BOAO, Hainan, April 20 (Xinhua) -- Intraregional dialogue in Asia, or East-East dialogue, can bring about greater mutual understanding among Asian civilizations, creating a proper and promising foundation for multilateralism, an Iranian scholar has said.

Addressing an online session at the Boao Forum for Asia on Wednesday, Hamed Vafaei, director of the Center for Asian Studies at the University of Tehran, said that Asia, a region with extensive, profound and diverse cultures, can be a region for deeper integration among civilizations.

Vafaei underscored that practical intraregional dialogue in Asia should come as the premise for greater exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations.

There needs to be substantial breakthrough first in dialogue among Asian civilizations themselves. "From here, we go on to promote West-East dialogue," he said.

Echoing the insight of ancient Iranian and Persian philosophers, Vafaei believed that humanity can have unity and diversity side by side, which means different civilizations can coexist and to certain degree mutually enhance.

On securing urgently-needed multilateralism, the scholar said the world should work in solidarity to counter unilateralism and hegemonism.

"Multilateralism needs a foundation, and here in Asia we have a foundation to practice our shared ideas and values," Vafaei said.