Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Doha Forum 2025 calls for accountability, global health action
Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani delivers an opening speech during the Doha Forum in Doha, Qatar, Saturday. Reuters-Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
6,000 participants from over 150 countries gather to discuss 'justice in action'
DOHA — The 23rd edition of the Doha Forum opened Saturday in the Qatari capital, bringing together global leaders to discuss pressing international challenges under the theme “Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress.”
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani delivered the opening address, issuing a stark warning about the deteriorating state of global security caused by a failure of international accountability.
"As we gather today, our world is witnessing an unprecedented worsening of crises," Al Thani said during the opening ceremony at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort. He attributed this decline to "the lack of accountability and the lack of solutions."
“This represents a direct threat to peace and security when crises are managed with the logic of force instead of law, and when the aggressor remains free from any accountability,” the prime minister said.
Established in 2000, the Doha Forum has become a premier platform for global dialogue. This year’s theme “Justice in Action" calls on stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete actions to support sustainable prosperity and address injustice.
Organizers expect approximately 6,000 participants from more than 150 countries to attend this year’s event. This marks an increase from the 2024 edition, which saw 5,204 participants from 162 countries.
Highlighting Qatar’s diplomatic efforts, the prime minister reiterated that mediation is central to the nation's foreign policy.
"Mediation is not a political luxury. It is not an interest-based choice for us," he said. "It is actually an approach that we practice faithfully, given our belief that real and true peace begins with participation and isolation, and with the expanding of joint spaces and targeting divisions.”
He pointed to recent collaborative successes with partners from Norway, Spain and Switzerland, as “a true opportunity to protect the safety of civilians and protect their dignity and all of these communities.”
Concluding his remarks, the prime minister called for a shift from rhetoric to tangible results.
"The world does not need more promises. The world needs justice that is practiced by everybody without double standards," he said. "It needs courage that translates words into action."
Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, speaks in a keynote speech during the opening ceremony at the Doha Forum in Doha, Qatar, Saturday. AFP-Yonhap
Bill Gates highlights health challenges, AI opportunities
In a keynote speech, Bill Gates spoke about how technology, climate change and world health are all connected.
Gates said progress has been made in reducing child mortality over the past two decades, from 10 million deaths annually to below 5 million, but added there is a recent worrying trend.
"Unfortunately, this year marks the first reversal in this progress," Gates said. "Last year, 4.6 million children died. This year it will be 4.8 million."
However, Gates was very hopeful for the future as he believes innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) will help solve these issues. He noted that the Gates Foundation is funding AI companies to understand the world’s languages and this will let even the poorest people use cellphones to talk to virtual doctors.
"Humans are problem solvers," Gates said. "I believe that if we do the right things, we can cut childhood death in half again, down to below 2 percent."
The Korea Times is participating in the Doha Forum as a media partner.