2021 Imperial Springs Statement

On Dec 6， the two-day 2021 Imperial Springs International Forum was successfully concluded in Guangzhou， Guangdong province. It was co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries， the Australia China Friendship and Exchange Association， the People’s Government of Guangdong Province and the World Leadership Alliance Club de Madrid. Participants of the forum reached consensus and issued an outcome document — the 2021 Imperial Springs Statement.

More than 150 guests from five continents， including about 30 former heads of state， government， and international organizations； about 20 ambassadors； representatives of international organizations in China and consuls in Guangzhou； and invited guests from political， business and academic circles attended the forum on-site or online.

Forum participants had indepth discussions on the six subthemes — “Public Health and Global Cooperation”， “Building a Community of Common Health for Mankind”，“Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery”，“Revitalizing Globalization”，“Economic and Social Development and Climate Change： Realizing the 2030 Agenda”， “Unconventional Global Challenges and Responses”，“Upholding Multilateralism and Reshaping the Global Governance System” and “Responsibility and Action of Leaders and the World Future”. They reached broad consensus on the importance of multilateralism as evidenced in global cooperation in the post-pandemic era and issued a statement as follows：

I. For good and ill， humankind shares a common future.

With COVID-19 challenging all countries， across the globe， solidarity and cooperation have become more important and necessary than ever to defeat the pandemic. No country is safe until every country is safe. Vaccines are undoubtedly important tools for combating the pandemic， and should be equitably distributed as global public goods. Every effort must be made to ensure the accessibility and affordability of vaccines for developing countries. We call for better emergency preparedness， enhanced international cooperation in the public health sector， and the development of prevention and treatment mechanisms for all. The forum highlighted the need to strengthen the role of the World Health Organization and build a community of common health for humankind， welcoming the World Health Assembly’s decision to start negotiations toward an international instrument under the World Health Organization to strengthen global pandemic preparedness and responses.

II. COVID-19 has severely slowed the recovery of the world economy.

All countries should strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination， promote free trade and international investment， and jointly safeguard the stability of global industrial， supply and value chains. Countries should prioritize development， put people first， adhere to inclusive and innovationdriven growth， and strive for harmony between human beings and nature. With an action-oriented approach， countries should promote the development of an open world economy to facilitate economic recovery in the post-Covid era， and realize strong， green and healthy global growth.

III. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2015 Paris agreement provide a balanced framework for inclusive and sustainable development.

As COVID-19 has shown， the ability of countries for realizing social cohesion and resilience is especially important in times of crisis. The forum calls on the international community to pursue a renewed commitment to inclusive social development， social protection and healthcare for all， including vulnerable and marginalized communities. The forum welcomes the UN Secretary General’s report， Our Common Agenda， and takes note of the World Leadership Alliance’s proposal for a World Social Summit in 2025 included in this report.

IV. Climate change is recognized as a real and long-term challenge that will impact the future of humankind.

All countries need to intensify their efforts to jointly fight climate change. The forum welcomed the Glasgow Agreement reached at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties （COP26）， which set goals to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 C above preindustrial levels. To realize this goal， the international community should turn crisis into opportunity， shoulder responsibilities with unprecedented ambition and action， work together to accelerate a green and low-carbon transformation and implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The forum also welcomed the USChina Joint Glasgow Declaration on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s as an example of the much-needed global cooperation in this and other fields.

V. Non-traditional security challenges intertwined with traditional security challenges today pose serious threats to the world.

Instabilities and uncertainties in international relations have significantly increased， hampering national development， as well as bilateral and international relations. Global threats call for global solutions. The forum called on all parties to join forces to tackle these challenges and take action to strengthen trust and seek cooperation over confrontation. Efforts should be made to enhance peaceful dialogue over international disputes， use development as a tool for peace and seize bilateral and multilateral development cooperation， such as the Belt and Road Initiative， to effectively strengthen the common interest in global prosperity， tackle traditional and non-traditional security challenges at their root and foster peace， security， well-being， and happiness for all.

VI. Peace and development remain the themes of our time.

We appeal to all parties to strengthen multilateral cooperation through concrete action， revitalize the international system with the United Nations at its core and build on the principles of international law set out in the UN Charter. In pursuit of the collective good， it is essential for us to recommit to consultation and collaboration， and to build a better future for humankind in the 21st century. The more complex the issues we face， the greater cooperation and collective action we need. The more severe the challenges， the stronger must be the call for solidarity. Mutual respect， dialogue and consultation are essential to achieve the shared benefits of security and prosperity for all. Peace， development， fairness， justice， democracy and freedom， as the common values of humanity， should be at the forefront of future global governance.

VII. Humanity is at a critical turning point， and the world is facing major challenges unseen in a century.

The world needs leaders able to face reality with wisdom， and a sense of responsibility and duty. All countries， especially major countries， should shoulder common responsibility. They should guide and act with consensus in seeking the universal security and collective good that will enable a brighter future for humanity.