Within the framework of the Munich Security Conference 2026, a high-level event titled “Multilateralism in a Fractured Global Order Format” was held.

The roundtable discussion was dedicated to preserving the effectiveness and legitimacy of multilateralism amid the current geopolitical fragmentation, as well as to potential reforms in the framework of the UN80+.

The event brought together nearly 40 high-level participants from more than 15 countries, including senior UN officials, former heads of state and government, ministers, leaders of regional organizations, and leading strategic experts.

Among the speakers during the sessions were Mukhtar Babayev, Representative of the President of Azerbaijan on Climate Issues and President of COP29; Prince Turki Al Faisal, Chairman of the Board of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies; Boris Tadic, former President of Serbia; Macky Sall, former President of Senegal; Eduards Stiprais, EU Special Representative for Central Asia; Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly; Sodiq Safoyev, Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Uzbekistan; and Sebastian Kurz, former Federal Chancellor of Austria.

During the luncheon discussion, Miguel Angel Moratinos, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations; Amr Moussa, former Secretary-General of the Arab League; Tzipi Livni, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel; George Papandreou, former Prime Minister of Greece; Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly; Eldor Aripov, First Deputy Secretary of the Security Council under the President of Uzbekistan; and Rovshan Muradov, Secretary General of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, shared their views on the future directions of global cooperation.

The event particularly emphasized evolving cooperation formats in Central Asia and the South Caucasus, the growing strategic role of the Trans-Caspian connectivity, post-conflict normalization processes, and the complementarity between regional initiatives and global multilateral frameworks.

Within the framework of the XXXV High-Level Meeting of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, a coordination meeting of the XIII Global Baku Forum was organized. During the meeting, issues related to cooperation with international partners were discussed.

The meeting also addressed the Forum’s program, key thematic priorities, participation of high-level speakers, and organizational arrangements in detail. It is worth noting that the XIII Global Baku Forum, to be held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on 12–14 March 2026, is expected to welcome more than 400 international participants from over 40 countries.

The XXXV High-Level Meeting of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center has commenced in Geneva, within the framework of partnership with the United Nations Office at Geneva. The meeting is dedicated to the theme “Reshaping Multilateralism in an Era of Divides and Transformation”.

Within the framework of this high-level international platform, broad and comprehensive discussions are being held on the future of global governance; adapting multilateral institutions to the evolving world order; the climate crisis and sustainable development; artificial intelligence and technological transformation; peace and security; humanitarian challenges; migration and global health; inclusive economies; the role of women in leadership; as well as global housing and urban development challenges.

At the same time, particular attention has been given to preparations for the XIII Global Baku Forum, to be held in Baku under the organization of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center. In addition, issues related to the Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) of the United Nations, scheduled to take place in Baku on 17–22 May, were also discussed.

The meeting brings together more than 50 high-level international participants representing over 30 countries, including former heads of state and government, heads of UN entities, representatives of international organizations, and renowned experts. The opening ceremony featured remarks by Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization; Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development; Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union; Anaclaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat; Amre Moussa, former Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt; Boris Tadic, former President of Serbia; as well as Anar Guliyev, Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and National Coordinator of WUF13. 

It should be noted that, based on the existing institutional cooperation between the Nizami Ganjavi International Center and the United Nations Office at Geneva, these annual high-level meetings serve as an important international platform for discussing global challenges.

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.

The Nizami Ganjavi International Center is an official partner of the 2025 Imperial Springs International Forum.
Held 30 November - 4 December 2025 in Guangzhou, China, the Imperial Springs International Forum brought together world leaders, policymakers, experts, and representatives of international organizations as a high-level platform dedicated to strengthening global cooperation and solidarity.

Former heads of state and government, prominent public figures, and renowned scholars from more than 30 countries participated in the Forum.

Discussions addressed key issues such as multilateralism, global security, economic transformations, climate and low-carbon development, technological innovation, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
As one of the Forum’s principal partners, the Nizami Ganjavi International Center was widely represented across high-level panels.

The Center was represented by:

• Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Co-Chair of the NGIC, former President of Latvia 
• Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly 
• Jean Baderschneider, former Vice President of ExxonMobil 
• Zlatko Lagumdzija, former Prime Minister and Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the UN
• Mladen Ivanic, former President of Bosnia and Herzegovina 
• Yves Leterme, former Prime Minister of Belgium 
• Volkan Bozkır, President of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly 
• Rosen Plevneliev, former President of Bulgaria • Petar Stoyanov, former President of Bulgaria 
• Hedva Ser, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador 
• Sebastian Kurz, Chancellor of Austria (2017–2019 / 2020–2021) 
• Ivo Josipovic, former President of Croatia 
• Valdis Zatlers, former President of Latvia

NGIC representatives contributed to discussions on recalibrating global governance, economic resilience, technological security, green development, and multilateral cooperation.

It should be noted that through its long-standing cooperation with the Imperial Springs International Forum, the Center plays an active role in advancing global dialogue, promoting multilateral platforms for peace and development, and supporting joint engagement among leaders.

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.