Beijing Forum 2020 Shines a Spotlight on Globalization

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2020北京论坛

在北京大学英杰交流中心隆重举行

新冠疫情之下

环球同此凉热

The Beijing Forum 2020 opened at Peking University on December 5, with bilingual live broadcasts across multiple platforms. This year, the international academic event, co-organized by Peking University, Beijing Municipal Education Commission, and Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, focused on post-pandemic global development with the theme of "The Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All — Globalization under the Impact of the Pandemic: New Challenges and Opportunities". Eminent thinkers from China and abroad were invited to offer insights and discuss global issues in light of the pandemic.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Qiu Shuiping, chairman of Peking University Council.

Seven speakers made addresses either online or in person, and they included Han Qide, vice chairman of the 10th and 11th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Peking University President Hao Ping, Vice Secretary-General of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee Zheng Dengwen, Chairman of the SK Group Chey Tae-won, Founder of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab, and former Prime Minister of Japan Fukuda Yasuo.

In addition, Qiu Yuanping, standing committee member of CPPCC, gave a special address which was chaired by Qian Chengdan, director of PKU Institute of Area Studies.

Han Qide, Vice Chairman of the 10th and 11th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

Zheng Dengwen, Vice Secretary-General of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee

Chey Tae-won, Chairman of the SK Group

Fukuda Yasuo, Former Prime Minister of Japan

Qian Chengdan, Director of PKU Institute of Area Studies

Qiu Yuanping, Standing Committee member of CPPCC

António Guterres

António Guterres extended his best wishes for a fruitful forum and recognized China's progress towards Sustainable Development Goals. Guterres also called for the world to learn the lessons from the public health crisis and stressed the importance of international cooperation. "We are advocating a massive rescue package for the world's most vulnerable people and countries, and for a people's vaccine available to everyone, everywhere … The decisions we make in the coming months will shape the lives of generations to come. International cooperation will be essential," Guterres said.

Hao Ping

Hao Ping shared his thoughts on the key missions higher education institutions should uphold in order to drive social progress in face of the pandemic. Specifically, Hao noted that universities must seek development in view of future and reform the education model. "From a long-term perspective, the impact of the pandemic on universities is not only 'transient', but it will reshape the mission, responsibilities, pattern and model of higher education and internalize them into the 'new genes' of universities," Hao added.

Klaus Schwab

Klaus Schwab shared his thoughts on the theme of the Beijing Forum 2020, and he believes that truth and trust are the most important building stones in the process of seeking harmony. "I'm very impressed by the Confucian notion of Hexie. I think we have to find again, an equilibrium in our world. We have to go away from the polarization, which we see now everywhere … We have now a window of opportunity to create this Global Reset which we all need," Schwab added.

Park In-kook, President of Chey Institute for Advanced Studies

Moreover, Park In-kook, president of Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, chaired a keynote speech session online in which five leading figures from academic and medical communities shared insights on the global outlook. The guest speakers included Joseph Stiglitz, professor at Columbia University, Stephen Toope, vice chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jerome H. Kim, director general of International Vaccine Institute, and Huang Ru, vice president of Peking University.

Joseph Stiglitz

Joseph Stiglitz, who is also the winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2001, made a keynote speech advocating global cooperation in times of multiple crises. "We need global cooperation to solve crises and the multiple other challenges, but, over the last few years, we've also had a crisis in global cooperation. The election of Joe Biden, I believe, is a turning point ... We need to reconstruct the post-pandemic economy in a way that is greener, more equal, more resilient, and more knowledge based," Stiglitz said.

Stephen Toope

After raising a series of thought-provoking questions on the challenges faced by universities in pre-COVID times that continue to persist till today, Stephen Toope examined the role of universities. Moreover, Toope stressed that academic institutions should find ways to continue to work together. "In tackling some of the big issues – from COVID to the climate crisis – we need the diversity of backgrounds, of views and of expertise that can only come from equitable, open partnerships. This, after all, is how knowledge is produced these days," Toope said.

Wu Zunyou, Chief Epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Jerome H. Kim, Director General of International Vaccine Institute

Huang Ru, Vice President of Peking University

In addition to the main forum, the Beijing Forum 2020 is comprised of eight sub-forums known as the Beijing Forum Webinar Series. The sub-forums dive deeper into a broad range of topics including the Chinese history studies in digital context, healthy China and health communication, international public policies in a turbulent world and more.

This year, guest speakers and distinguished scholars from China and abroad raised thought-provoking questions and offered insightful views on a range of issues like the great reset of globalization. Held annually since 2004, the Beijing Forum, with the overarching theme of "The Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All", has gathered a wealth of invaluable suggestions and insights that have helped generate outstanding academic advancement in the Asia Pacific region and around the world, witnessing more than 6500 renowned dignitaries and scholars from over 80 countries and regions in participation thus far.

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Beijing Forum 2020 Shines a Spotlight on Globalization

Writer: Li Wanqi, Lee Xin Ying Rachel, Ng Joong Hwee

Editor: Zhang Jiang, Huang Weijian, Jacob Tomkins

Photo: PKU Media Center

Video: Beijing Forum

Source: Beijing Forum

Designer: Pu Hairui