2021 Imperial Springs International Forum opens in Guangzhou

Liu Lisha

O n Dec 5， the 2021 Imperial Springs International Forum opened in Guangzhou， Guangdong province. It was co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries， the Australia China Friendship and Exchange Association， the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and the World Leadership Alliance Club de Madrid.

President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the opening ceremony via video in Beijing. Vice-President Wang Qishan attended the ceremony and gave a speech. Li Xi， a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee， and Dr. Chau Chak Wing， president of the Australia China Friendship and Exchange Association， also attended and addressed the forum. Danilo Türk， former president of Slovenia and president of the World Leadership Alliance de Madrid， attended via video and gave a speech. Officials of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and Guangzhou Municipal Committee and heads of relevant departments also attended the event. Lin Songtian， president of the CPAFFC， presided over the opening ceremony and addressed the welcome dinner.

More than 150 participants from five continents attended the forum on-site or online， including 28 former heads of state， government and international organizations； diplomatic envoys from 14 countries and consuls general； officials of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and Guangzhou Municipal Committee； over 30 experts and scholars from Chinese and foreign high-end think tanks and media representatives； and 20-plus business representatives from China and other countries. More than 130 journalists from more than 30 mainstream media outlets reported on the forum live.

In his speech， President Xi stressed that in today’s world， mankind is experiencing multiple crises rarely seen before. In the face of emerging global problems and challenges， he said， the world should stay committed to openness， inclusiveness， consultation and cooperation. It should uphold multilateralism and actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. He emphasized three key points：

First， we should stick together and practice true multilateralism. The essence of multilateralism is that international affairs should be handled by all through consultation. The future of the world is in the hands of all countries. We should firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core， the international order based on the international law and basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We should promote the common values of peace， development， equality， justice， democracy and freedom of all mankind， Xi said.

Second， we should keep up with the times and constantly improve the global governance system. We should reform and improve the global governance system on the basis of extensive consultation and consensusbuilding in light of changes in the global landscape. We should adhere to the general direction of democracy in international relations， increase the representation and voices of developing countries in international affairs and work to make the global governance system more just and equitable.

Third， Xi said， we should focus on actions and implement the global cooperation agenda. A global development initiative was put forward to build a community with a shared future for worldwide development. He said we look forward to the active participation of all parties. We should give priority to development， he said， while promoting cooperation in poverty reduction； anti-epidemic measures and vaccines； financing for development； green transformation； and connectivity to bring the world to a new stage of balanced， coordinated and inclusive development.

Xi noted that an important historical experience gained during the CPC’s 100 years of struggles is to keep the world in mind and pay close attention to the future and destiny of mankind. China will not change its commitment to multilateralism. We will firmly uphold core values and basic principles of multilateralism， adhere to mutual benefits and win-win results， seek common ground while shelving differences， safeguard equity and justice and pursue development through cooperation to contribute wisdom and strength to the progress of human civilization.

Wang Qishan said in his remarks that the world today is at a new crossroads. The international community needs more than ever to build consensus， strengthen confidence and promote common development.

He emphasized that the Chinese nation has always advocated that people should establish themselves and also help others. The Chinese nation values peace， harmony and inclusiveness， he said， and will firmly uphold multilateralism， explore common development， promote mutual learning among civilizations， advance solidarity and win-win cooperation and work together to meet new challenges faced by all mankind. China will continue to open up to the outside world at a higher level， share opportunities with other countries and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind， he said.

Danilo Türk spoke highly of Xi’s speech. He said it once again conveys to the world China’s determination to truly commit to global cooperation. He believed that global problems call for global solutions and that only effective multilateral cooperation can solve them. Global cooperation helps countries promote social development and work together to address climate change and other global challenges. The World Leadership Alliance de Madrid will remain committed to advancing multilateralism.

Chau Chak Wing said the forum’s theme — Multilateralism 2.0： Global Cooperation in the Post-Pandemic Era— expressed the common aspiration of all parties to uphold multilateralism and strengthen global cooperation. It is hoped that participants will have indepth exchanges and reach consensus on the theme， and contribute wisdom and strength to global cooperation in the post-pandemic era.

Participants all praised Xi’s speech as strategically minded， with a global vision and far-reaching significance. It grasped the pulse of the world and has provided Chinese solutions and wisdom and sent out a strong voice of the times for the world to understand the situation， keep the right direction， promote global cooperation and actively build a community with a shared future for mankind.

They said that all countries， big or small， strong or weak， should uphold the common values of mankind， adhere to multilateralism and democracy in international relations， promote the new concept of win-win cooperation and common development and abandon the old mentality of “you lose， I win”and “zero-sum” games. Rather， people should work together to overcome difficulties and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

The Imperial Springs International Forum was jointly founded in 2014 by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Australia China Friendship and Exchange Association. The forum has held six sessions， widely recognized and participated by guests from 44 countries on five continents， including former heads of state， government， and international organizations， wellknown friends from home and abroad and elites from all walks of life. It has developed into a mechanism and platform with a global reputation for high-level people-to-people dialogue.

This year， participants from around the world had in-depth exchanges and discussions on the speeches of the Chinese leaders， the theme of the forum and six sub-themes， hoping to offer suggestions， build consensus and make contributions to global cooperation in the post-epidemic era.

The opening ceremony of the forum was a great success.