John Pang, Senior Fellow at The Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia Pacific kicked off this session by delivering a keynote address drawing upon his expertise on thriving in turbulent times and China’s perspectives on global challenges. He started his keynote by discussing the importance of global cooperation and unity in addressing sustainability challenges, particularly in the context of a fragmenting world order.
“We live in a world that is increasingly decoupled, facing challenges such as multipolarity and de-globalization. Why is this relevant? Because this is not just a project in Edinburgh or a financial initiative. We are confronting a global challenge that requires collective action and unity of purpose on a scale never seen before, especially at a time when the notion of one world and one humanity is more threatened than it has been since the last great war.” John stated.
John went on to highlight China’s significant progress in reducing emissions, installing two-thirds of the world’s solar panels, reducing solar panel prices by 90% over the last decade, doubling forest cover since 1949, and planting 30 million hectares of new forest. He emphasised the importance of finding a common intellectual world, a shared understanding of information and knowledge, and reconnecting with different perspectives. John cited the historical example of the Scottish missionary James Legg, known as the ‘Dean of Chinese translators into English,’ as an example of the kind of engagement and connection needed to address global problems.