As a global platform for dialogue, Doha Forum since its establishment in 2000 is bringing together leaders, policy makers, and representatives of sectors of civil society, think tanks, academic and media from over the world to discuss critical issues facing the world.
This platform is suitable environment to promote the exchange of ideas, come out with action-oriented recommendations and create foundation for mutual understanding on critical global challenges. The world today under globalization and advancement of technology has become more connected than ever and interdependence on economies, cultures, and mobility of populations has increased. These facts, however, are associated with adversities and inequality resulting from conflicts, poverty, and displeasure of peoples for failure of many countries to realize their aspirations for development and prosperity.
These are just small part of many challenges that no one state or group of states can manage alone depending on their own people, wealth, and efforts that urges organizing of such global forums which can play key role in bringing stakeholders together to develop common understanding of issues and will for cooperation. This year forum is being hold under the theme “Reimagining Governance in a Multipolar World”. Addressing the opening session yesterday, the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani underlined the “concepts of international community, international legitimacy, joint responsibility and multilateral action were on the rise” since the end of cold war.
Following this era common international vision that appeared to be clear at the beginning of the new millennium has blurred, whether from the perspective of the international legitimacy, issues of poverty, environment and climate or from not holding war criminals accountable, said H H the Amir during his opening speech.
H H the Amir stressed that such problems and challenges facing the world today “cannot be solved without coordinated international efforts and shared visions, likewise the issues of violent extremism which is not restricted to a religion or a race, and which is indiscriminate in targeting the innocent, and making no distinction based on gender, racial or religious grounds.”
Qatar is committed to contribute in solving these problems and challenges adhering to policies based on respecting the international law and international legitimacy and contributing to solving conflicts peacefully through mediation and providing a space for dialogue, H H the Amir was quoted as saying.
The Qatari role was also lauded by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, H E Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, during his speech at the opening of Doha Forum saying the “State of Qatar is on the right track in identifying the current developments in the world, adding that the Forum presents a great opportunity for experts from around the world to exchange experiences and information about the best solutions to the current challenges”.
