Former U.S. president Bill Clinton said on Thursday that Nelson Mandela's legacy of recognizing common humanity rather than differences should always be kept alive.
Clinton, who is in South Africa for the celebration of the former South African president's 89th birthday, said it was important for people across the world to remember and live by the practical implications of Mandela's legacy.
The most important part of Mandela's legacy is that "our common humanity matters more than our differences," Clinton said at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg.
"Our differences are wonderful, they make life more interesting, but our common humanity matters more," said Clinton.
"It is the most important part of his legacy because it's at the heart of every single problem that our children and grandchildren will face," he said.
Clinton was delivering a lecture at the opening of an exhibition commemorating Mandela and former president of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), Chief Albert Luthuli.
The exhibition, entitled "Making Peace," explores the relationship between Luthuli and Mandela and the role of peacemaking in a South African context.
Luthuli was the ANC leader when the organization decided to embark on an armed struggle against the apartheid regime. Mandela led ANC three decades later as the organization negotiated a peace settlement with the regime, which eventually led to reconciliation and democratic elections in 1994. Both Luthuli and Mandela won Nobel Peace Prizes.
The exhibition was also part of activities to highlight Mandela's legacy as the internationally acclaimed statesman turns 89.
Clinton said he tried to come to South Africa annually around the time of Mandela's birthday.
"I want to see my friend and because he's been the inspiration of much of what I've done," said Clinton, whose foundation has committed to anti-AIDS and poverty relief campaigns in Africa since his retirement in 2001.
Source: Xinhua
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