Beijing Forum 2022 themed "The Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All, Creating a Future for Human Civilization: Trust, Dialogue and Cooperation"Photo: Courtesy of Peking University

Beijing Forum (2022) commenced  to explore the subject of forming an intertwined community of shared destiny through mutual trust, dialogue and close cooperation.

Themed "The Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All, Creating a Future for Human Civilization: Trust, Dialogue and Cooperation," the forum sheds light on a wide range of pressing issues, including climate change, global security, and global population patterns, etc after its opening ceremony in Beijing on Friday.

The forum is attended by a string of well-known scholars and experts including ten foreign ambassadors and representatives from New Zealand, Egypt, and African Union.

PKU President Gong Qihuang delivering an opening speech Photo: Courtesy of Peking University

"Universities should continue to enhance openness in education and act as a bridge connecting various civilizations, improve the frameworks for international cooperation on innovation,  pool wisdom to tackle common problems facing mankind, seize the opportunities brought by digital and smart technologies and cultivate innovative talents who can lead on the global stage," Peking University President Gong Qihuang delivered an opening speech at the forum on behalf of PKU.

"The [Beijing] forum remained a valuable platform for deepening mutual learning and understanding among civilizations of the world," and has become "instrumental in promoting extensive international cooperation and global discourse for world peace, socioeconomic development and civilizational progress," Shahbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, sent a congratulatory letter to the Beijing Forum.

Apart from the main forum, 2022's Beijing Forum also comprises 12 sub-forums as well as one overseas sub-forum, putting the spotlight on pressing issues including climate change, air pollution, global security, and global population patterns.

UNESCO Director-General Audre Azoulay delivers a speech via a video link. Photo: Courtesy of Peking University

UNESCO Director-General Audre Azoulay remarked that 2022's forum was timed "at a critical moment in our international agenda." She enumerated a series of problems perplexing the world such as inflation, poverty, climate crisis, the global pandemic, racism, gender discrimination, to name but a few. She stressed that to address the aforementioned issues, it is essential for the whole world to "come together again." 

"We need dialogue. We need to build trust and understanding. We need this authentic, meaningful dialogue to overcome the problem and forge hope," Azoulay pointed out. "We must unite their forces to implement and identify the best solutions to promote dialogue and cooperation."

Xia Linmao delivers his speech at the Beijing Forum (2022). Photo: Courtesy of Peking University

Xia Linmao, secretary of Education Work Committee of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee extended his warm congratulations to the forum on behalf of the Beijing municipal government. 

Xia pointed out that in recent years, through continuous efforts, Beijing has built itself into an important window for the exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, in which Beijing Forum has played as a bridge to promote cultural exchanges as well as dialogue and cooperation between China and the rest of the world. "I hope to see that through the platform of dialogue at the Beijing Forum, scholars from various countries can continue to promote understanding and friendship, so as to share wisdom for the global development and the future of mankind," he said.

Huai Jinpeng extended his congratulations tothe forum on behalf of the Ministry of Education. "Facing new opportunities and challenges in the new era, the Chinese educational community stands ready to work with countries from all over the world to undertake the mission of creating a better future for mankind through education," the minister added.

The Beijing Forum, initiated in 2004, is an annual event organized under the Beijing Government. Over the past 19 years, the academic event has been joined by more than 7,000 dignitaries and famed scholars from over 80 countries and regions.