On June 27 and 28 philosophers, jurists and economists from Beijing, Shanghai and Mumbai will meet at the Vatican with an invitation from the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences for a discussion on the Development Goals set by the UN.
Newsdesk (24/06/2023 11:50, Gaudium Press) Next week, a significant gathering of European, American, Australian, Chinese, and Indian intellectuals will take place at the Vatican. The two-day session, titled “Dialogue among civilizations on the commonalities,” is organized by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences at its headquarters in Casina Pio IV on June 27 and 28. The event aims to explore the great challenges facing the world today from the perspective of growing global powers, China and India.
The workshop intends to foster meaningful and sustainable dialogue and cooperation by bringing together scholars from prestigious universities and think tanks in Beijing and Shanghai. The goal is to understand China and India from their own point of view and address the challenge of achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals, encompassing areas such as climate change, sustainability, social innovation, education, healthcare, urban regeneration, empowerment of women and youth, and regional development strategies, align with the focus of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
Leading this effort is Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, an American economist appointed by Pope Francis to the Vatican Academy in 2021. Prof. Sachs has longstanding connections with institutions in Beijing and currently serves as a consultant to the China Development Research Foundation. The participants in the workshop were identified with the involvement of members of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, including Prof. Stefano Zamagni and Dr. Steve Howard, president of the Global Foundation. Prof. Bai Tongdong, the first Chinese member appointed to the Vatican body, is expected to contribute in the future.
The sessions will include discussions on “common goods” and their preservation, specific reflections on each of the UN’s 2030 Goals, and a panel on “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” (Goal 16). The Chinese representatives in the panel discussion on peace and justice will be philosopher Yang Guorong from East China Normal University and jurist Rupert Li.
The aim of the workshop is to pursue peace from a holistic perspective, beyond the economic considerations of the past. While challenging issues such as repression in China and violence against minorities in India exist, the ethical prerequisites for true dialogue, including freedom and equality, are emphasized. The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences acknowledges its limited influence on the decisions of the Chinese and Indian governments.
The outcome of the discussions will be a common text, and the workshop serves as the starting point for further reflection and initiatives, particularly in the university sphere. Some universities, such as Tor Vergata and La Sapienza University, have already announced initiatives on sustainability and the involvement of doctoral students in Chinese studies, respectively. The Pari Center for New Learning in Tuscany will also be engaged in related activities.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Asianews.it
