agencies meet to renew friendship, mutual respect and trust it will have profound effect on even handed world news reporting. World understanding and harmony between East and West will surely be enhanced by this festival celebration.

Xinhua News Agency and Reuters on Thursday, June 21,2007 held celebrations in the Great Hall of the People to mark five decades of cooperation. Xinhua President Tian Congming and Reuters Chief Executive Officer Tom Glocer unveiled a photo exhibition, comprising about 120 classic cultural and diplomatic exchange photographs, taken by correspondents from Xinhua and Reuters. The exhibition is a fascinating, historical record of a range of political, economic, scientific, technological, cultural, educational and sporting events over the years.

The following are excerpts from Xinhua Net with opinion and concluding remarks from World Harmony Organization. "Over the past 50 years, Xinhua and Reuters have exchanged visits and staff at many levels and have signed a series of cooperation agreements," Tian said to the gathering. Reuters was the first Western news agency to forge a cooperation with Xinhua. In May 1957, the two news agencies signed a deal on news story exchange. "I am delighted to see how healthy the cooperation between our two organizations is," Tian said, citing a recent joint training class for Olympics reporters in Beijing. Tian said Xinhua-Reuters cooperation can blossom as long as the two sides abide by the principles of "mutual respect, close consultation, a long-term perspective, mutual trust and mutual benefit."

"Over the last fifty years we have shown that an open and constructive relationship can produce great achievements," Glocer said in his address. Quoting the Chinese proverb "a book tightly shut is only a block of paper", Glocer said the Reuters-Xinhua relationship is an open book. "Today we move to the next of many chapters." Among the approximately 100 representatives at the celebrations were two pioneers of Xinhua-Reuters ties --- Peng Di, the first Xinhua correspondent in London, and 80-year-old David Chipp, the first Reuters correspondent in Beijing.

Founded in 1931, Xinhua News Agency is the most authoritative news agency in China and an international provider of multimedia news and information services. Based in Beijing, Xinhua runs 33 domestic bureaus and 102 overseas bureaus. Xinhua provides round-the-clock news and information services in nearly 200 countries and regions in eight languages: Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese and Japanese.

Senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Li Changchun on Thursday called on Reuters to report China as it is. "Reuters should be a bridge in helping the world obtain a better understanding of China and report China as it is," Li said in a meeting with a Reuters delegation headed by Reuters chairman Niall Fitz Gerald. Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also hailed the good partnership between Xinhua News Agency and Reuters over the past fifty years. Li said exchanges and cooperation among news organizations of different countries have become increasingly important as the world has entered an era of information and globalization. Fitz Gerald hailed China's rapid development in economic and social sectors. He said Reuters would like to carry out a more effective partnership with Xinhua.

As important as Xinhua News as a leader of world media, its professional and even handed reporting of world news, Xinhua is still relatively unknown in the U.S. Those who know, look at Xinhua with jaundiced eyes suffering from the ill effects of 50 years of cold war infection. Their visions are so colored by the U.S. media, some readers' to this day, unfairly shun Xinhua news. WHO feels extreme injustice that this unfair misjudgment must not be left untreated.

Xinhua's reporting stands out with the greatest integrity exceeding many Western news media. Most of all. Xinhua has progressed with the times with a modern world outlook, whereas there are other medias remain short sighted and waddling in the sting pool of bygone days and engaged in confrontational, name calling, scavenging and mud slinging practices. One of the excuses for discounting Xinhua news is that, it is affiliated with Chinese Government. This casual judgment without due diligence is even carried by a large cross section of Chinese Americans.
To quote an English sayings "Do not judge a book by its cover but by its contents" and "Judge a tree's merits by the fruits it bears." Simply put, as independent thinkers we must read and investigate before we mete out casual judgment. These days in international news Xinhua is a must read media to be in touch with the real world with a balanced view. One of the significant reasons for the lack of awarenesss of Xinhua by the U.S. public, is the ill effect of ethnocentric ommission of significant East and West exchange events as indicated here. This points out the importance of advocating harmony diplomacy.

World Harmony Organization has the responsibilty and duty bound to continue our world harmony renaissnce and harmony diplomacy watch. The Motto for harmony diplomacy for the 21st Century is rightly so "Mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual development. Carry a strategic and long vision." The old American wisdom that is being revived by some "Speak softly and carry a big stick" is so 19th century. It has no place in today's necessary pursue of harmony diplomacy to resolve the extreme disparities of today's conflicting world.
Editor: Xia Xiaopeng
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TOPICS FOR FIRST INTERNATIONAL HARMONY RENAISSANCE SYMPOSIUM

Dear Participants,

WHO First International Harmony Renaissance Symposium(IHRS) call for papers will include and not limited to the following topics:

Harmony Renaissance, Harmony Philosophy old and new, harmony consensus, harmony diplomacy, harmony and nature, harmony science, harmony ecology, religious Harmony, harmony socialism, harmony declaration and harmony constitution. We can add more as we prepare our formal call for papers and the executive summary for the Symposium business plan. I have a suggested Harmony Declaration in my second book. I am ready to publish my third book. and the Proceeding for the First International Harmony Renaissance Symposium.

I believe soon countries will be drafting harmony clauses into their constitution based on universal writings of Harmony Declaration, just like democracy, human rights and freedom. As an ideal, harmony is more comprehensive, more sustainable, in keeping with nature's order more adaptable to the future world.

Keep up the good work and do not work too hard. Harmony tide is with us. We can enjoy ourselves. We are the pioneers. There is no deadline. We will always be at the crest of the tide as long as we have creativity and innovative ideas. This memo is published on our website http://www.worldharmonyorg.net/ and our blogsite http://www.worldharmonyforum.blogspot.com/

Best

Francis C. W. Fung, PH.D.
Director General
World Harmony Organization

Friday, June 22, 2007

XINHUA AND REUTER PURSUE HARMONY DIPLOMACY

www.worldharmonyorg.net
XINHUA AND REUTER PURSUE HARMONY DIPLOMACY COOPERATION
By Francis C. W. Fung, PH.D.

The following important 50Th anniversary celebration of Reuter and Xinhua cooperation is drastically under reported by U.S. media. Perhaps the corporate dominated U.S. media finds that harmony diplomacy news does not fit its agenda nor has the right entertainment and sensational value. This omission of significant East and West media harmony exchange is a great insult to the intelligence of the American public.

World Harmony Organization(WHO) deems it important to cover outstanding examples of harmony diplomacy in work. This is the value we place on world harmony renaissance and world harmony diplomacy watch. When two of the largest East and West news agencies meet to renew friendship, mutual respect and trust it will have profound effect on even handed world news reporting. World understanding and harmony between East and West will surely be enhanced by this festival celebration.

Xinhua News Agency and Reuters on Thursday,June 21,2007 held celebrations in the Great Hall of the People to mark five decades of cooperation. Xinhua President Tian Congming and Reuters Chief Executive Officer Tom Glocer unveiled a photo exhibition, comprising about 120 classic cultural and diplomatic exchange photographs, taken by correspondents from Xinhua and Reuters. The exhibition is a fascinating, historical record of a range of political, economic, scientific, technological, cultural, educational and sporting events over the years. The following are excerpts from Xinhua Net with ith opinion and concluding remarks from World Harmony Organization.

"Over the past 50 years, Xinhua and Reuters have exchanged visits and staff at many levels and have signed a series of cooperation agreements," Tian said to the gathering. Reuters was the first Western news agency to forge a cooperation with Xinhua. In May 1957, the two news agencies signed a deal on news story exchange. "I am delighted to see how healthy the cooperation between our two organizations is," Tian said, citing a recent joint training class for Olympics reporters in Beijing. Tian said Xinhua-Reuters cooperation can blossom as long as the two sides abide by the principles of "mutual respect, close consultation, a long-term perspective, mutual trust and mutual benefit."

"Over the last fifty years we have shown that an open and constructive relationship can produce great achievements," Glocer said in his address. Quoting the Chinese proverb "a book tightly shut is only a block of paper", Glocer said the Reuters-Xinhua relationship is an open book. "Today we move to the next of many chapters." Among the approximately 100 representatives at the celebrations were two pioneers of Xinhua-Reuters ties --- Peng Di, the first Xinhua correspondent in London, and 80-year-old David Chipp, the first Reuters correspondent in Beijing.

Founded in 1931, Xinhua News Agency is the most authoritative news agency in China and an international provider of multimedia news and information services. Based in Beijing, Xinhua runs 33 domestic bureaus and 102 overseas bureaus. Xinhua provides round-the-clock news and information services in nearly 200 countries and regions in eight languages: Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Portuguese and Japanese.

Senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Li Changchun on Thursday called on Reuters to report China as it is. "Reuters should be a bridge in helping the world obtain a better understanding of China and report China as it is," Li said in a meeting with a Reuters delegation headed by Reuters chairman Niall Fitz Gerald. Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also hailed the good partnership between Xinhua News Agency and Reuters over the past fifty years.

Li said exchanges and cooperation among news organizations of different countries have become increasingly important as the world has entered an era of information and globalization. Fitz Gerald hailed China's rapid development in economic and social sectors. He said Reuters would like to carry out a more effective partnership with Xinhua.

OPINION AND CONCLUDING REMARKS FROM WORLD HARMONY ORGANIZATION .
As important as Xinhua News as a leader of world media, its professional and even handed reporting of world news, Xinhua is still relatively unknown in the U.S. Those who know, look at Xinhua with jaundiced eyes suffering from the ill effects of 50 years of cold war infection. They are so colored by the U.S. media some readers' vision to this day, unfairly shuns Xinhua news. WHO feels extreme injustice that this unfair misjudgment must not be left untreated.

I follow all important world news services in my writing on the Internet, Xinhua's reporting stands out with the greatest integrity exceeding many Western news media. Most of all Xinhua has progressed with the times with a modern world outlook, whereas there are other medias remain short sighted and waddling in the sting pool of bygone days and engaged in confrontational, name calling, scavenging and mud slinging practices.

One of the excuses for discounting Xinhua news is that it is affiliated with Chinese Government. This casual judgment without due diligence is even carried by a large cross section of Chinese Americans. Yet this group of so called intellectuals highly regarded the reporting of BBC and Christian Science Monitor in international news. They seem to be impervious to the fact that one is government affiliated the other is a religion supported media. Through out my school days in America I enjoyed reading international news carried by Christian Science Monitor.

In my over 50 years of foreign affairs study and research I encountered countless mindless obvious propaganda and finger pointing reporting of China by the Western press of highest repute. Many Western reporters when it comes to the unfamiliar East are inclined to be Euro-centric and biased. To those professional journalists still engage in digging dirt today, I advice them please read Xinhua News for a balanced outlook.

To quote an English sayings "Do not judge a book by its cover but by its contents" and "Judge a tree's merits by the fruits it bears." I for one practice "Do not judge heros by their humble background but by their deeds." Simply put, as independent thinkers we must read and investigate before we mete out casual judgment. These days in international news Xinhua is a must read media to be in touch with the real world with a balanced view.

Having vented my indignation let me get down to the business how I seriously think WHO can help. From WHO's up to date investigation as documented in our two recent papers on harmony diplomacy, America is ready and yearning for an end of the long siege of confrontational madness. The papers are entitled "Harmony Diplomacy Essential for World Development" and " Harmony Diplomacy in Work" are published by Xinhua Net.

One of the significant reasons for the lack of awarenesss of Xinhua by the U.S. public, is the ill effect of ethnocentric ommission of significant East and West exchange events as indicated here. This points out the importance of advocating harmony diplomacy. World Harmony organization has the responsibilty and duty bound to continue our world harmony renaissnce and harmony diplomacy watch.

The Motto for harmony diplomacy for the 21st Century is rightly so "Mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual development. Carry a strategic and long vision." The old American wisdom that is being revived by some "Speak softly and carry a big stick" is so 19th century. It has no place in today's necessary pursue of harmony diplomacy to resolve the extreme disparities of today's conflicting world.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

CALLING FOR THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON WORLD HARMONY RENAISSANCE

www.worldharmonyorg.net

World Harmony Organization(WHO) is calling for the First International Symposium on World Harmony Renaissance with themes on harmony renaissance, harmony philosophy, harmony consensus, harmony diplomacy, harmony economics, harmony politics, harmony ecology, harmony Constitution and harmony religion and so on. We welcome contributions from international educational institutes, think tanks, organizations, corporations and distinguished individuals who are interested in pursuing world harmony renaissance for a better and sustainable world. The first symposium will take place in North America.

For current and state of art articles on world harmony renaissance one may search world harmony renaissance, harmony renaissance, harmony diplomacy, harmony consensus and harmony socialism on Google and Yahoo as a start. The world wide web is very lively with above harmony topics. Our published harmony papers are also top listed. For more articles please also visit our blog site http://www.worldharmonyforum.blogspot.com/ To keep posted on how to submit papers and prizes that will be awarded to selected essays please visit our website http://www.worldharmonyorg.net/ or contact us through our website.

We have the pleasure to discuss with Xinhua as one of the many event sponsors, so the event will also add value and name recognition to Xinhua's market expansion in North America and the world. At the on set we would include Xinhua in drawing up our plans because of our past successful joint publications. Xinhua, will be the sole source of 2008 Olympic wire service news from Beijing. It is important for the world to know Xinhua.

Essays submitted to WHO will be published on blog site
http://www.worldharmonyforum.blogspot.com/ There are already over 50 harmony essays published on the site. Selected papers submitted, at the sole discretion of Xinhua and other sponsoring organizations will also be published by Xinhua Net and other wewsites.

There will also be a Proceeding of the Symposium of essays jointly selected by Xinhua and WHO which will be published by World Harmony Organization. Authors selected for publication on the Proceeding will be awarded incentive prizes. Amazon and Borders, the two largest Internet book sellers in the world will feature and carry the printed copies of the Proceeding for sale. This will further promote the ideal of World Harmony Renaissance beyond the coverage provided by Xinhua Net and its wide network of associates. In this way the Xinhua brand and the individual authors will be further recognized by world readers interested in world harmony renaissance.

As I mentioned during our meeting, America and the world are looking for alternate solutions out of our conflicting world towards the next phase of human achievement. Only harmony renaissance can assure our sustainable development and collective creative energy renewal. World harmony renaissance will bring us to the next level of accomplishment beyond European renaissance.

As demonstrated by mine and other authors' papers published on harmony diplomacy, conflict resolution ideas and organizations are being proposed and resonating world wide including
America. Harmony renaissance will be the leading philosophy in the 21st century, applicable not only in international affairs but all areas of human interactions extending from individual, family, national to international relations.

Ideas submitted on "Harmony Constitution" can be drafted into constitutions of individual nations who wish to keep up with the world harmony renaissance tide. This is not unlike the past trend of drafting democracy and human rights clauses into nations constitution. Based on my published essays, "Harmony Constitution" can be more comprehensive and in keeping with modern society progress and sustainablity than democracy constitution of the past.

WHO is unique for first proposing the concept of "Harmony Renaissance" and "Harmony Constitution" to the world at the beginning of 21st century. Our contribution will be judged by our legacy.

Harmony Renaissance Symposium will be of great value in enhancing Xinhua's new world image. The combined synergistic energy of WHO and Xinhua can greatly increase name recognition for Xinhua that cannot be denied. Especially Xinhua also distributes copies of the Symposium Proceeding through its network and to its clients.

I believe there is no better platform, no better opportunity, no better timing and no better place for us to launch our First International Symposium on Harmony Renaissance from North America now. It is time for harmony renaissance and a large part of the world to stand up on the world stage at the beginning of 21st century. World Cultural flow must be Miltie directional and not only from the west to the east.

World Harmony Organization will collect, edit the submitted papers and initially publish them on our blog site http://www.worldharmonyforum.blogspot.com/. The only obligation for Xinhua and other sponsors is to subscribe to a minimum copies of the Proceeding for their own use and distribution. There is no risk or responsibility involved for the sponsors. WHO will do all the work and take full responsibility.


SERVICE TRADEMARKS PROTECTING WORLD HARMONY RENAISSANCE SYMPOSIUM
Harmony Renaissance is a great platform and we have the service trade mark rights. Together we will lead the world to true multilateralism in the 21st century because harmony will finally give a refreshing voice to a very large part of the world on world stage like never before. Our rallying cry will lead to world participation and make harmony the universal creative energy for a better and more understanding world. There is no need to be bashful as an innocent young bride. It will be the final opportunity for the universal harmony truth to seek the recognition it deserves or never.

Xinhua is already in the running on world harmony forum on the Internet. The debut of the international series of Harmony Renaissance Symposium from North America is the official coming out event. This will enhance the world image of Xinhua as a leading world media sponsoring Harmony Renaissance. The positive impact on Xinhua will be unsurpassed by any other undertaking. It represents a quantum jump for Xinhua into world media leadership circle.

We are moving into the 21st century with the tide of Harmony Renaissance in an authoritative position. In the eyes of the world preconception, Xinhua's participation will be perceived in history as a great movement from the old cold war mentality to the unavoidable future multipolar world. The past preconception is the past. Let our Harmony Renaissance action speak for itself. There is no need to pretend bashful when harmony will become a universal truth essential for human creative thinking.

WHO look for continuing more in depth cooperation with Xinhua and other news media and organizations. We believe "World Harmony Renaissance", "World Harmony Diplomacy", "Harmony Constitution", "World Harmony Renaissance Symposium" and "World Harmony Renaissance Festival" will become household words. Most important, they are all legally protected service trade marks.

Francis C. W. Fung, PH.D.
Director General
World Harmony Organization

Sunday, June 17, 2007

HARMONY DIPLOMACY IN WORK

Harmony Diplomacy in Work
www.chinaview.cn 2007-06-18 10:11:57
www.worldharmonyorg.net
By Francis C. W. Fung, PH.D.
BEIJING, June 18 (Xinhuanet) -- The U.S. media, which accustomed to confrontational cold war diplomacy, has been slow to recognize the signs of world harmony diplomacy on the rise. The profit-driven, corporate and military complex dominated American media looks sluggish when faced with the tide of win-win mutual development between nations.
It remains to be seen if the U.S. media will finally learn world harmony diplomacy and move forward to the 21st century.
Besides the overbearing American foreign policy, the condescending attitude in the media for the past 50 years, is also to blame for the mistrust created between the States and other nations. A change of heart in American media will certainly help to create a better world understanding for the U.S. government to continue practicing world harmony diplomacy.
The following are major current event stories showing signs of harmony diplomacy on the rise drastically under reported by the U.S. media.
On Wednesday May 23, 2007, Chinese and American officials ended a key economic dialogue in Washington in agreement.
The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary of Treasury, Henry Paulson and China's Vice Premier Wu Yi.
During the two day Second Strategic Economic Dialogue, top economic officials from the two countries discussed topics covering areas of service, investment, transparency, energy and environment as well as growth balance and innovation.
As witnessed by the fact sheet jointly issued at the closing, the two sides reached consensus on how to move forward on financial services, civil aviation, energy and environment as well as signing a number of specific agreements.
One cannot help but notice that the tone of the fact sheet shows great diplomacy at work. This consensus is surprising because of the perennial trade friction between the two nations, particularly in light of the climate of the China bashing, which resulted from the recent Congressional trade protectionism mentality.
In contrast to past foibles, President George W. Bush made the correct diplomatic choice for U.S.-China relations, as well as for world harmony.
At a White House press conference, Bush said that the just concluded U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue is "important" and there has been some progress achieved at the dialogue, stating that "this is an important dialogue. And it's one that I thank the Chinese government for engaging in."
Bush also met with Vice Premier Wu Yi in the White House Oval Office and said he appreciates China's willingness "to work with strategic dialogues in order to put in place the type of measures that reflect a complex relationship."
To set the proper tone for the consultation and consensus, the principle negotiators from both sides were careful in their statements. "Thanks for the careful attention and joint efforts from both sides, the second meeting of the strategic dialogue achieved great success," said Wu. The economic and trade relationship between China and the U.S. is one of the most complicated in today's world, she said. The SED provides an excellent platform for both sides to "further understanding and trust in terms of strategic issues."
Vice Premier Wu added 揈qual consultation, cooperation and win-win have become the overall situation and defining nature of China-U.S. relations, both being stakeholders and constructive partners."
"Politicizing economic and trade issues is absolutely unacceptable, since it is of no help but will make the situation more complicated, harm bilateral economic and trade relations or even cause serious negative impact on the progress of overall China-U.S. ties," she added.
On his part, Paulson said that U.S. and China both understood that "getting the economic relationship right is vital not only to our people, but to the world economy." Paulson also said, "The purpose of this on going dialogue is to have candid discussions and find ways to ease, rather than increase tensions."
"Now and then, the peace of the world and the progress of the world required close cooperation between the two peoples of the U.S. and China" said Henry Kissinger at the opening of the dialogue. "The most advanced industrialized country and the country that is growing at the fastest rate have the unique opportunity to set an example for the rest of the world of cooperation and vision."
The consensus reached through the SED consultation clearly demonstrated the merit of practicing harmony diplomacy. Harmony is fostered by acceptance, respect, equity and humility. This type of no fault, win-win consultation can lead to complementary solutions between any two nations. The SED fact sheet may serve as a model of harmony diplomacy with humility, practiced by two great nations with wisdom. It is often important to carry a long vision and not always a big stick in harmony diplomacy.

Details of the six party talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsular coming out on April 11, 2007 are very encouraging. It clearly shows that the two strong contending sides are giving ground and reached some consensus through long painful discussions and consultations. This is how harmony works through discussions, consultations and consensus. Until the announcement, the accord all seemed but impossible. Not so long ago President Bush called "North Korea as part of the 'Axis of Evil'." From World Harmony Renaissance perspective this event may spark a series of events that signal the beginning of harmony at East Asia.
By implementing the Nuclear Disarmament Pact, U.S., China, Russia, Japan, South Korea will have to help DPRK recover. That means major countries across both sides of the pacific will work together for mutual development. North East Asia development has a lot of potential. The Accord calls for "Within 30 days: Five separate working groups meet on denuclearizing, normalizing U.S.-North Korea relations, normalizing of North Korea-Japan relations, economy and energy cooperation, and peace and security in Northeast Asia."
Be what it may, this proved the importance of harmony diplomacy to give the fair historical perspective to the whole aftermath of the cold war era. The need for mutual development will pave the way for a more harmonious world.

Editor: Xia Xiaopeng

WORLD HARMONY ORGANIZATION TEAM MEMBERS

http://www.worldharmonyorg.net/

WORLD HARMONY ORGANIZATION TEAM
As the leading world harmony renaissance think tank we are growing with harmony by leaps and bounds. Our organization structures are designed to accomplish mission tasks by Commissions directly, effectively and with sense of responsibility.

Commission for U.N. Relation headed by Albert, Chang and Albert Cheung
Commission for U.S.- China Relation headed by C.C. Tien(stand in for Peter Tien), Jack Tien, John Delfavero and Francis C.W. Fung
Commission for Harmony between Washinton Consensus and Beijing Consensus headed by Francis C. W. Fung and John Delfavro
Commission for U.K.-China relation headed by Eric Chipps
Commission for Canada-China Relation headed by Morgan Steacy
Commission for Africa-China relation headed by Lee P. Der
Commission for Unity of Religion headed by Nushin Mavadatt, Peter Numann and Rana Chang
Commission for World Harmony Cultural Festival headed by Spencer Chase, Terry Rucker, Tatiana Ganenko, Sheila Chipps, Peter Lam, Sophie Tse and Terry Luk.
Commission for International Harmony Renaissance Symposium headed by Morgan Staecy, Dean Jacob Perea and Francis C. W. Fung
Commission for Ecology and Energy headed by John Delfavero and Francis C. W. Fung
Commission for Harmony and Natural Science headed by Qin Nanji
Resident Legal Adviser Leon Jew
Media Relation headed by Iris Lei and Tina Wang supported by Sheila Chipps and Inna Elbert.
Financing and Business Development headed by John Delfavero and Lee P. Der
Executive secretary Julia Devendorf

Francis C. W. Fung, PH.D.

Director General
World Harmony Organization

Friday, June 15, 2007

SIGNS OF WORLD HARMONY DIPLOMACY ON THE RISE

SIGNS OF WORLD HARMONY DIPLOMACY ON THE RISE
BY FRANCIS C. W. FUNG, PH.D.

(I) INTRODUCTION

The U.S. media, which accustomed to confrontational cold war diplomacy, has been slow to recognize the signs of world harmony diplomacy on the rise. The profit-driven, corporate and military complex dominated American media looks sluggish when faced with the tide of win-win mutual development between nations. This necessitates the development of world harmony diplomacy as presented in my last article "Harmony Diplomacy Essential for World Development" ( Xinhua Net World Opinion, May 22, 2007). For related articles on harmony diplomacy and world harmony renaissance please visit www.worldharmonyforum.blogspot.com

Amazingly enough, America, embroiled for over fifty years in the cold war, made the decision to allow, at present, more than 3500 of its citizens to die in a war in Iraq, before realizing that humility rather than arrogance can create strong relationships and build the bridges that will one day lead to harmonious relations. The simple act of the U.S. becoming more understanding and accepting of other cultures will unquestionably influence many other nations to do the same. Specifically included among those that may change is Japan in its relationship with China. It remains to be seen if the U.S. media will finally learn world harmony diplomacy and move forward to the 21st century.

Besides the overbearing American foreign policy, the condescending attitude in the media for the past 50 years, is also to blame for the mistrust created between the States and other nations that are now hostile to our foreign policy. A change of heart in American media will certainly help to create a better world understanding for the U.S. government to continue practicing world harmony diplomacy. The following are four major current event stories showing signs of harmony diplomacy on the rise that are under reported by the U.S. media.

(II) SIGNAL OF US-CHINA HARMONY DIPLOMACY

A news event, of major significance, signalling American-Chinese harmony diplomacy was drastically under reported by the US media. On Wednesday May 23, 2007, Chinese and American officials ended a key economic dialogue in Washington in agreement. The meeting was co chaired by Secretary of Treasury, Henry Paulson and China’s Vice Premier Wu Yi. During the two day Second Strategic Economic Dialogue, top economic officials from the two countries, including dozens of cabinet ministers, discussed topics covering areas of service, investment, transparency, energy and environment as well as growth balance and innovation.

As witnessed by the fact sheet jointly issued at the closing, the two sides reached consensus on how to move forward on financial services, civil aviation, energy and environment as well as signing a number of specific agreements. One cannot help but notice that the tone of the fact sheet shows great diplomacy at work. This consensus is surprising because of the perennial trade friction between the two nations, particularly in light of the climate of the China bashing, which resulted from the recent Congressional trade protectionism mentality. One may also wonder if perhaps we are seeing the first signal of US-China harmony diplomacy from the Bush administration.

This change of heart can even be noted in the President’s own words. In contrast to past foibles, George W. Bush made the correct diplomatic choice for US-China relations, as well as for world harmony. At a White House press conference on Thursday, Bush said that the just concluded US-China Strategic Economic Dialogue is “important” and there has been some progress achieved at the dialogue, according to Xinhua news, stating that “this is an important dialogue. And it’s one that I thank the Chinese government for engaging in”. Bush also met with Vice Premier Wu Yi in the White House Oval Office on Thursday, and asked her to pass a message to Chinese President Hu Jintao that he appreciates China’s willingness “to work with strategic dialogues in order to put in place the type of measures that reflect a complex relationship.”

To set the proper tone for the consultation and consensus, the principle negotiators from both sides were careful in their statements. “Thanks for the careful attention and joint efforts from both sides, the second meeting of the strategic dialogue achieved great success,” said Wu, acting as the special envoy of Chinese President Hu Jintao. “The economic and trade relationship between China and the US is one of the most complicated in today’s world,” she said. “The SED provides an excellent platform for both sides to further understanding and trust in terms of strategic issues.” For his part, US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said that US and China both understood that “getting the economic relationship right is vital not only to our people, but to the world economy.”

In their opening statements Henry Paulson also said, very appropriately, “The purpose of this on going dialogue is to have candid discussions and find ways to ease, rather than increase tensions.” Vice Premier Wu added “Equal consultation, cooperation and win-win have become the overall situation and defining nature of China-US relations, both being stakeholders and constructive partners.” “Politicizing economic and trade issues is absolutely unacceptable, since it is of no help but will make the situation more complicated, harm bilateral economic and trade relations or even cause serious negative impact on the progress of overall China-US ties”

“Now and then, the peace of the world and the progress of the world required close cooperation between the two peoples of the US and China” said Henry Kissinger at the opening, referring to the historic visit by the former President Richard Nixon to China in 1972. “The most advanced industrialized country and the country that is growing at the fastest rate have the unique opportunity to set an example for the rest of the world of cooperation and vision.” Henry Kissinger’s observations of 35 years ago may finally come to fruition by way of American-Chinese harmony consensus, and the ensuing World Harmony Renaissance.

The consensus reached through the SED consultation clearly demonstrated the merit of practicing harmony diplomacy. Harmony is fostered by acceptance, respect, equity and humility. This type of no fault, win-win consultation can lead to complementary solutions between any two nations. The SED fact sheet may serve as a model of harmony diplomacy with humility, practiced by two great nations with wisdom.

(III) SIGN OF HARMONY IN THE EASTERN FRONT, SIX PARTY NORTH KOREA DENUCLEARIZATION

Details of the Six nations denuclearizing pact coming out on April 11, 2007 are very encouraging. It clearly shows that the two strong contending sides are giving ground and reached some consensus through long painful discussions and consultations. This is how harmony works through discussions, consultations and consensus. Until the announcement yesterday the accord all seemed but impossible. Not so long ago our President Bush called North Korea part of the "Axis of Evil”. This major world event may not receive the attention it deserves. But from World Harmony Renaissance perspective this may spark a series of events that signal the beginning of harmony at East Asia.

By implementing the Nuclear Disarmament Pact U.S., China, Russia, Japan, South and North will have to help North Korea recover. That means major countries across both sides of the pacific will work together for mutual development. North East Asia development has a lot of potential. North Korea's economic stagnation dated from Korean War some 50 years ago may see a way out. The Accord calls for "Within 30 days: Five separate working groups meet on denuclearizing, normalizing U.S.-North Korea relations, normalizing of North Korea-Japan relations, economy and energy cooperation, and peace and security in Northeast Asia.”

I would have reported this important break through with a lot more enthusiasm than the U.S. press for sure. Be what it may, this proved the importance of harmony diplomacy to give the fair historical perspective and the whole aftermath of the cold war era. Some of you may still remember the cold war confrontation era. As momentous as those years were the left over effect may be solved by the necessity of mutual and harmonious development. The need for mutual development will pave the way for a more harmonious world. Solution for uniting North and South Korea, China and Taiwan will be the promise of mutual development through harmony diplomacy. The unification of West and East Germany and the return of Hong Kong to China, both situations showed that the aftermath of cold war era can easily be forgotten and harmony of feuding brothers can be achieved.

(IV)US-IRAN DIPLOMATIC THAW AFTER 27 YEARS

Following is an excerpt from Xinhua News"TEHRAN, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian official said on Tuesday that his country adopts proactive diplomacy to help restore Iraq's security, the official IRNA news agency reported.Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on political affairs, said that Iran showed goodwill during negotiations with Iraqi and U.S. officials in Baghdad.His remarks came one day after Iranian and U.S. ambassadors met in Baghdad to discuss Iraq's security during the first high-level direct official talks between the arch-foes in 27 years.

Velayati said that Monday's meeting was a token of understanding shown by Iran in helping remove ambiguities and a call for the change of the arrogant literature from certain U.S. officials against Iran.U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker on Monday urged Iran to stop supporting Iraq's militia in the rare but "positive" meeting with his Iranian counterpart in the Iraqi capital.Crocker said at a news conference that his talks with Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Hassan Kazemi Qomi was "positive" and "business-like" and both parties agreed for a stable Iraq.The ice-breaking talks, held in the residency of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, is the first for the United States and Iran since the diplomatic relations of the two countries have been severed for more than a quarter century.

Analysts said though the high-profile talks achieved no breakthrough as what U.S. and Iranian officials expected, it marked a shift from isolation to engagement in the U.S. policy toward Iran on Iraqi issues."Is this sign of harmony diplomacy in the Middle East?

(V) FROM ICE TO NICE, EXPECT CHINA-JAPAN PROGRESS

The following is excerpt by permission from Xinhua net as an example of how harmony diplomacy can promote mutual development.

BEIJING, May 29 -- China-Japan relations have taken a turn for the better since Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's "ice-breaking" visit to China late last year and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's "ice-melting" journey to Japan last month, after going through twists and turns over the last decade or so.

After the rapprochement in 1972, Sino-Japanese relations made impressive advances. Starting from the mid-1990s, however, the bilateral ties began to zigzag through uncertainties. As a result, friction between the two sides became increasingly intensified and ever more frequent. By the end of 2005, contacts between the top leadership of the two countries were completely suspended, a low point for bilateral relations.The worsening of the bilateral ties not only did harm to the two nations' strategic interests but also aroused grave international concern.

In October 2006, the new Japanese prime minister paid an official visit to China. Both sides reached consensus on overcoming political obstacles, pushing forward bilateral relations, restoring connections between Chinese and Japanese leaders, evaluating the development roads taken by the two countries, sticking to the approach of jointly developing the East China Sea resources, and building mutually beneficial relations based on common strategic interests.

During the Chinese premier's Japan visit in April, the two sides gained more common ground on handling the major disputes between the two countries. They reached agreement on the basic principles and content of the mutually beneficial strategic relationship and on concrete steps to achieve the goal.The two sides have reached consensus on promoting connections between their top leadership. Impressive progress has been made in a short time.A certain degree of mutual trust between the top leaders plays a unique role in promoting the bilateral ties. Top Chinese and Japanese leaders have made official visits to each other's countries, in addition to their three meetings on different international occasions.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

MEETING WITH XINHUA HIGH LEVEL DELEGATION

Date:
Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:57:33 -0700 (PDT)
From:
"Francis Fung"
Subject:
meeting with Xinhua high level delegation
To:
"francis fung" contact@worldharmonyorg.net

Dear Bureau Chief Zeng and General Manager Zhang,

We at World Harmony Organization were greatly honored by your visit yesterday. We greatly appreciate your work in supporting world harmony renaissance. The potential for our cooperation is great. It is the most significant historical undertaking of our time to bring peace and harmony to the conflicting world.

Now that we have built a platform to pursuit world harmony movement through our publications, we are planning newsworthy world harmony cultural festival and world harmony renaissance conference events. We look forward to your support and cooperation here in the U.S and the world. As an independent world think tank dedicated to pursuit of world harmony we value contributions from the world. Harmony belongs to the world. World harmony begins with U.S.- China harmony consensus.

World Harmony Organization and World Harmony Institute are non profit and nonreligious corporations dedicated to the pursuit of world harmony. Our names are registered exclusively to pursuit our mission under categories of education, conferences,publications, Internet promotion, cultural activities and large scale entertainment events. We have also taken out proprietary services trade marks such as world harmony, Harmony renaissance, world harmony festival, world harmony renaissance center, world harmony ambassadors and world harmony volunteers. These are our intellectual properties that will protect our future investment in harmony undertakings from here on. For more info on trade marks please refer to our website www.worldharmonyorg.net

We look forward to our continue discussions of cooperation in specific world harmony publications, conferences and event projects. I will get back to you with specific suggestions after consulting with our directors. Thank you again for your significant visit. Our Chinese harmony renaissance and world harmony renaissance books are available from www.amazon.com

Best regards,

Francis C. W. Fung, PH.D.
Director General
World Harmony Organization

RESPONSE TO XINHUA HIGH LEVEL DELEGATION VISIT

Subject:
Re: meeting with Xinhua high level delegation
Date:
Thu, 14 Jun 2007 08:05:21 +0800
From:
" Peter A." last name withheld by request
To:
francis@worldharmonyorg.net
Dear Francis,

Thanks for the update, I hope you and the family are well. I think it
is wonderful to see the concept of a "harmony" paradigm being promoted
in the media. So much of Western cultural history has been based on a
conflict paradigm (crusades, competition for scarce resources, clash of
civilizations, political struggle, etc.). It is extremely important to
open people's minds to unity, universal love and harmony as governing
principles of society, the world and the universe.
Best regards,
Peter

Sunday, June 10, 2007

REVIEW OF HARMONY ESSENTIAL TO HUMAN RIGHTS

Francis C. W. Fung’s most recent essay, “Harmony Essential to Human Rights” has struck a cord that I believe to be invaluable at this stage of human existence. His focus here is clear from the title but his approach to the topic is unique and insightful. With contributions to this topic as common as they are, it is difficult to find an article that sheds new light on the subject, but this is just what Fung has done.
Human rights are considered by most to be equal and inalienable for all people regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or nationality. Fung has posited that, while this is an ideal goal to strive for, it is necessary to understand that each individual nation has limitations that create obstacles in the path of human rights development. He further notes that it is possible that behaviour that could be perceived as a human rights violation in one place may well be a legitimate course of action in another. China’s one baby policy exemplifies his point perfectly because of the fact that this is a case where the seeming infringement of one’s human rights is, in fact, a boon to the greater good.
Creating the elaborate web of infrastructure necessary to operate a fully functional society bereft of so-called human rights violations requires discernment of the needs of that particular society along with a stable economy. Given the fact that China’s population crisis has created a situation wherein many are unable to provide the necessities of life for children due to a lack of facilities and resources, it seems unconscionable that the North American media should pass judgement so readily without sufficient knowledge or personal contact with the situation. The idea that a blanket of human rights, conceived by the Western world, is able to cover any situation is egocentric and more importantly inaccurate.
Having identified the problem as being an inability to understand the varied needs and values of nations as they relate to the implementation of human rights, Fung goes on to suggest that it is the imminent Harmony Renaissance that could reveal the solutions. Harmony requires that people allow for the differences between cultures without passing judgement. It requires that people take the time to ask questions and make decisions after they have heard the answers.
The concept of ritual is instrumental to Confucianism and may lend itself well to this discussion. The tenet holds that in carrying out ritual properly one becomes a human being. The performance of ritual requires genuine interaction with another individual or individuals. If we were to think of every moment as being ritualised, we would be forced to connect to the other that we intend to judge rather than simply imposing our own standards upon the other on whom those standards have no bearing.
Excusing nations for all violations of human rights is certainly not what is being called for. Nor is Fung necessarily claiming that each nation should independently determine the degree to which human rights can be provided. Rather the importance of what Fung is claiming lies in the acknowledgement and acceptance of difference. The manner in which a country behaves is determined by its history, its geography, its current socio-economic make-up and intangible cultural traits. Without a profound understanding of all factors involved it is impossible to understand decisions made. It is with this outlook that modern leaders and citizens must enter the global-political realm and replace careless judgements with calculated decisions based in the growing tide of harmony.
Morgan Steacy, York University, Department of East Asian Stu

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

HARMONY ESSENTIAL FOR WORLD HUAMN RIGHTS

HARMONY ESSENTIAL FOR WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS
By Francis C. W. Fung, PH.D.



In the U.S. media human rights is used as a one sided absolute standard rather than relative progress to judge developing countries who are striving to improve. At the same time there is a noticeable lack of self criticism of America’s own human rights records. This double standard often leave many developing nations suspicious of American motives. Even though seeds of human rights are contained in teachings of major world cultures, its development to keep pace with modern world is rather recent. Essential human ideals such as harmony, freedom and democracy, judging from world cultural history certainly all predated and had far more thorough study by many cultures old and new than human rights. Just as harmony and democracy, human rights is also a broad principle indeed. As much as is generally agreed by the civilized world that human rights is important and necessary, as a universal common value its agreed scope and its method of implementations are still developing. This lack of consensus is obvious from the current great debate that takes place in U.N. and on world stage.

For representative East vs. West debates on human rights, one is referred to two recent excellent papers. First one authored by Prof. Albert H.Y. Chen, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Hong Kong, entitled “Chinese Cultural Tradition and Modern Human Rights.” Second one is a featured story published Nov. 24, 2006 by People’s Daily Online, entitled “Harmony: China’s Creation to Promote Human Rights.” It is fair to point out, elements for and against human rights were contained in both East and West cultural heritage. The modern development of human rights in the West is not cultural specific to the West but has universal significance and general applicability for all cultures. In fact the ideal of universal benevolence and universal education were the corner stones of Confucian teaching. The Chinese civil examination was the first historical large scale comprehensive system to provide equal advancement opportunity to all its citizens.

In the first paper, Prof. Chen concluded “Thus it would be possible for us to rehabilitate the virtues and insights of Confucianism and other precious elements in the rich and great Chinese cultural tradition which modern Chinese deserve to feel proud of, and simultaneously work for the further democratization and better protection of human rights in China of the 21st century. This, I believe, is the way forward for China, and the lesson finally learnt from the immense sufferings which the Chinese people have endured in the throes of modernization in the last two centuries.” This on going process of improving human rights in different degrees, with the progress of modern human society is applicable to all other nations and U. S. is no exception. In fact as the most prosperous major nation in the world, the U.S. massive penal correction system failed to stop the crime rate from being the highest in the world. This is a sign of societal imbalance in education vs. penal correction in the application of human rights principle.

In the second paper, Dong Yunhu, Secretary General of the China Society for Human Rights Study also rightly pointed out “The value of human rights is universal, but the dynamic of its implementation varies in different countries.” The Hon. Makarim Wibisono, Indonesian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the U.N., added “The idea of harmony being connected to human rights is significant and relevant to Asian culture, which are largely rooted in Confucianism. Harmony certainly can render the concept of human rights more approachable to many who are not familiar with the notion.” Prof. James Williams of North Carolina University not untypical of U.S. main stream thinking said “In Asian countries at large, governments are keen to advocate cultural factors playing a role in universal rights, acting on the principle that the individual rights conflict with a wider social harmony and stability, citing Asian values as contradictory to a Western notion of universality.” This type of thinking is not in touch with Asian reality when the debate is no longer in the general acceptance of human rights but in the scope, the dynamic of its implementation and the historical setting.

Implementation of human rights in a complex society of vast population is a study in engineering system analysis. The key lies in dynamic balance of a multitude of parameters. Human rights progress requires painstaking monitoring and iteration by the willing society. Casual and judgmental statements from the U.S. media and government often miss the point and are counter productive. China’s birth control policy to prevent over population is an overwhelming necessity not just for China but for world development sustainability. But it conveniently became the target of perennial attacks by the U. S. media. That is why a higher order universal criteria such as harmony as common value, may be used to judge the progress of human rights in some cases where global development sustainability are at issue. Harmony is essential to world human rights development because it is nature’s order and it prescribes dynamic balance in engineering system analysis. Harmony includes the universal common value of tolerance, respect, equity and most of all humility. It can also be called the concept of scientific development for sustainable development. Harmony consensus as a standard naturally comes to mind when today’s world conflict continue to exist despite well intentions from major religions and intentional laws. To quote Dong Yunhu “Social harmony relies on justice and the right to development because both poverty and injustice are the roots of disharmony in the world.”

The recent Virginia Tech massacre and similar frequent mass murder occurrences in the U.S. are the consequence of the government’s inability to enforce stricter gun control laws. Most civilized world sees the proliferation of guns in a society is a threat to the majority citizen’s human rights. The American government’s reluctance to control the unnecessary spread of guns is a left over problem unique to the U.S. historical setting. It is up to the U.S. to solve its own disharmony. No other countries are able to enforce it from outside short of invasion, even though the spread of guns by American citizens also endanger world human rights. Individual nation’s human rights must be built on its firm sovereignty foundation. A country not respecting the sovereignty of other nations by advocating overt forceful regime changes is in serious violation of world human rights. The tragic catastrophic Iraqi civilian sufferings, as a result of U.S. invasion, is a lesson of violation of human rights lacking harmony consideration to be learned by all.

In a recent book titled “Keeping faith in our values in a dangerous world”, Anne-Marie Slaughter, the renowned Dean of Princeton University Woodrow Wilson Institute, advocated including tolerance, humility and faith into American system of values. She also suggested that American practice “value based foreign policy” to improve our image, so that our spreading of human rights and democracy can be more effective. Her theory is well founded but short of the more universal ideal of harmony diplomacy and mutual win-win development already in practice by parts of the world. Harmony is an ancient ideal that belongs to the world. It is accepted by many cultures East and West. It is an extensive system of common values and certainly more inclusive than just adding tolerance, humility and faith to American value system.

One can also have faith in harmony, which in time will work its way by resonance. The truth of harmony diplomacy includes the spirit of working with all nations in the world. Between any two countries there exist complementary advantages for mutual win- win development. Preconception of incompatibility is counter to harmony ideal of tolerance, acceptance and respect of others. It also negates the value of humility in practicing tolerance and acceptance. Madam Slaughter proposed working with NATO nations, English speaking and other major nations for the propagation of American values and “value based foreign policy”. Yet in her list of “preferred” nations, many significant nations including China, Russia and other obvious nations who have disagreements with us are noticeably absent. World human rights practice must also include respect of all cultures.

The scope of human rights also grows with social and economic modernization of a society and must be in harmony with the society and nature. From the very beginning nature also imposes boundaries on our human rights aspirations. Harmony as dynamic balance is nature’s order. It exists as a higher order guide applicable to affairs of family, society, nations and the world. When there is no harmony as in todays confrontational world, extremism results and human rights are threatened. Human rights ideal is a universal truism but we must allow cultural diversity in scope, cultural emphasis and historical sequenced difference in implementation within a well planned engineering system. As much as there is engineering system analysis in the implementation of human rights in a nation there needs to be the same consideration in world human rights.

The world needs harmony diplomacy through dialogue and consensus to maintain world human rights. It is within the realm of U.N. and not the judgmental whim of any one nation, no matter how powerful we are. The weak in their anguish has limited means must be persuaded to refrain from suicide mode. The powerful, with dominant media and military, needs to practice humility. To minimize confrontation through extremism and unilateralism it is time for all to advocate harmony diplomacy and win-win mutual development. Thus harmony is essential to world human rights as a supranational universal guidance and system engineering analysis milestones in the dynamic implementation of world human rights.