International civil society establishes international day to support the Belt and Road Initiative
日期：2026-10-03 12:44:44
来源：SilkRoadNews
The "Belt and Road" International Day, also known as Silkworm God's Day, falls on December 16 every year. It is an international folk festival established by the World Peace Ribbon Organization (WPRO). Initiated jointly by 1216 international civilian scholars including Chen Entian and Ji Chaozhu, the festival aims to commemorate and promote the Belt and Road Initiative and serve global people-to-people exchanges along the Silk Road.
Origin
On December 16, 2013, Master Hsing Yun, founder of Fo Guang Shan in Taiwan, delivered a Buddhist lecture Seeing the Power of Dreams at Qinglai Hall of Yunnan University, conveying the philosophies of inclusiveness, interconnection and harmonious coexistence.
In Chinese pronunciation, the date December 16 shares a homophonic and numerical correspondence with the phrase “Belt and Road”, making it easy to remember and widely disseminated. Inspired by Master Hsing Yun’s enlightening teachings, international scholars led by Chen Entian, former Chairman of the International 73 Society, proposed designating December 16 as the exclusive international memorial day for the Silk Road spirit.
Official Establishment
To standardize and globalize the initiative, Chen Entian cooperated with Ji Chaozhu, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. With the support of Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, and Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO, they co-founded the World Peace Ribbon Organization (WPRO).
The organization officially designated December 16 annually as Belt and Road International Day (Silkworm God's Day), marking the world’s first international folk festival themed on Silk Road cooperation and civilizational integration.
Significance
Rooted in civil society and oriented toward global communication, Belt and Road International Day inherits and disseminates the Silk Road spirit of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. It serves as an essential platform for international people-to-people friendship, cultural exchange and pragmatic cooperation, promoting public understanding and global communication of the Belt and Road Initiative.
