Xiong'an forum aims to build confidence in global governance cooperation

The 2026 Global Governance Forum (Xiong'an) will seek to build consensus and strengthen international confidence in working together to address shared challenges and build a more just and equitable global governance system, Wu Ken, president of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, said on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference, Wu announced that the forum will take place from Oct 23 to 25 in the Xiong'an New Area, Hebei province.

Hosted by the institute, the forum will focus on restoring confidence, strengthening cooperation and advancing global governance reform amid changes unseen in a century.

The gathering comes more than a year after China put forward the Global Governance Initiative at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus meeting in Tianjin in September 2025.

Wu said senior Chinese leaders will attend the opening ceremony and deliver keynote remarks. Representatives of international organizations and institutions, including the United Nations, as well as foreign political figures and scholars, will also address the forum.

More than 180 overseas guests from over 90 countries have confirmed their participation, alongside about 180 Chinese participants, according to Wu. Invitees include political figures, strategists, scholars, business and media representatives, and young leaders, with particular emphasis on leading voices in UN affairs, climate change, artificial intelligence and multilateral trade.

The forum's main activities include plenary addresses, 22 sessions across five subforums, and a range of side events. A closing news conference on the afternoon of Oct 25 will present the consensus reached and the forum's outcomes, Wu said.

Hosting the forum in Xiong'an will help the world better understand the new area and broaden its international engagement, while encouraging an exchange of ideas between China's governance practice and global governance efforts, he added.

Wang Lei, director of the foreign affairs office of the Hebei provincial government, said accompanying activities would give visitors a closer look at Hebei and Xiong'an through cultural experiences, technology demonstrations and site visits.

An interactive exhibition will showcase intangible cultural heritage, complemented by traditional performing arts. Visitors will also be able to explore satellite internet applications, embodied AI robots, AI-assisted traditional Chinese medicine consultations and autonomous driving, Wang said.

Two special sessions will focus on technological innovation and ecological governance. The first will highlight Xiong'an's efforts to strengthen its role as a source of innovation and develop advanced industries, while the second will share experience from the ecological restoration of Baiyangdian Lake and the development of a green, low-carbon city.

Delegates and Chinese and international journalists will also visit representative projects across the new area, Wang added.

Li Huaxia, a member of the Party Working Committee of the Xiong'an New Area, said Xiong'an remains focused on its primary role as a major destination for functions being relocated from Beijing that are nonessential to Beijing's role as the national capital.

Development in Xiong'an now spans 222 square kilometers, with 5,625 buildings constructed, Li said, noting that the new area is working to become a model of urban governance in China's modernization.

The forum will provide an important opportunity for Xiong'an to draw on governance ideas and practices from around the world, Li added.