Source: Renmin University of China    Published: 2024-10-24

By Renmin University of China

The Tongzhou Global Development Forum (2024) was held at the Beijing Grand Canal Museum and the Beijing City Library, cultural landmarks in Beijing’s urban sub-center, from October 18 to 20

The forum was hosted by Renmin University of China (RUC) and jointly organized with the People's Government of Tongzhou District, Beijing Municipality. Under the theme of “Fostering a Community of Shared Development and Building a New Era of Humanity Together,” it explored and explained a series of important issues closely related to human social development, aiming to promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation alongside the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Over the three days of the forum, more than a thousand guests from over 40 countries engaged in deep discussions, sincerely sharing experiences and discussing global development and human civilization.

On the evening of October 18, Ban Ki-moon, the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations(UN), Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia(BFA), and Chairman of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future, attended the forum's welcome ceremony and delivered a special speech. Zhang Donggang, Chair of the University Council of RUC, delivered a welcome address, while Lin Shangli, President of RUC, hosted the ceremony.

Ban Ki-moon expressed gratitude to RUC and the People's Government of Tongzhou District, wishing for the success of the upcoming Tongzhou Global Development Forum (2024). He stated that this forum addresses timely issues such as multilateralism, global governance reform, new energy, climate, food systems, and security. He emphasized the need to unite and move forward together to provide a sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous future for the world and humanity, injecting new vitality into the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and creating a better tomorrow.

Ban Ki-moon, Zhang Donggang, and Kim Sook, Chief Representative of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation's Beijing Office, jointly inaugurated the Innovation Center for the Integration of Chinese Calligraphy and Traditional Culture at RUC.

On October 19, the Tongzhou Global Development Forum (2024) officially opened. Attendees included Xiao Jie, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress; Chen Zhou, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee(IDCPC); Mu Peng, Secretary-General of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality; Zhang Donggang, Chair of the University Council of RUC; Le Yucheng, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Zhu Guangyao, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance; and foreign guests such as Danilo Türk, former president of Slovenia and president of the World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid; Djoomart Otorbaev, former Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic; Han Seung-soo, former South Korean Prime Minister and President of the 56th United Nations General Assembly; Solly Mapaila, General-Secretary of the South African Communist Party; Dev Gurung, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre); and Grzegorz W. Kolodko, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Poland, Director of Transformation, Integration and Globalization Economic Research at Kozminski University in Warsaw.

Over a thousand foreign dignitaries, representatives from international organizations, diplomats in China, renowned scholars, entrepreneurs, and media representatives from more than 40 countries attended the forum.

During the opening ceremony, Xiao Jie, Chen Zhou, and Mu Peng delivered speeches, with Lin Shangli presiding over the event.

Xiao Jie stated that China is currently advancing modernization with high-quality development, which will provide new opportunities for global development. He emphasized that China will closely link its destiny with that of people around the world and work together to be builders of world peace, contributors to global development, and guardians of international order, jointly promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Chen Zhou noted that political parties are the source of national policy, and their governance capacity is closely related to global development. He expressed hope that political parties from various countries would build a consensus on development, practice multilateralism, strengthen cultural exchanges, and work together to promote modernization, contributing to creating a new era for humanity.

Mu Peng mentioned that Beijing is a modern international metropolis that blends historical culture with an innovative spirit. He stated that Beijing will steadfastly deepen reform and expand openness, actively participate in and deepen international cooperation, and share the results of high-quality development with countries worldwide.

In his remarks, Lin Shangli indicated that the forum aims to innovate and grasp the current global development situation, strengthen confidence in development, reshape development concepts, explore development pathways, and co-create development results, providing important insights and beneficial references for building a community of development together.

Zheng Xinye, Vice President of RUC, released the university's latest report on global development at the forum — Humanity 2050: Comprehensive Human and Social Development.

Highlighting the challenges in the economic, environmental and social sectors, as well as potential solutions, the report also emphasizes the negative impact of technological competition and the risk of decoupling on achieving sustainable development goals.

Danilo Türk stated that the report Humanity 2050: Comprehensive Human and Social Development provides an excellent response to the theme of “Fostering a Community of Shared Development and Building a New Era of Humanity Together,” highlighting RUC's responsibility in nurturing social leadership, perceiving major issues of the times, and leading future development.

Djoomart Otorbaev emphasized that the forum gathers participants with the common goal to discuss effective strategies for globalization and modern construction. He called on governments and educational institutions to collaborate, focus on basic research, strengthen discipline construction and talent cultivation, create excellent platforms for technological innovation, and harness global talents for sustainable development.

Solly Mapaila mentioned that "seeking development" is a core issue and common discourse for the "Global South." He urged the Global South to unite and cooperate to seize this unprecedented development opportunity and continuously promote South-South cooperation and North-South dialogue.

Dev Gurung remarked that in the context of various global development challenges, the forum's convening and the report's release hold significant meaning for building consensus and constructing a better world.

Grzegorz W. Kolodko expressed that the forum’s theme underscores the important mission that universities and the intellectual community should undertake in responding to global development issues.

The International Advisory and Development Committee of RUC and the International Advisory Committee for the Tongzhou Global Development Forum were established, with Danilo Türk, Djoomart Otorbaev, Solly Mapaila, Dev Gurung, Grzegorz W. Kolodko, and John Ross, former Director of Economic and Business Policy for the Mayor of London, Honoree of 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award, Non-resident Senior Fellow, Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China (RDCY), appointed as the first members of both committees. Danilo Türk was appointed as the Chairman of the Tongzhou Global Development Forum.

Also, the Area Studies “1+N” Global Cooperation Alliance was established. The overseas social media account, for the urban sub-center of Tongzhou District, Beijing, @Tongzhou, Beijing, has officially launched, along with the global premiere of the district's international promotional video.

Focusing on "Building Global Consensus on Development and Looking Toward to  2050 Together," experts and scholars engaged in strategic dialogue. Zhu Guangyao, John Ross, Le Yucheng, Guillermo Barreto, Director of the Strategic Analysis and Communication Department of the Simón Bolívar Institute in Venezuela, and Wu Xiaoqiu, a national professor and Dean of the National Financial Research Institute at RUC, discussed current issues in global development, challenges to achieving sustainable development goals, causes of these challenges, and effective responses based on global experiences. CGTN host Wang Guan moderated the discussion.

Qian Chengdan, Professor of Peking University and Founding Director of the Institute of Regional and Country Studies, Jin Xin, Director of the Research Office of the International Department of the CPC, and John Ross shared insights on "Global Development and Security: Challenges and Opportunities."

Zhang Donggang delivered the closing remarks and presented four action initiatives aimed at comprehensive human development by 2050. Zheng Xinye presided over the session.

Zhang Donggang stated that the Tongzhou Global Development Forum is the first international forum organized by Chinese universities around the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is the first mechanized international forum implementing President Xi Jinping's "Global Development Initiative," promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity and upholding common values for all humanity, with "global development" as its theme.

The Tongzhou Global Development Forum (2024) issued four action initiatives aimed at comprehensive human development by 2050. Firstly, jointly forming a collaborative force to realize the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Secondly, sharing practical experiences that promote global development and modernization. Thirdly, focusing on world development by 2050, guiding progress toward comprehensive development of people and society. Fourthly, preventing significant development crises by 2050 and avoiding major global challenges.

The forum established 11 sub-forums covering topics such as “Global Intelligent Governance and New Forms of Human Development,” “Belt and Road Connectivity and Establishment of a New Global Economic Order,” “Practicing Multilateralism and Promoting Global Financial Governance Reform,” “Party Governance Capacity and Modernization of Global South Countries,” “New Energy and Global Climate Agenda,” “Global Food Systems and Security,” “Focusing on Global Green Development and Building a Beautiful World,” “The Process of Multi-cultures and the Development of Global Civilization,” “Youth Innovation Vitality and the Future of Global Development,” “Reflections on a Century of Theory: Building a New Model for Global Development,” and “Global Challenges and Governance: Policy Strategies from China’s Youth.” Participants engaged in discussions and released related reports and initiatives.

The forum received special support from Ye Chenghai, a 1963 alumnus of RUC and founder of Shenzhen Xintai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

The Tongzhou Global Development Forum was founded in 2023 by RUC and is jointly organized with the People's Government of Tongzhou District, Beijing Municipality. It aims to create a high-end dialogue platform for political, academic, and business leaders to discuss global development strategies, producing original and forward-looking high-quality research outcomes from three dimensions: global development, global security, and global civilization, providing theoretical guidance and intellectual support for the development practices of China and the world.