Representatives give speeches in the forum.

The 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum or ISIF opened in Madrid, capital of Spain, on Dec 12. This year, the forum has as its theme "Collective Action for One Future". Bringing together over 200 leaders from politics, academia and business across more than 50 countries, the forum features a variety of events – ranging from closed-door meetings to a plenary discussion – covering such topics as global governance, AI and sustainable development.

Ivo Josipovic, former president of Croatia, praised this year's theme for being grounded in reality. "Humanity is currently facing significant challenges. On one hand, there are many wars in the world today and we must resolve these conflicts in a fair and just manner. On the other hand, natural challenges such as climate change, pollution and diseases are equally severe. As the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated, only collective action can address these issues. Clearly, in the face of global wars and conflicts, only joint efforts can promote peace and bring an end to war," he said.

Csaba Kőrösi, former president of the United Nations General Assembly, echoed this concern when he said: "Unfortunately, now the zero-sum mentality from geopolitical crises overshadows the necessity of global cooperation on common goods. "

He added: "The result is not another zero-sum game, but a negative-sum game – a lose-lose scenario. This cannot be an alternative or acceptable outcome. So sooner or later, we need to address our responsibilities for collective action. There may still be competition, but we must find ways to cooperate where the global common good is at stake."

Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador, said: "This year's theme is 'Collective Action' and I believe it is critically important."

"When we consider the security challenges the world is facing, the ongoing conflicts, environmental crises, as well as issues of poverty and inequality – all of them require greater collaboration and collective action. They demand a strong and purpose-driven multilateral system, which is precisely what this forum aims to promote."

ISIF 2024 is the first time the forum is being held outside China. The choice of Madrid as the host city symbolises the forum's efforts in addressing global challenges and providing a platform for people from different backgrounds to come together and discuss the critical issues of our times.

Specifically, ISIF 2024 highlights the promising vision of strengthening China-Europe cooperation, despite the current trade conflict about electric vehicles.

With regards to this, Mladen Ivanic, former president of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said: "I believe that in this modern world, a certain alliance between China and the European Union is essential. "

"As two key players, China and the EU have a responsibility to work together to bring stability to the world and demonstrate that cooperation between major powers is possible. This stands in stark contrast to the notion we've recently heard from some other countries – that conflict will define our future – which is entirely misguided. Therefore, I am confident that China and the EU can join hands to bring stability to the world."

In agreement with this vision for the future, Kjell Magne Bondevik, former prime minister of Norway, said: "China has made many contributions to Europe and other continents. We should collaborate in a positive atmosphere, where transparency is crucial."

"We must be honest with each other and avoid hidden agendas. Openness towards one another is essential."