President Catherine Connolly has said "languages should never divide us" while on an official three-day visit to Northern Ireland.
Speaking at Ulster University in Belfast, President Connelly said Irishness is as "varied as those who identify with it, in whole or in part, our games, our music, our languages".
"And I want to emphasise languages should never divide us, they are integral to this island's cultural wealth.
"These are our shared treasures," she said.
President Connolly also said the Good Friday Agreement stood as an example to the world that peace was possible.
She said she will play her part to deepen good relations on the island of Ireland.
"As President, I look forward to playing my part in deepening relationships on this island.
"We won't always agree, in fact life would be a very dull place if we all agreed.
"We will have different perspectives which are crucial when we have dominant narratives in the world.
"Now more than ever, we need different perspectives and of course, different aspirations for the future and I want to acknowledge that publicly.
"All those perspectives and aspirations are legitimate but I believe deeply that we are made richer by different traditions on this island," President Connolly said.
Watch: President Connolly scores with a no-look shot as she shoots hoops in Belfast
She said the people of Ireland were multi-layered with complex identities.
President Connolly added that to leave out any part of that shared heritage was to "make false the whole".
She called on people to recommitt to peace and reconciliation.
The trip over the border is President Connolly's first official visit of her presidency.
She was greeted at Stormont Castle by First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly this morning.
After meeting Stormont politicians, the President met a cross-community group called the Peace Players.
The event was held at a sports centre attached to Queen's University.
Peace Players is an organisation which uses basketball to build reconciliation between young people from both communities.
Over the years, it has provided sporting opportunities to thousands of young people, allowing them to forge friendships across the political and religious divide.
President Connolly demonstrated her basketball skills by shooting hoops, including one with her back to the ring.
The trip fulfils a commitment in her inauguration address that her first official visit would be to Northern Ireland.
In her speech, President Connolly said she would meet with people from all communities and celebrate their rich heritage and traditions.
The President also visited a number of community initiatives in Belfast.
The visit will continue tomorrow and Friday with engagements in Derry.
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