Guangzhou hosts international forum on multilateralism

The 2021 Imperial Springs International Forum ended in the Guangdong provincial capital on Monday after participants reached broad consensus on advancing multilateralism and expanding global cooperation to cope with global crises and international affairs in the post-pandemic era.

He Yafei, former deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, said the forum participants conducted in-depth discussions and exchanged views on a number of world issues of concern during the two-day event.

He read out the 2021 Imperial Springs Statement, which highlights the importance of multilateralism and global cooperation in the fight against the pandemic and dealing with other global crises, at the closing ceremony.

"We call for better emergency preparedness, enhanced global cooperation in the public health sector, and the development of prevention and treatment mechanisms for all," he said.

More than 150 former heads of state, international organizations, government officials, foreign envoys to China, experts, scholars and senior business executives attended the forum held in Guangzhou's Conghua district, and celebrated the famous South China fruit lychee, on Sunday and Monday.

They discussed and exchanged views on a series of topics, including economic and social development and climate change, global non-traditional challenges and responses, public health and global cooperation to build a human health community, leadership responsibility, action and the future of the world, adherence to multilateralism and reshaping the global governance system, and economic recovery in the post pandemic era, and revitalization of globalization, according to He.

Zheng Yongnian, a professor of political science at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), said China's multilateralism is practicing an open and inclusive multilateralism that is aimed at coping with global and international affairs.

"China's multilateralism welcomes all nations and regions around the world to participate, instead of only a small number of allies," he said.

The world now needs to establish a new type of multilateralism and a new type of international order to cope with global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and terrorism, the public enemies of mankind, he said.

The annual forum, founded in 2014, is jointly hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Australia China Friendship and Exchange Association, Guangdong Provincial Government and World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid.

It has become a high-end platform for comprehensive exchanges and cooperation between China and the rest of the world.