The Think Asia Forum 2025, themed on “Contributing Asian Wisdom to Global Governance,” convened in Singapore on April 15, bringing together distinguished scholars, policymakers, think tanks, and leaders from several Asian countries.
The Think Asia Forum 2025 opens in Singapore on April 15, 2025.
The speakers emphasized that Asian countries have faced both unprecedented challenges and significant opportunities as the world order underwent transformation. They said that the principles of mutual benefit, respect, harmony, and sustainability have been deeply embedded in many Asian societies. Delegates also highlighted Asia’s contributions to global governance, while emphasizing the need for a unified approach to conflict resolution and consensus-building.
Yu Yunquan, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG) and president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, said in his opening address that sharing valuable insights and giving strategic advice is the core value of think tanks. Asian think tanks should fulfill their mission by enhancing exchanges, building mutual trust, and forging consensus on building a community with a shared future for Asia.
Yu Yunquan, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG) and president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, gives his opening address at the Think Asia Forum 2025 in Singapore on April 15, 2025.
He noted that Asia and the world are currently facing a significant increase in unstable and uncertain factors, with peace and development encountering severe challenges. Intensified competition among major powers and geopolitical tensions have sparked widespread concerns.
The recent “tariff blackmail” by the United States has confirmed that instability, uncertainty, and unpredictability have become the norm in a world fraught with complex changes. Such disruptions are eroding the stable environment essential for development and harming the well-being of people in all countries, including the United States, Yu said.
Asia, home to numerous developing countries and emerging economies, is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of a deteriorating international trade environment, as many of these nations rely on export-oriented industries.
As a responsible major country, China advocates for upholding the multilateral trading system and an open world economy, opposing unilateralism and protectionism. It promotes resolving economic and trade differences through equal dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation, and firmly rejects the economic bullying practices of weaponizing tariffs. China’s countermeasures are not only aimed at safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and development interests but also at defending international trade rules and fairness, and preventing a regression to a jungle-like world dominated by the law of the strong preying on the weak.
Yu stated that as a member of the Asian family, China is firmly committed to maintaining a favorable environment conducive to regional peace and development and to safeguarding the interests of developing countries. China unwaveringly advances high-level opening-up and adheres to a people-oriented, sincere, mutually beneficial, and inclusive approach to neighboring diplomacy.
Panelists discuss one of the Forum’s topics, “Exchanges and Mutual Learning: The Coexistence of Diverse Asian Civilization,” at the Think Asia Forum 2025 in Singapore on April 15, 2025.
Meanwhile, early this April, the Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries was held in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the conference and delivered an important keynote address. He emphasized the need to focus on building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, striving to break new ground in developing relationships with neighboring countries.
The Conference highlighted that China needs to consolidate strategic mutual trust with its neighbors, support regional countries in following a steady development path, and properly manage differences and disputes. China will also deepen development integration with its neighbors, build a high-level connectivity network, strengthen cooperation in industrial and supply chains, maintain regional stability, conduct security and law enforcement cooperation, respond to various risks and challenges, expand people-to-people interactions and communication, and facilitate personnel exchanges.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is currently on state visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia, which are expected to inject new momentum into building a community with a shared future for neighboring regions. It is hoped that Asian countries will jointly support multilateralism and the development of global trade, ensuring that Asia continues to be a stable region and a high ground for development.
Yu Yunquan concluded that through forward-looking policy recommendations, think tanks can promote stronger political trust and integrated interests among regional countries, and through high-quality research, they can explore pathways to improve multilateral economic governance systems. Together, they can contribute more wisdom and strength to building a peaceful, prosperous, beautiful, and friendly Asia.
