The Third Taihe Civilizations Forum

Beijing, China, 6-8 September 2019

Background

 

It is noted in the I Ching, or Book of Changes, a Chinese ancient classics, that “maintaining Taihe will help develop everything smoothly.” That said, Taihe stands for a supreme harmony. Such harmony can be achieved through coordination and collaboration among all things and the unity of their nature. Taihe symbolizes the ancient wisdom of life which guides people to rediscover the true meaning of their world. The purpose of Taihe is to obtain continuous wisdom and momentum through the creation of common values.


Nowadays, lack of Taihe seriously challenges contemporary human civilizations. Rapid technological development, climate change and environmental degradation, uneven wealth distribution, and geopolitical tensions are some of the significant threats undermining our common values and civilizations. Human civilizations may fall into the abyss without gathering wisdoms and taking actions.

 

Objectives and Participants

 

The Taihe Civilizations Forum (TCF) has been initiated to engage global leaders of all fields in supporting "the harmonious development of common values and the advancement of human civilization." The TCF focuses on global and regional challenges, explores root causes, identifies and promotes possible solutions, as well as facilitates communication and impacts creation across borders.


Forum Principles


The TCF follows four principles to define the research agenda, guide its work and actions, and effectively contribute to the overall Forum objectives:


• Impartiality: maintaining a diverse, open, also rigorous mindset and aligned actions;
• Globality: fostering international participation and collaboration;
• Foresight: focusing on far-reaching trends and long-term solutions;
• Impact: transforming insights into actions and impacts.


Previous Event Review


The first Taihe Civilizations Forum was held in Beijing from August 25th to 27th, 2017, focusing on advancing human civilizations and developing common values. Approximately one hundred leading experts from business, governmental, international organizations, and academic sector gathered together to discuss on the topics such as people-to-people exchange, climate change and sustainable development, and artificial intelligence.


Keynote speakers at the opening ceremony of 2017 TCF included:


Boping GU, member of the National Committee of CPPCC, and the Chief Cultural Scholar of Taihe Institute;
Thorsten Jelinek, Director of the European Center of Taihe Institute;
Hailong WU, President of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs;
Stephen Orlins, President of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations;
Hongjun YU, former Vice Minister of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee;
Cheng Li, Director of the John L. Thornton China Center and Senior Fellow of the Foreign Policy program at Brookings Institution;
Liru CUI, Senior Advisor and Researcher of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations;
Yifan DING, former Deputy Director of the Institute of World Development, Development Research Center of the State Council.


About 2019 TCF

 

We are very pleased to inform you that the third Taihe Civilizations Forum (TCF) will be held from September 6 to 8, 2019 in Beijing, China. Initiated by Taihe Institute in 2017, the TCF, with the theme of "Science Culture · Future Ethics · Common Values", has been aiming to facilitate the exchange of and mutual learning among civilizations, countries and regions, and promote the harmonious and sustainable development of human society.

 

Since its foundation, the TCF has gathered together approximately 500 leading experts from business, governmental, international organizations, and academic sectors with heated discussions on the topics such as International Relations, People-to-People Exchange, Advanced Technology and Sustainable Development, and has become a well-known international platform of communications. The 2019 TCF will be comprised of five sessions: International Relations, Education and Culture, Advanced Technology, Security and Development of B&R and Youth Dialogue.

 

Sub-session on International Relations

1. The status quo and prospects of Sino-U.S. relations

a. What are the key issues that need to be addressed and resolved regarding Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations? And how will it develop?

b. What conflicts will arise between China and the U.S. in the issues of Taiwan, the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, and high-tech competition?

2. The evolution of the realistic international order and the construction of “a community of shared future for mankind”

a. What problems are there in the current international order and what are the future development trends?

b. What role and influence does the Belt and Road Initiative play on the construction of a realistic international order?

c. How to understand the concept of “a community of shared future for mankind” and its relationship with the realistic international order?

3. Multi-cultural interaction in re-balancing situation

a. Can the current contradictions between China and the U.S. be addressed as civilized conflict?

b. Differences and conflicts between different civilizations and global governance.

 

Sub-session on Education and Culture

1.New standards: how to match teaching standards of vocational colleges with talent requirements of the industry?
2.New models: how to raise the enthusiasm of enterprises to participate in vocational education?
3.New channels: how to establish China’s vocational education brand and contribute it to the related development of “Belt and Road” countries?

 

Sub-session on Advanced Technology

1.Reviewing the current progress and opportunities of selected disruptive technologies;

2.Mapping risks and threats that could hamper the equitable sharing of the benefits;

3.Identifying mechanisms to balance between cooperation, competition, and regulation.

 

Sub-session on the Security and Development of Belt and Road

1. What are the security challenges faced by the Belt and Road?

2. How should countries along the Belt and Road Strengthen cooperation and jointly cope with risks and challenges?

3. How should China comprehensively implement policies to ensure that the Belt and Road becomes the “Road of Peace”?

 

Youth Dialogue Session: AGORA: TAIHE VISION

1.Voices of the Youth on the Belt and Road

2.Cultivation of young talents and the future of work

Friday, September 6th, 2019
Time Agenda Location
10:00-17:00 Check-In and Registration South District
12:00-13:30 Lunch (buffet) North District, Café for Buffet
14:00-16:30  Sub-sessions Preparatory Meetings 2nd Floor, Meeting
17:00-18:30 Cocktail Party(Business Casual) 5th Floor, Grand Ballroom
18:30-20:30 Welcome Banquet 5th Floor, Grand Ballroom
Morning, Saturday, September 7th, Opening Ceremony        *Business Attire
Time Activity Speaker Title Location
06:30-08:30 Breakfast North District, Café for Buffet
08:30-09:00 Group Photo East Side of South District (by the  waterfall)
09:00-09:05 Launching Ceremony 5th Floor, Grand Ballroom
09:05-09:10 President Speech Rashid Alimov Senior Fellow of Taihe Institute /
Former Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (2016-2018)
09:10-09:15 Opening Remarks Vladimir Norov Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization
09:15-09:20 Stephen Orlins President of the National Committee on US-China Relations
09:20-09:25 Ismail Serageldin Co-Chair of Nizami Ganjavi International Center
09:25-09:30 Rovshan Muradov Secretary-General of Nizami Ganjavi International Center
09:30-09:45 Keynote Speech WU Hailong Senior Researcher of Taihe Institute / President of China Public Diplomacy Association
09:45-10:00 CHEN Zhimin Senior Researcher of Taihe Institute (Distinguished) / Vice Minister of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China (2009-2017)/ Chairman of China Association for Friendship
10:00-10:15 Zlatko Lagumdzija Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina(2001-2002)
10:15-10:30 LIU Limin President of China Education Association for International Exchange / Vice Minister of Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China(2010-2016)
10:30-10:45 WANG Jianzhou Executive Chairman of China Mobile Communications Corporation(2004-2012)/ Senior Advisor to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA)
12:00-13:30 Lunch (Buffet) North District, Café for Buffet
Afternoon, Saturday, September 7th, Parallel Sessions       *Business Attire
Time Agenda Location
14:00-17:30 Paralleled Session International Relations 5th Floor, Grand Ballroom  Ⅲ
Education and Culture 2nd Floor, Meeting Room 3
Security and Development of the Belt and Road 2nd Floor, Meeting Room 6
Advanced Technology 2nd Floor, Meeting Room 7
15:45-16:00 Tea and Coffee Break  
17:00-18:00 Media  Interview  
18:00-18:30 Group Interview 2nd Floor, Front Hall
19:00-21:00 Banquet 5th Floor, Grand Ballroom
20:00-22:00 Youth Session: Taihe Vision 2nd Floor, Meeting Room 1
Morning, Sunday, September 8th, Parallel Sessions and Closing Ceremony    *Business Attire
Time Agenda Speaker Title Location
06:30-08:30 Breakfast North District, Café for Buffet
07:30-08:30 Presidium Breakfast Meeting 2nd Floor, Meeting Room 5
08:30-10:30 Paralleled Session International Relations 5th Floor, Grand Ballroom Ⅲ
Education and Culture 2nd Floor, Meeting Room 3
Security and Development of the Belt and Road 2nd Floor, Meeting Room 6
Advanced Technology 2nd Floor, Meeting Room 7
Youth Session: Taihe Vision 2nd Floor, Meeting Room 1
12:00-12:05 Closing Ceremony Closing Video 5th Floor, Grand Ballroom
12:05-12:20 Summary Report YI Di Vice Chairman of Taihe Institute
12:20-12:30 Closing Remarks PENG Binge Chairman of Taihe Institute
12:30-14:00 Lunch

 

The opening ceremony

 

Rashid Alimov

  • Senior Fellow of Taihe Institute
  • Former Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (2016-2018)

 

Vladimir Norov

  • Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization

 

Stephen Orlins

  • President of the National Committee on US-China Relations

 

Ismail Serageldin

  • Co-Chair of Nizami Ganjavi International Center

 

Rovshan Muradov

  • Secretary-General of Nizami Ganjavi International Center

 

WU Hailong

  • Senior Researcher of Taihe Institute
  • President of China Public Diplomacy Association

 

CHEN Zhimin

  • Senior Researcher of Taihe Institute (Distinguished)
  • Vice Minister of the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China (2009-2017)
  • Chairman of China Association for Friendship

 

Zlatko Lagumdzija

  • Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina(2001-2002)

 

LIU Limin

  • President of China Education Association for International Exchange
  • Vice Minister of Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China(2010-2016)

 

WANG Jianzhou

  • Executive Chairman of China Mobile Communications Corporation(2004-2012)
  • Senior Advisor to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA)