The fourth Belt and Road Davos Forum convened on Wednesday in Davos, Switzerland. Politicians, business leaders, and academic experts from all over the world gathered at the forum to discuss high-quality development and poverty reduction.
Tsinghua University President Qiu Yong delivered an address at the forum, pointing out that in the joint pursuit of the BRI we need to be guided by the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.
“Belt and Road cooperation should be open, green and clean, and pursue high standards and people-centered, sustainable development.”
Qiu introduced the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate (GAUC), which was jointly established by 12 universities from nine countries at Tsinghua University in May 2019. “It aims to lead global universities to undertake the mission of tackling climate change.”
Regarding poverty alleviation, Qiu shared Tsinghua’s experience in assisting Nanjian Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province to get rid of poverty by current standards.
“Tsinghua University will continue to make more efforts for international cooperation, global sustainable development and poverty eradication in the future,” he added.
In his closing remarks, Qiu urged the attendees to join hands to make history for tomorrow.
According to Ning Jizhe, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission and commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics, the BRI has improved the standard of life in related countries and contributed to achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Ning stressed that high-quality development is an inevitable choice to further carry out the BRI and benefit the people of all countries.
Speakers tended constructive proposals to the forum’s three panel discussions on “Efficient Growth and Sustainable Development of the BRI”, “Artificial Intelligence and Global Governance” and “Sharing Experience on Poverty Alleviation and Promoting Global Poverty Reduction”.
More than 130 people from 17 countries and international organizations attended the event, including Executive Secretary of UNECE Olga Algayerova, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs of Indonesia Luhut B. Pandjaita, and Malaysia’s Minister of International Trade and Industry Darell Leiking.
Initiated by Tsinghua University in 2017, the annual forum has been hosted during the World Economic Forum for four years. This year’s event was hosted by the International Cooperation Center of National Development and Reform Commission of China (ICC-NDRC) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Wednesday’s event was organized by the university’s Institute for Global Development as well as the Tsinghua University Alumni Association in Switzerland.
