Today’s developments around the world are reminiscent of a global civil conflict, and humanity must develop new tools to address them. This was emphasized by Andrey Bystritskiy, Chair of the Board at the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club, during his speech at the Global South Media and Think Tank Summit held in São Paulo on November 10-11 and themed “Development and Revitalization: A New Journey for the Global South.”
In his address, Andrey Bystritskiy noted that there is a significant challenge facing all of us, akin to a global civil unrest. There are numerous conflicts, and the line between internal and external disputes is becoming increasingly blurred. We are witnessing a complex and perilous world. So, what should be done? We can explore what is occurring, study and analyze recent events, and explain to others how to navigate in these circumstances. We can assist our nations and citizens.
“The events that are happening now are not just bellum omnium contra omnes, a war of all against all, a principle that the British philosopher Thomas Hobbes wrote about several centuries ago,” he continued. “The world we live in is very confusing and intertwined. Everything in it is interconnected and interdependent. But now there are not enough tools to regulate the conflicts that arise, and humanity must invent them. We are at a critical point in history when we can create our world, but for this we need knowledge. We must become engineers to invent a new world and build it.”
In his speech, Andrey Bystritskiy also noted that many speakers made references in their speeches to the content of the meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with the participants of the Annual Meeting of the Valdai Club on November 7.
The Valdai Discussion Club Chairman also expressed his appreciation for the report “A New Model for Human Advancement and Its Global Significance,” which was prepared for the São Paulo summit.
He noted that it was an opportune time to discuss matters that are significant and of interest to the public, and that this was fully reflected in the report’s content.
The event, organized at the initiative of Xinhua News Agency, in collaboration with the Brazilian Communication Company and other partners, gathered high-level officials, representatives from regional and international organizations, scholars, entrepreneurs, and media from China, Russia, Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, Mexico, Thailand, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Cambodia, Turkey, Kenya, and Uruguay, among other countries.
Welcoming speeches from Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva and Chinese President Xi Jinping were delivered to the attendees of the summit.
The event was opened by Fu Hua, the President of the Xinhua News Agency and the Executive Chairman of the Forum. Andrey Bystritskiy had a separate meeting with him, during which they discussed the future cooperation between Xinhua and the Valdai Club.
Among the guests and speakers at the forum were: Hu Heping, Deputy Head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, Fausto Pinato, Deputy Head of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil, Yeidckol Polevnsky Gurwitz, Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Foreign Relations Committee of the Mexican Senate, Liu Gang, Director of the Research Institute of Xinhua News Agency, and Selcuk Colakoglu, Founding Director of the Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies. Representatives from the Russian media were also present.
The summit was intended to serve as a platform for fostering friendship, cooperation, and mutual understanding among participants. It also aimed to contribute to the voices of the countries of the Global South being heard more prominently on the world stage. According to the organizers, the summit aims to facilitate in-depth discussions on a range of important topics for the Global South and for the world at large. These topics include: Cooperation and Mutual Benefit: Promoting Joint Development in the Global South, Openness and Inclusion: A New Era in Civilizational Progress, Research and Innovation: Preparing for Future Challenges in the Digital Age.
The organizers hope that these discussions will lead to a better understanding of these issues and help to create a more sustainable and inclusive future for all.
The Valdai Discussion Club was established in 2004. It is named after Lake Valdai, which is located close to Veliky Novgorod, where the Club’s first meeting took place.
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