Warsaw, Poland - May 30, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Cultural exchange event in progress
2. Various of singing performance in progress, audience watching
3. Various of performance of traditional Chinese instrument Guzheng in progress

Poland - June 9, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Grzegorz W. Kolodko, former Polish deputy prime minister (starting with shot 3):
"I do appreciate it very much, cultural exchange, because it teaches people to be more open for different ideas, different views. And it also shows how to be. Tolerance because we do differ from cultural viewpoint and the more cultural exchange there is, I think there is a bigger chance to respect the other cultures and that is always a good contribution to political and economic cooperation. The more cultural exchange, people to people contacts, the better for economic performance and peaceful cooperation."

Warsaw, Poland - May 30, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
5. Audience watching performance at cultural exchange event
6. Participants eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings)
7. Various of participants doing handwork
8. Various of participants at event

Poland - June 9, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Grzegorz W. Kolodko, former Polish deputy prime minister (starting with shots 7-8/partially overlaid with shot 10):
"I'm a marathon runner. I know what is the long run, long distance. My metaphor about a marathon to which you refer is that where you are running and running and running, and after 42 kilometers at last there is the board, the finish. So economic and political exercise, cultural exchange, it's a never-ending story, it is much more than a marathon and endurance is a good advice here. The more patience we have to accept the difference in culture, the better for all of us."

FILE: Warsaw, Poland - Jan 29, 2025 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
10. Various of performance, audience at cultural event for Chinese New Year
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
11. Various of participants trying Chinese calligraphy
12. Martial arts performance

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Poland's former deputy prime minister and finance minister emphasized the critical role of cultural exchange in fostering mutual understanding amid rising geopolitical tensions as the world marks the first UN International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. 

Grzegorz W. Kolodko shared his insights in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) and said: "I do appreciate it very much, cultural exchange, because it teaches people to be more open for different ideas, different views. And it also shows how to be. Tolerance because we do differ from cultural viewpoint and the more cultural exchange there is, I think there is a bigger chance to respect the other cultures and that is always a good contribution to political and economic cooperation. The more cultural exchange, people to people contacts, the better for economic performance and peaceful cooperation." 

Kolodko, now an economist and director at Warsaw's Kozminski University, stressed that cultural exchanges strengthen political and economic ties by promoting openness and tolerance. Based on his marathon runner experience, Kolodko likened cultural dialogue to a long-distance effort requiring patience and persistence. 

"I'm a marathon runner. I know what is the long run, long distance. My metaphor about a marathon to which you refer is that where you are running and running and running, and after 42 kilometers at last, there is the board, the finish. So, economic and political exercise and cultural exchange are never-ending stories; they are much more than marathons, and endurance is good advice here. The more patience we have to accept the difference in culture, the better for all of us," he said. 

He noted that bridging cultural divides is a continuous process, unlike a race with a clear finish line.   

This year is the first celebration of the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, which the 78th UN General Assembly session in 2024 unanimously adopted the resolution initiated by China and other 82 countries to designate June 10 each year as the Day.