On January 24th, the second Belt and Road Davos Forum, co-organized by Tsinghua University, the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), formally commenced in Davos, Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum is simultaneously being held.

Among the attendees of the forum are Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University, Mukhisa Kituyi, UNCTAD Secretary-General, Cao Wenlian, Director General of the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Damdin Tsogtbaatar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, Kobsak Pootrakool, Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office of Thailand, Zhu Hexin, Vice Governor of Sichuan Province, Qi Bin, Executive Vice President of the China Investment Corporation, and Tadashi Maeda, CEO of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, as well as other important guests from all over the world. Zhu Min, Secretary-General of the Belt and Road Davos Forum, hosted the opening ceremony of the Forum.

To mark the official opening of the forum, Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University, delivered an address, highlighting the theme of this year, “Interregional Cooperation for a New Globalization”. Qiu noted in his address that Davos is probably the best place to meet old friends and make new acquaintances in a short time with great efficiency, and he believed that Davos is a wonderful place to share the ideas of the Belt and Road Initiative with all the friends. Everyone in the world can make meaningful contribution to interregional cooperation and globalization through his or her own efforts. The universities can play a significant role in this regard given their comparative advantages in talent development and technological innovation.

Qiu also noted that last April, Tsinghua launched the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) with 15 founding members - a selective group of the most prestigious universities in their respective countries. In support to the Belt and Road initiative, AUA promotes cooperation and exchange among the universities in Asia. Qiu further mentioned that he had the pleasure to meet the President of Indonesia Mr. Joko Widodo and signed an agreement with the Minister of Industry on establishing a Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center in Indonesia during the Belt and Road Summit in Beijing, in May 2017. The Center will play an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative in terms of promoting people-to-people exchange, as well as international cooperation in education among China and Southeast Asian countries. In addition, Tsinghua has also signed agreements with many Belt and Road countries on the application of its cutting-edge technologies, such as the large container inspection system and emergency management system for public safety.

Qiu also noted that for thousands of years, the Silk Road Spirit “Peace and Cooperation, Openness and Inclusiveness, Mutual Learning and Mutual Benefit” has been passed from generation to generation. Today, with the same spirit, Tsinghua is fully committed to working closely with its international partners to explore the unlimited opportunities brought forth by the Belt and Road Initiative. Qiu Yong looked forward to meeting old friends again at the Belt and Road Davos Forum next time, and he also believed that new friends will continue to join the forum in the years to come.

Mukhisa Kituyi noted in his keynote speech that he is full of confidence in regard to the prospect of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Belt and Road Davos Forum.

Cao Wenlian remarked in his address that the International Cooperation Center hopes to organize this important Forum well together with Tsinghua.

By means of keynote speeches, dialogues and symposia, the participating guests will conduct in-depth communication centering on two topics: “One Belt and One Road: Mutual Benefit, Win-Win and Sharing of Achievements”, and “The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation: a New Era for Sino-ASEAN Cooperation.”

The Belt and Road Davos Forum was established in January 2017. It was an international conference jointly initiated by Tsinghua University and the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, and it takes place annually in Davos, Switzerland, alongside the World Economic Forum. Last year, the forum attracted ministers, industrial and business élites, and renowned scholars from the countries along the Belt and Road.

Writer: Zhu Lvhe
Editor: Guo Lili

Source: Tsinghua Unviersity News