The 2nd Nanjing Peace Forum opened in Nanjing City on October 24, also the United Nations Day, with a theme of “Living in Harmony with Nature for Peace”.

The event was jointly organized by UNESCO, the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, the Information Office of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government and the Nanjing Municipal People's Government, and hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Nanjing Committee.

Tian Xuejun, Vice Minister of Education and Chairperson of the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, said the Chinese government has made ecological civilization an important national strategy and carried out a series of fundamental, groundbreaking and long-term measures. All countries should strengthen cooperation, promote youth participation, apply new ideas, methods and technologies for the biodiversity conservation, the harmony between human beings and nature, and the sustainable development goals, said Tian.

Gabriela Ramos, the Assistant Director-General for the Social and Human Sciences of UNESCO, said the event will provide the platform for in-depth discussions on the response to climate change and environmental degradation in the pursuit of peace.

Chen Yong, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Nanjing Committee, said advancing ecological civilization is a central task for the city to promote peace and development. Nanjing will be committed to improving environmental quality, putting into practice President Xi Jinping's thought on ecological civilization, achieving modernization that features a harmony between people and nature, and supporting efforts to build a clean and beautiful world that enjoys common prosperity.

A participant from the United States shared her experiences in Zootopia, Co-creating a Shared Home for Man and Nature program, and called for more people, businesses and governments to work together to protect the world's forests.

The event also held parallel workshops in Islamabad, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The topics included how global issues including climate change, biodiversity, cultural heritage, and sustainable development and water are closely related to the world’s peace. Nearly 500 people from more than 40 countries and regions around the world participated the events on-site or online.

Contact us at english@jschina.com.cn