The 13th World Peace Forum, jointly organized by Tsinghua University and the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, opened in Beijing on July 3. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.
The forum is themed “Advancing Global Peace and Prosperity: Shared Responsibility, Benefit, and Achievement.” Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a speech.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, former Belgian Prime Minister and former President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, along with nearly 400 participants — including former foreign dignitaries, diplomatic envoys to China, and Chinese and international scholars — attended the opening ceremony.
Wang Chao, President of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs; Qiu Yong, Secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee, attended the opening ceremony. Li Luming, President of Tsinghua University and Chairman of the World Peace Forum, delivered a welcome speech. Guo Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee, attended the forum, and Yang Bin, Vice Chancellor of Tsinghua University Council and Secretary-General of the World Peace Forum, presided over the opening ceremony.
Also attending the forum were Miao Deyu, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; Du Jiangfeng, Vice Minister of Education; Ai Ping, Vice-President of the Chinese Association for International Understanding; Cui Tiankai, former vice minister of Foreign Affairs; and Yu Hongjun, former vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng addresses the opening ceremony of the 13th World Peace Forum on July 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng addressed the opening ceremony of the 13th World Peace Forum, calling for jointly safeguarding international fairness and justice, and improving the global governance system.
Noting that at present, the cause of world peace and development is facing severe challenges, Han said Chinese President Xi Jinping has put forward a series of proposals, including building a community with a shared future for humanity and the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, providing a Chinese solution to major issues concerning human peace and development.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Han said, adding that China is willing to work with all countries to promote world peace and prosperity and build a better world together.
He put forward four proposals. First, learning from history and jointly safeguarding the post-war international order, as well as international fairness and justice. Second, adhering to solidarity and cooperation in order to improve global governance. Third, promoting openness and cooperation to drive global prosperity and development. Fourth, standing together in solidarity and jointly advancing toward modernization.
Han also urged that development be placed at the center of the international agenda, with a committed focus on addressing the concerns of developing countries and solving the problem of inequality and imbalance in global development.
In his speech, Liu Jianchao stated that peace and security have always been major themes and key variables in the development of human civilization, and they remain the most urgent and complex global challenges facing the world today. War and turmoil should not be humanity’s destiny; lasting peace is the shore we strive for. China’s adherence to the path of peaceful development stems from its own cultural heritage, the demands of the times, and its national strategic choices, and also the inevitable path forward under the concept of a community with a shared future.
He called on more and more countries to embrace a proper understanding of security and follow the path of peaceful development, and integrate the concept of a community with a shared future and the adherence to the path of peaceful development into national security and development strategies as well as policy choices. Only through concrete actions and joint efforts can we address security challenges and work toward lasting peace.
Li Luming stated that since its inception, the World Peace Forum has consistently focused on major issues concerning the future and destiny of the world, and well-being of humanity such as peace, security, and cooperation. The forum has aimed to provide new ideas and explore new approaches to contribute to global peace and security. He hoped the forum guests would engage in in-depth discussions, jointly assessing the future direction of the international order, promoting exchanges and cooperation through practical actions, enhancing mutual understanding, and contributing to world peace and development and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Yukio Hatoyama emphasized that emphasized that peace can be achieved not by using force, but through dialogue, and the forum bears great significance in this regard.
Herman Van Rompuy emphasized that maintaining or rebuilding trust relies on both bilateral and multilateral dialogue. Even in the presence of disagreements, dialogue remains essential.
The venue of the 13th World Peace Forum
The three-day forum comprises four major plenary sessions and 18 panel discussions and touches on topics such as international order and world peace, pan-securitization and global security predicament, the role of the global south in world peace and prosperity, and major power coordination and conflict resolution.
The forum aims to harness global wisdom to explore ways to strengthen international cooperation, jointly shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding peace and promoting development, share the opportunities brought by globalization, and bring about common prosperity and lasting peace for all countries.
Editors: Li Han, JP
