On November 15, 2022, Ambassador Dr. Ezzat Saad participated, on behalf of ECFA, in the virtual event of the China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE), in cooperation with the Silk Road NGO Cooperation Network (SIRONET) on “Enhancing International Cooperation and Solidarity among Civil Society Organizations to Build a Better World for All”. Ambassador Saad indicated that there is no doubt that an active civil society is necessary in all countries of the world, as it plays an important role in enriching the policy-making process, by creating a balance between the various actors of the political system, including presenting proposals and recommendations aimed at achieving development and progress. Also, countries that have strong civil societies are more integrated in international societies and forums, and more able to express the diversity and wealth of their civilization and people through the strategic role that civil society plays in this context.

Believing in the role of civil society, the United Nations has sought to strengthen ties with non-governmental organizations and encourage the latter to establish mutual ties with them, in order to achieve the objective of establishing an international community that enjoys security and peace, and in which the values of freedom, justice and equality prevail. For example: the possibility of these organizations obtaining consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, as well as cooperation with the civil society unit of the United Nations Department of Global Communications, which links the United Nations with nearly 1,500 non-governmental organizations.

In his report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, President Xi Jinping outlined a number of important points that provide a favorable environment for civil society to flourish and play its desired role in the development process. President Jinping stressed the importance of enhancing self-confidence and self-strengthening, and stoking the spirit of hard work and enthusiasm, solidarity and striving for nation-building. In his report, President Jinping considered that consultative democracy is an important form of implementing full people’s democracy. He also stressed the importance of raising the levels of consultation and interaction in an in-depth manner, expressing opinions sufficiently, and crystallizing consensus on a large scale. He also reaffirmed China’s commitment to its foreign policy goal of safeguarding world peace, promoting shared development, striving to advance the building of a human community with a shared future, and developing friendship and cooperation with all countries. The report also highlighted China’s adherence to the concepts of “sincerity, honesty, fraternity and frankness”. The CPC also expressed willingness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with political parties and organizations in various countries on the basis of the principles of “independence, full equality and mutual respect,” and encourage local governments and the non-governmental sector to make external contacts with other countries.

In this regard, it is hoped that SIRONET, which was announced by the Chinese President in May 2017, will be a blessed building block in this context, especially as it opens the door for the participation of civil society organizations in more than 60 countries located along the Silk Road. This was evident in the participation of more than 300 non-governmental organizations in the first forum of the Network in November 2017, when it was endorsed by both the Communist Party of China and the United Nations, while the members of the non-governmental organizations established the General Secretariat of the Network and adopted its Constitution. Perhaps one of the most important features of this distinguished network is its adherence to the principles of openness, inclusiveness, equality and mutual respect, with the aim of enhancing cooperation and coexistence among countries and achieving mutual benefits and sustainable development goals, in a manner that supports development and peace efforts that various international organizations, led by the United Nations, seek to establish and consolidate.