Peking University, Nov.4, 2011: On the morning of November 4, the opening ceremony of Beijing Forum 2011 was held at the Diaoyutai State Guest House. Scholars from all around the world gathered together, and in the following two and a half days, they will have scholarly discussions centered on the theme “Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All: Tradition and Modernity, Transition and Transformation” .

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Forum 2011 was hosted by Professor Zhu Shanlu, chairman of Peking University (PKU) Council. Dr. Hao Ping, China’s vice minister of education, and Zhao Fengtong, vice mayor of Beijing Municipality, sent their greets to all distinguished scholars and experts on behalf of the Chinese government, and briefed them the development strategy of China's education and culture. Renato Lok-Dessalien, United Nations Resident Coordination and UNDP Resident Representative in China, read the speech of Mr. Joseph Reed, the Under-Secretary General of the UN, and introduced the video speech of Mr. Pan Ki-moon, secretary-general of the UN. Park In-kook, president of Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies also read the congratulation speech of Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group of Republic of Korea

Those speeches all mentioned the challenges faced by the world now, and anticipate the construction of a more prosperous and peaceful world under the unity of all human beings. In his opening remarks, PKU President Zhou Qifeng urged that our generation should pay attention to the social issues and actively participate in cross-cultural communication, and inherit and transform tradition to create a much better modern civilization.

Robert Bellah, winner of the United States National Humanities Medal, Professor Emeritus from the University of California at Berkeley, made his key speech on the topic “What Changes Very Fast And What Doesn't Change: Explosive Modernity and Abiding Truth”; Roger Meyrson, 2007 Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics and professor of Economics from the University of Chicago, made his keynote speech on the topic “Understanding the Foundations of All Political Systems: Leadership, Law, and Local Government”. Sir Colin Lucas, former vice chancellor of the University of Oxford, former Chairman of the British Library addresses the conference with a keynote speech under the topic “Reconciling Tradition and Modernity: The Role of Universities”. Professor Justin Yifu Lin, World Bank Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, Founding Director of PKU China Centre for Economic Research, made the last keynote speech entitled “China's Economic Development and Cultural Renaissance in the Multi-polar Growth World of the 21st Century”. The keynote speeches are the highlights of the Beijing Forum 2011, has greatly enlightened the audience.

Edited by: Arthars

Source: Beijing Forum