To address common challenges and move towards a better future, countries should rely on both technology development and nourishment of culture and civilization, and work closely for cooperation in innovation, said experts and scholars at the Beijing Forum on Friday.

Organized by Peking University, Beijing Municipal Education Commission, and the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, the event, in which leaders and scholars from around the world gathered in person and online, under the theme "The Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All: The Era of Innovation and Advancement of Mankind."

Speaking of the new challenges to international order and the development of human civilization posed by rapid advancements in technology such as AI, Gong Qihuang, President of Peking University, said that universities, serving as hubs for talent cultivation, scientific innovation, as well as a key point of civilization inheritance, should shoulder greater responsibilities to deepen exchanges and strengthen cooperation and confront the challenges of the times with innovation.

"The world is increasingly interconnected, and our collective future depends on harnessing the power of innovation to drive human progress. Today 50 percent of global GDP growth comes from innovation; but growth must be inclusive and equitable - even today 1 in 6 humans lacks access to electricity," said Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former prime minister of Pakistan.

"We must ensure that innovation serves humanity's greater good. We must promote cross-cultural understanding and celebrate diversity. And we must create social equity by addressing income disparities and promoting access to opportunities," said Abbasi.

The EU must actively engage in peaceful cooperation, especially considering the currently inadequate level of collaboration. Peaceful cooperation should extend beyond politics to encompass technology and economics as well. In this context, technological collaboration among universities can play a pivotal role despite the current limitations, said Romano Prodi, former Prime Minister of Italy.

In this era of innovation, no single country or organization can address global challenges alone, said Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, in a video message sent to the forum. Chey believes that collaboration among businesses, governments, academia and civil society is essential to tackling complex societal issues.

Scheduled from Nov 1-3, Beijing Forum 2024 includes 13 panel sessions, 2 symposia and 3 global forums.

The Beijing Forum, an international academic event, has been held annually since 2004.