International scholars gathered at a forum in Shanghai on Saturday to discuss China's evolving role on the world stage, praising the nation's efforts to foster a multipolar future and ensure common prosperity.
The 2025 International Academic Forum on Chinese Modernization, hosted by the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics in Shanghai's Lingang area, focused on China's major global initiatives concerning development, security, civilization and governance. Attendees analyzed how these frameworks are reshaping international relations.
"China has over the last decade and more been taking a number of important steps to change global governance in a more multipolar direction, in a direction that is more pro-development for developing countries, in a direction that is toward peace, toward cooperation and so ons," said Radhika Desai, director of Geopolitical Economy Research Group at the University of Manitoba, Canada.
Some scholars stressed that the effectiveness of China's vision depends not only on the country's proposals, but also on how the rest of the world choose to participate in them.
"As they say, it takes two to tango, it takes two to dance. But it's not only China's initiative, but also the agency of the other parties," said Julio Huato, executive editor of the Science and Society: A Journal of Marxist Thought and Analysis.
"I see China's Global Governance Initiative as a comprehensive view of world modernization. It's a different concept from the Western liberal economy paradigm. This vision is fairer and more inclusive for the world," said Sergey Bodrunov, a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Some attendees also pointed to China's deepening ties with developing regions, particularly Latin America.
"In Latin America, China is now the most important country. I teach in the Federal University, and many students are studying in China now," said Niemeyer Almeida Filho, a professor at the Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil.
China's vision for a multipolar, inclusive world draws praise from global scholars
More than two weeks after a devastating fire tore through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Tai Po, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and civil society have worked to ensure that the relocated have what they need to rebuild and resume their normal lives.
Transitional housing projects across Hong Kong are part of this crucial support.
Extra vehicles and extra staff have been deployed across all transitional housing units in Hong Kong to help the fire victims move around easily.
At "The Step Transitional Housing Project", many affected residents are settling in and getting used to new routines.
One of the things making that easier is transport. The transitional housing project has six bus routes, including a brand-new route to Tai Po.
"We run about 13 bus trips a day between here and Tai Po, and we will adjust the schedule as demand changes. Around 50 households have already moved in, and more residents are expected to arrive," said Allan Siu, a social worker.
The new bus route has quickly become essential, especially for residents commuting to work, schools, or doctors' appointments.
"About half of the residents here are aged 65 or above. We have volunteers accompanying them to hospital visits, and care teams are delivering meals every day. We'll soon have traditional Chinese medicine doctors on site as well, to support both physical and emotional needs," Siu said.
The government has also arranged 12 apartment viewing tours this week so that residents can pick where they want to live next.
"In order to let these people now staying in hotels or other places, to make the decision, I think this is a very good arrangement. But we need to promote a bit. What is the availability? What are the locations? What are the surrounding environment like, and support that can be provided to them," said Winnie Ho, Secretary for Housing of the HKSAR government.
"If Tai Po residents like what they have seen here, they can get a key and move in immediately," Siu told Ho.
Meanwhile, support continues to pour in from the public.
The Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po totaled 3.7 billion Hong Kong dollars (about 475 million U.S. dollars) as of Saturday.
And more than 4,000 residents are now registered in the One Social Worker per Household program, receiving long-term, personalized assistance.
Transitional housing projects support Tai Po fire survivors
