Ink of Peace: Fu, Cultural Diplomacy, and the SDGs at the UN
- Ahmed Fathi
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
By: Ahmed Fathi
UNHQ, New York: At the UN headquarters in New York, where carefully planned speeches often start and end disputes, a different kind of message quietly entered the global conversation. It didn't come from policy papers or statements; it came from the beautiful movement of a brush dipped in ink.
Li Guiming, a Chinese artist and calligrapher, had only one old character with him: Fu (福), which means "blessing." Fu is more than just a word; it stands for the global hopes of happiness, peace, and prosperity. These are ideals that bridge nations and cultures, and they feel especially important right now when things are so unstable.
"This character Fu may be little, but it means a lot. It stands for everyone's desire for a better life. Giving Fu is giving peace, goodwill, and understanding, which is the heart of cultural diplomacy. — Li Guiming
Li gave the UN a calligraphy piece called Peace and Fu to celebrate its 80th birthday. It was both a cultural gift and a subtle challenge: a reminder that the knowledge of the past can help us work together to make the world a better place. His work is in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16, which is about peace, justice, and strong institutions. This shows that symbols from the past can still mean something in the present.
Li said, "Peace is the foundation of Fu, and Fu is the fruit of peace." This is the basis of a philosophy that says countries should work together in peace.
Li's brushwork is based on hundreds of years of tradition, but when it was shown at the United Nations, it became something else: pure diplomacy. Culture becomes soft power here, making connections where politics too often makes walls. In this manner, his art parallels SDG 17, which is about making collaborations stronger around the world.
Li noted that each stroke has the capacity to "cross civilizations and spark emotional resonance." It brings people together when words don't work. Dialogue was resurrected in those lines of ink, not as a negotiation but as an understanding.
Li also wants to make sure that this knowledge is shared. He doesn't just consider calligraphy as an art form that should be conserved; he sees it as a teacher in its own right. Kids learn to be patient, respectful, and peaceful by doing it. With the help of modern technology, such lessons can now go farther than ever before. They can go across continents, into classrooms and communities, and onto the screens of a digital age.
"Calligraphy teaches kids how to be patient, respectful, and peaceful. Technology takes this understanding even further, so that everyone can feel the blessing of Fu they want.
— Li Guiming
Li's calligraphy became more than just ink on paper at the UN. It became a bridge that linked Beijing to New York, the old to the new, and ink to action. His message was clear: peace and blessing go hand in hand. It was both simple and deep.
The whole film package, Ink of Peace: Fu, Cultural Diplomacy, and the SDGs at the UN, tells the narrative of this one-of-a-kind act of cultural diplomacy in which brushstrokes became bridges and one character held the weight of hope for all of humanity.