The title of this session invites us to reflect on a remarkable historical journey.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, many of the ideas that today form the foundation of democratic societies were still emerging, contested, and fragile. The concepts of representative governance, civic participation, freedom of expression, and the rule of law were aspirations rather than established realities.

Today, democracy exists across many parts of the world, yet we also witness growing scepticism, polarisation, division, geopolitical rivalry, disinformation, and declining trust in institutions. In many societies, people increasingly speak past one another rather than with one another.

This is precisely why cultural diplomacy matters.

Cultural diplomacy is often described as a softer dimension of international relations, but in reality its impact can be profound and strategic. Political agreements may open doors, but culture creates understanding. Governments may negotiate treaties, but people build cooperation and trust.

Art, literature, music, sports, education, academic exchange, science and historical dialogue possess a unique ability to humanise international relations. They allow societies to recognise complexity instead of stereotypes. They create spaces where disagreements do not automatically become hostility.

In a changing world, cultural diplomacy should not be viewed as a luxury or secondary instrument. It is an essential pillar of stability.

We are living in an era defined by rapid technological transformation, artificial intelligence, information overload, and global uncertainty. Digital platforms connect humanity instantly, yet they also deepen fragmentation and isolation. We are more connected technologically than ever before, but not always more connected intellectually or emotionally.

This creates a major challenge for democracies.

Democracy does not survive through elections alone. It survives through civic culture, public trust, education, open dialogue, the willingness to accept pluralism and minorities and the promotion of human rights. These are not only political values. They are cultural values.

And this is where forums such as this one become especially essential.

Global dialogue today must go beyond formal diplomacy. It must include universities, museums, artists, scholars, journalists, youth leaders, and civil society. That is why president Ivanov School of Leaders and the International Center Alliance of Civilizations are so important. International cooperation cannot depend solely on governments. It must also rest upon relationships between people and institutions.

History repeatedly demonstrates that societies become stronger when they remain open to ideas, innovation, and exchange. Dialogue encourages resilience, creativity, and mutual understanding. It allows countries to learn from one another and adapt successfully to change.

Across the world, we can also identify encouraging and constructive trends that deserve greater recognition.

Despite geopolitical tensions, international academic cooperation continues to expand. Cultural institutions increasingly collaborate across borders. Young people study abroad in greater numbers than previous generations. Scientific partnerships connect researchers from different continents. Digital communication, when used responsibly, allows ideas, knowledge, and cultural exchange to travel instantly across the globe.

We also see growing awareness that societies are interconnected. Challenges such as climate change, public health, technological governance, and economic stability increasingly encourage international cooperation rather than isolation a truly interdependence.

This should give us reason for optimism.

Around the world, there remains a strong global appetite for dialogue, exchange, and cooperation. Even in difficult periods, people continue to seek understanding beyond national borders.

At a time when international politics increasingly appears transactional, cultural diplomacy reminds us that international relations are also deeply human.

We should therefore invest more seriously in educational exchange programmes, academic partnerships, multilingual initiatives, historical research cooperation, youth mobility, and cultural platforms that encourage sustained international engagement.

We must also defend intellectual openness.

A confident democracy is not afraid of dialogue. It is not afraid of different perspectives. It does not isolate itself from the world. Instead, it recognises that global engagement strengthens democratic resilience.

The next decades will test the international system in many ways. We will face geopolitical competition, climate pressures, technological disruption, migration challenges, and social transformation.

No country, regardless of its size or power, can navigate these developments alone.

That is why the future of democracy will depend not only on political institutions, but also on our ability to preserve meaningful dialogue across borders, cultures, and generations.

Two hundred and fifty years later, the democratic project remains unfinished.

Its future will depend on whether we continue building societies capable of listening, learning, and cooperating with one another.

Cultural diplomacy is one of the most effective instruments we possess to achieve precisely that goal.

In a world where cultures are forged in encounter rather than enclosure,
where power resides in collective action and shared intent,
where progress demands the courage of intellectual transformation,
and where dialogue is not interruption but the very substance of history,
the future belongs to those who remain open to the world,
who choose comprehension over division,
and who understand that what endures is not separation,
but the quiet, persistent architecture of cooperation.

Thank you very much.

• Independent