Global Experts Gather at Peking University to Address Global Challenges and Foster Cooperation
Beijing, The Gulf Observer: Around 100 university experts and scholars from China and around the world gathered at Peking University (PKU) on Wednesday for the opening of the two-day Global Conference on University-affiliated Think Tanks 2024. The conference focused on promoting cooperation to address pressing global challenges, including development, security, and the exchange of civilizations.
The event brought together leading intellectuals to explore new pathways for global prosperity, discuss solutions for global security, and foster mutual understanding across different cultures. Key themes included climate change, energy transition, food security, technological innovation, international relations, and cultural exchanges.
In a video speech, Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, commended China’s leadership in tackling global challenges. Sachs highlighted China’s three major global initiatives – the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative – as significant contributions to addressing interconnected issues such as environmental degradation, economic inequality, technological shifts, and geopolitical tensions.
“Each of these initiatives provides crucial solutions and promotes global solidarity, which are necessary to confront the shared challenges of our time,” Sachs remarked.
Discussions at the conference also underscored the importance of green industrialization in combating global warming. Justin Lin Yifu, dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at PKU, emphasized the need for global cooperation to achieve carbon peak targets, with more developed nations assisting those facing greater challenges.
“The responsibility to address climate change lies not only with the most industrialized nations but with all nations working together,” Lin said.
Academician Jin Zhijun from the Chinese Academy of Sciences added that cooperation in energy transition and technological innovation is key to addressing global issues. He stressed that global scientific collaboration to produce cleaner and more affordable technologies would make a significant contribution to human civilization.
Gordon G. Liu, dean of PKU’s Institute for Global Health and Development, called for shared global values to address pressing concerns such as climate change and global health. “We need common values that guide us toward building a community with a shared future for mankind,” Liu stated.
The conference was attended by scholars from prestigious institutions including PKU, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Korea University, and Istanbul University, among others.
A key highlight of the conference was the launch of the Global University-affiliated Think Tanks Network, an initiative led by PKU in collaboration with numerous renowned universities worldwide. The network aims to provide intellectual support to tackle global challenges and promote sustainable global development.
Through these discussions and partnerships, the conference serves as an important step towards fostering international collaboration to meet the complex and interconnected issues facing the world today.
