The Nizami Ganjavi International Center served as one of the official partners of the 11th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) held under the theme “UNAOC: Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity - Advancing a New Era of Mutual Respect and Understanding in a Multipolar World”, on December 14-15, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

During the event, the NGIC members addressed the panel discussions focusing on such topics as coexistence, promoting peace through interreligious and intercultural dialogue, terrorism, urban development, challenges posed by disinformation in the era of digitalization, impact of the artificial intelligence.

The NGIC Secretary-General also held bilateral meetings with several officials, namely Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Miguel Angel Moratinos, UNAOC High Representative, as well as Binali Yildirim, former Prime Minister of Türkiye and NGIC member. The discussions focused on the preparations for the upcoming 13th Global Baku Forum to take place in 2026.

The NGIC delegation also met with Prince Turki AlFaisal Al Saud, Chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies.

Prince Turki AlFaisal is the Founder and Trustee of the King Faisal Foundation and Chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies.

Secretary-General of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Mr. Rovshan Muradov, held a series of bilateral meetings in Beijing.

The visit began with a meeting with Ambassador Wu Hongbo, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs. This was followed by discussions with Li Daokui, a leading Chinese economist, Mansfield Freeman Professor at Tsinghua University and Director of the Center for China in the World Economy (CCWE), and Dr. David Pan, Executive Dean of Schwarzman College. The meetings focused on cooperation opportunities and global development priorities.

On the second day, the Secretary-General met with Wu Ken, President of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, and Yang Tao, Vice-President of the Institute, to discuss humanitarian dialogue, global security, and prospects for multilateral cooperation.

The program continued with a meeting with Justin Yifu Lin, former Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank, during which regional economic trends and sustainable development strategies were reviewed.

The Beijing meetings contributed to further strengthening NGIC’s strategic cooperation with Chinese partners and expanding its role in fostering global dialogue.

At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) held in Brazil, the Nizami Ganjavi International Center took part in high-level discussions on climate resilience, sustainable development, and inclusive transitions.

The delegation included the Center’s members—Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly; Jean Baderschneider, Board Member of Fortescue and former Vice President of ExxonMobil; and Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, COP20 President.

Speaking at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, Maria Fernanda Espinosa emphasized that cities are both vulnerable and transformative power centers in addressing the climate crisis and highlighted the importance of ensuring a just transition.

Within the conference framework, the Center’s representatives engaged in international initiatives on biodiversity conservation, sustainable ecosystem management, and combating wildlife crimes, as well as exchanging views with partners on continuing the legacy established at COP29 in Baku.

The Center also participated in the "Global Dialogue and the Caspian Sea" process, dedicated to strengthening climate cooperation in the Caspian region, highlighting the importance of multilateral action against environmental challenges such as water level decline, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

At a special session organized by UNCTAD during COP30, the Center’s members discussed the role of sustainable trade and investment in implementing national climate commitments (NDCs) and explored international cooperation opportunities in building low-emission value chains.

Within the framework of the Paris Peace Forum, the Nizami Ganjavi International Center hosted a high-level side event titled “From COP29 to COP30: Advancing the Global Climate Dialogue and Preparing for the XIII Global Baku Forum.”

The meeting, moderated by former President of Serbia Boris Tadić, brought together former heads of state and government, leaders of international organizations, parliamentarians, and experts from across the world. Building on the outcomes of COP29, the discussion focused on the preparation process for COP30, global climate financing, and the challenges of sustainable development. Among the topics addressed was the “Caspian Sea Agenda,” which covered key issues related to the legal status of the Caspian Sea, as well as energy and environmental cooperation.

In recent years, the NGIC has made notable contributions to the global climate agenda through initiatives such as the London and Baku Climate Action Weeks, as well as high-level meetings held in Beijing, Tashkent, and New York. The Paris event is considered a continuation of these ongoing efforts.

The discussions also emphasized preparations for the XIII Global Baku Forum, scheduled for March 2026, including a presentation of the upcoming Forum.

Distinguished speakers included COP29 President and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev; Presidents of COP20, COP21, COP22, COP24, and COP30; President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova; Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braze; Vice-President of the French Senate Xavier Iacovelli; French Senator Nathalie Goulet; former President of Serbia Boris Tadic; former Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou; former President of the European Central Bank Jean-Claude Trichet; and other prominent global leaders.

The Nizami Ganjavi International Center, together with the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD) and the Vienna School of International Studies, organized the event “Shifting Grounds: The Caucasus, Central Asia and Europe in a New Global Order” in Vienna.

Within the framework of the event, NGIC members met with Heinz Fischer, Co-chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens and 11th President of the Republic of Austria (2004–2016), to discuss current global shifts and the evolving dynamics between Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.

The high-level panel featured prominent international figures including:

• Vuk Jeremic, CIRSD President, President of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly
• Benita Ferrero-Waldner, former Foreign Minister of Austria and European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy
• Boris Tadic, President of Serbia (2004–2012)
• Nino Burjanadze, Acting President of Georgia and former Speaker of Parliament
• Dimitris Avramopoulos, former European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship
• Ana Birchall, former Deputy Prime Minister of Romania

During the discussions, participants shared their insights on regional cooperation, security, and the future of Europe’s neighborhood, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and shared responsibility in addressing today’s global challenges.

As part of the visit, “The Magic of the Pen – Selected Miniatures from the Khamsa of Nizami Ganjavi” was presented to Ambassador Martin Eichtinger, Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and former Austrian Ambassador to Romania, Moldova, and the United Kingdom, by NGIC member Vuk Jeremic.

The Nizami Ganjavi International Center strengthened its cooperation with The Economist Impact through its partnership in the 9th Sustainability Summit for Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean, held in Athens.

Distinguished NGIC members took part in the discussions, including:

• Kateryna Yushchenko, former First Lady of Ukraine;
• Csaba Korosi, President of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly;
• Volkan Bozkir, 75th President of the UN General Assembly and former Minister of European Union Affairs of Turkey;
• Hakima El Haite, President of the African Pact and Member of the UN Zero Waste Initiative;
• Rosen Plevneliev, former President of Bulgaria.

During the summit, NGIC members shared their perspectives on sustainability, competitiveness, and global leadership, emphasizing the importance of unity and cooperation in addressing climate challenges and promoting a balanced green transition. Their interventions highlighted the need for policies that combine environmental responsibility with economic growth and social stability.

Through its engagement, NGIC reaffirmed its dedication to fostering dialogue among global leaders and experts to advance sustainable development and strengthen regional cooperation. The participation at this summit once again underscored NGIC’s active role in shaping discussions on Europe’s green and competitive future.