On March 8, China’s Two Sessions·Think Tank & Media Forum on Global Economic Development was held in Beijing. The event was jointly organized by China International Publishing Group, China Institute for Innovation & Development Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Science, La Fondation Prospective & Innovation, the Bridge Tank and brought together nearly 20 former heads of government/state, scholars and experts from countries including China, France, Russia and India India, South Africa, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Chile in broad and in-depth discussions on how to explore new measures for win-win cooperation and share new achievements in world development.

Zheng Bijian, Chairman of China Institute for Innovation & Development Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Science, Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Publishing Group, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former prime minister of France and chairman of the Prospective and Innovation Foundation and Huang Qifan, former Mayor of Chongqing attended the Forum and each delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.

Zheng Bijian said that protectionism, unilateralism and populism that are raging across the world, along with the wave of anti-globalization triggered by the trifecta, has brought uncertainties to the world. These striking negative features of the once-in-a-century changes facing humanity spell a big test. And one fundamental historic test is whether countries in different regions of different social systems, at different development stages,and with different interests and needs, could stand the test of multilaterlism or unilateralism, open or close-down, and cooperation or confrontation, thereby achieving the“great cooperation”entering the third ten years of the 21st century.

Du Zhanyuan pointed out that the global economy has seen an unprecedented recession since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that countries are facing a greater need for win-win cooperation and joint efforts to tackle the global challenges. China, he also noted, is ever more confident of its development with its economy showing great resilience in the post-pandemic era. China's new development pattern of "dual circulation" looks set to deliver development opportunities and benefits to both the country and the rest of the world through extensive consultation and shared efforts. He stressed that as today’s world is deeply divided on the direction of global economic development and ways of global cooperation, we all the more reason to resolve misunderstandings through exchanges and mutual learning, build bridges through win-win cooperation and reach consensus through cultural communication.

Raffarin suggested that world peace is our common goal. Only by deeper communication and exchanges can we understand each other better.In today's world, no country can prosper in isolation. Win-win cooperation, rather than unilateralism or protectionism, is the right path. To jointly manage and improve global governance, Raffarin said that all countries need to develop economy and enhance innovation. Globalization will prevail as the future of the world integration.

To tackle gloabl challenges and foster new opportunities in crises, Huang Qifan stressed the importance of win-win cooperation among countries and then put forward the following suggestions: First, multilateralism is the key to building an open world economy; second, innovative cooperation must be carried out to boost the global economic recovery; third, international macroeconomic policy coordination is needed to improve the global economic governance system; fourth, the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind must be incorporated into the tackling of global challenges.

Gao Anming, Vice President and Editor in Chief of China International Publishing Group, moderated the opening ceremony.