A global development forum in Beijing called for broader and deeper cooperation and common prosperity and development as the Asia-Pacific's future takes on growing global significance.

Themed "China's Development and the Asia-Pacific Community," the Tongzhou Global Development Forum 2026 brought together more than 600 attendees from over 40 countries around the world.

The event, held on October 11, was hosted by the Renmin University of China (RUC).

Parallel sessions during the forum spotlighted common challenges and hot issues such as artificial intelligence governance, climate change and public health.

Kevin Rudd, former Australian prime minister, said the global center of gravity has shifted to Asia and the broader Asia-Pacific, and the region's future will be decisive for the world. He called on countries to uphold harmony in diversity, seek common ground while reserving differences, and prevent competition from sliding into confrontation. He proposed that countries, including China and the United States, work together to advance sustainable development in the region, with a particular focus on AI safety governance, climate change response, human security, public health and cancer research.

China's modernization has created new cooperation opportunities for Global South countries, said Mulatu Teshome, former Ethiopian president. He noted that modernization no longer means Westernization, and China's experience in industrialization, technology integration and poverty eradication provides a useful reference for developing countries exploring their own paths to modernization.

Africa, he said, is working to move beyond its traditional role as a resource supplier and to strengthen local processing and innovation capacity, and looks forward to deeper practical cooperation with China in infrastructure, digital technology, talent cultivation and green development. He stressed that building a community with a shared future for mankind is not an abstract concept, but should be advanced through equal and practical international cooperation to achieve common prosperity and peaceful development.

According to Jenny Shipley, former New Zealand prime minister, the Asia-Pacific is undergoing profound changes in economic development, technological innovation and regional cooperation, and China's modernization has injected important momentum into regional prosperity. Facing common challenges such as AI governance and climate change, countries should strengthen technology sharing and policy coordination, and fully listen to the voices of small and medium-sized countries, especially Pacific island nations.

She stressed that the key to Asia-Pacific cooperation lies in mutual respect and seeking common ground while respecting differences. Cultural differences should be turned into advantages for cooperation through multilateral mechanisms such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

A series of research outputs were released at the event, including a report by the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the RUC, titled "Shaping Asia-Pacific 2050 Together: Building an Asia-Pacific Community and China's Future." The report highlighted China's role in regional development and called for stronger cooperation in trade and investment, financial connectivity, digital governance and green development.

The forum also proposed a five-point action plan to accelerate the formation of an Asia-Pacific knowledge community, and launched the Global Development Initiative International Research Alliance.