Global forum leaders call for stronger cooperation amid growing fragmentation
Zhang Jun, secretary-general of the Boao Forum for Asia, speaks during the "From Connection to Cooperation: How Global Forums Reinvent Collaboration in a Fragmented World" session of the 21st Jeju Forum at Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju in Seogwipo City, Jeju Island, Wednesday. The forum runs through Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — Global forums must evolve from platforms for dialogue into drivers of practical cooperation as geopolitical tension, protectionism and technological disruption reshape the international landscape, speakers at the Jeju Forum said Wednesday.
The session, titled “From Connection to Cooperation: How Global Forums Reinvent Collaboration in a Fragmented World,” brought together leaders of major international dialogue platforms from Asia and Europe to examine how forums can remain relevant amid growing global divisions.
Zhang Jun, secretary-general of the Boao Forum for Asia and former Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, warned against the growing influence of unilateralism and protectionism, saying international forums have an important role to play in rebuilding trust and strengthening multilateralism.
“We really need to keep high alert, (and) to make tough efforts to stop the further escalation and spreading of unilateralism and protectionism,” Zhang said. He also called for a more equitable global governance system that better reflects the rise of the Global South and argued that stronger regional cooperation could help reinforce global multilateralism.
Panelists participate in the "From Connection to Cooperation: How Global Forums Reinvent Collaboration in a Fragmented World" session of the 21st Jeju Forum at Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju in Seogwipo City, Jeju Island, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Peter Grk, secretary general of the Bled Strategic Forum, said the post-World War II multilateral order is under increasing strain as global affairs become driven more by power than rules. He pointed to the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies as factors reshaping traditional power structures and increasing the influence of non-state actors.
“The fact is that the world is governed much more by power and less by rules,” Grk said, urging countries and international organizations to move beyond discussions and take concrete action to preserve cooperation and dialogue.
Kudo Yasushi, president of Japan’s think tank Genron NPO and executive chairman of the Tokyo Conference, questioned whether dialogue could survive deepening geopolitical confrontation. Drawing on more than two decades of experience promoting Japan-China exchanges, he said political tensions were increasingly affecting civil society dialogue and cross-border engagement.
Despite those challenges, Kudo argued that cooperation does not require countries to share the same values. Instead, he said, international cooperation should be built on common interests and shared responsibility for addressing global challenges such as conflict prevention, economic fragmentation, climate change and AI. He added that the most enduring achievement of dialogue was not conferences or reports, but trust built between people.
The form of global forums remain essential as "no government, institution, organization or individual possesses a monopoly on wisdom," said Kim Hee-eun, president and CEO of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy. She said meaningful cooperation begins with recognizing the limits of one’s own perspectives and engaging with diverse viewpoints.
Oh Young-jin, president and publisher of The Korea Times, attends the "From Connection to Cooperation: How Global Forums Reinvent Collaboration in a Fragmented World" session of the 21st Jeju Forum at Haevichi Hotel & Resort Jeju in Seogwipo City, Jeju Island, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Oh Young-jin, president and publisher of The Korea Times, highlighted AI as one of the greatest challenges facing the international community. He warned that competition for AI dominance among major powers and tech companies could create new global divisions and further weaken existing multilateral institutions.
The session was held as part of the 21st Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, which opened Wednesday under the theme “Reinventing Cooperation in a Fragmented World.” The three-day event brings together policymakers, academics and civil society leaders to discuss new approaches to international cooperation in an increasingly uncertain global environment.