On December 2, 2025, the "2025 Imperial Springs International Forum", jointly organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the Australia China Friendship and Exchange Association, the People's Government of Guangdong Province, and the World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid, opened in Guangzhou. The theme of the forum is "For Global Cooperation and Solidarity". More than 200 participants attended the forum, including 28 former foreign leaders and former heads of international organizations from 23 countries, and representatives from political, business and academic circles at home and abroad. Yang Zhen, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Yang Wanming, President of the CPAFFC, Zhang Guozhi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPC and Deputy Governor of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, Danilo Türk, President of World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid, and Chau Chak Wing, President of the Australia China Friendship and Exchange Association delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Vice President Shen Xin of the CPAFFC hosted the opening ceremony and addressed the "Guangzhou Night" Welcome Reception. Deputy Secretary-General Ji Yongjun of the CPAFFC attended the event.
President Yang Wanming stated that the forum is a practical step to implement the Global Governance Initiative and carries strong practical significance.We have only one planet, and all nations live in one world. Faced with common global challenges, no country can stand alone or seek security for itself alone. Only by strengthening solidarity and cooperation can the international community move towards a better future.
First, it is essential to uphold multilateralism. In the current era of rising instability and change, the international community needs true multilateralism more than ever. All countries should abide by international law and the basic norms of international relations, jointly defend the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, uphold the international consensus on the one-China principle and preserve the outcome of the victory in World War II, and accelerate the building of a more fair and reasonable global governance system.
Second, it is necessary to strengthen international cooperation. The current sluggish world economy is largely attributed to the rampant unilateralism and protectionism represented by tariff wars and "erecting walls and barriers", which ultimately harm the common interests of people of all countries. We should reinforce cooperation, pursue win-win results, and promote inclusive economic globalization to ensure that people share the fruits of development and enable all countries to achieve common prosperity.
Third, it is important to take pragmatic actions. Confronted with ongoing conflicts and emerging technological challenges, all countries should act with unwavering determination to address problems and respond to challenges. China stands ready to work with all parties toward the goal of achieving lasting global peace, development, and prosperity, uphold the global governance principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and promote opening-up and cooperation through practical actions. We will share responsibilities and opportunities, advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, and inject stability into a world of changes and chaos.
President Yang also talked of the successful Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. The session adopted the Recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, mapping out a grand blueprint for China's economic and social development over the next five years and demonstrating China's vision of win-win cooperation with the world. In the next five years, China will continue to promote in-depth reform and high-quality development through high-level opening-up, create broad opportunities for the common development of all countries through Chinese modernization, steadily advance the noble cause of peace and development, and show greater responsibility for promoting human progress.
Türk emphasized that the Imperial Springs International Forum has become an important platform for enhancing exchanges and understanding between China and other countries. China's close ties with the world have injected strong momentum and stability into global peace, development and prosperity. Faced with the increasingly complex and severe international situation, no country can solve the numerous global challenges alone, making international cooperation more important than ever. The Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping have pointed out the direction for addressing global changes and challenges. Collective attention and support from all nations is needed for their implementation.
Zhang Guozhi expressed that Guangdong Province has always embraced the spirit of "For Global Cooperation and Solidarity", acting on the concept of solidarity through its development and pursuing win-win results through opening-up and cooperation. In the future, Guangdong will continue to deepen practical and mutually beneficial international cooperation, bringing more benefits and development opportunities to all countries.
Chau Chak Wing stated that this forum aims to gather forces of unity, stay committed to promoting cooperation, and pursue a fair future. He expressed expectations that participating guests will conduct in-depth exchanges on reforming and improving global governance, effectively addressing various challenges, and safeguarding world stability and prosperity, so as to put forward new ideas and perspectives for world peace and development.
The participants unanimously agreed that in the face of global challenges such as climate change and terrorism, all countries must rebuild trust, strengthen the sense of solidarity, and prioritize cooperation. We should continuously promote the improvement and upgrading of the international system, build more inclusive partnerships, and steadily move towards the goal of building a community with a shared future for humanity, so as to jointly make the world more harmonious and peaceful.
During the forum, one closed-door meeting, two plenary sessions and four parallel forums were held. Participants conducted in-depth discussions on specific topics including addressing global security challenges, the global economic trends amid trade and tariff conflicts, AI innovation and security, the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and fostering new drivers of green and low-carbon growth.
Launched in 2014, the Imperial Springs International Forum has held ten editions to date.
