Belgrade just hosted the 5th China Dialogue Conference with 140+ experts from 37 countries, debating the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) aimed at a fairer world order 🌏
Just a few hundred meters away, there was a welcome ceremony for Ursula von der Leyen, highlighting Serbia's tightrope walk between East and West 🤝
Systemic gaps 🤔Participants flagged three big issues in the current world order:
- Underrepresentation of Global South nations
- Weak enforcement of United Nations principles
- Ineffective international rule of law
China's rapid infrastructure growth and poverty reduction were cited as models of what GGI seeks to achieve.
Vision for peace and development ✨Director Branislav Dordevic noted that instead of focusing on conflict and weapons, the world needs a positive, development-first mindset for an ideal society.
On-the-ground impact 🚄The modern rail link from Serbia to Budapest, built with support from the Chinese mainland, was spotlighted as a proof point of cross-border connectivity. Nigerian delegate Ako Abbah even called China's 'big brother' for lifting African and BRIC nations on the global stage.
For young leaders in South and Southeast Asia, these debates invite us to rethink how connectivity and cooperation can reshape our shared future 🌟
Reference(s):
Serbia's China Dialogue Conference pushes for global governance reform
cgtn.com
