Hosted by CityUHK and the Asia Educational Technology and Cultural Foundation, this dual-theme forum gathered diplomats, academics and creatives in Hung Hom, with former UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova as the headline speaker.
Morning Session: Asia-Africa-Europe Collaboration for Shared Future Development
Bokova warned that the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda is off track, with most SDGs only 30–38% completed and some regressing. She recognized China’s progress in green transition and multilateral reform. She argued universities must foster human traits AI cannot replace: curiosity, empathy and ethical judgement. She called for cross-cultural learning, making international experience accessible to all and teaching students to learn from failure.
Consul General of Italy in HK and Macau: Cultural Creativity as Trilateral Bridge
Cannito stood up for the value of humanities and creative sectors. He said cultural heritage and crafts serve as natural bridges connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. He described Hong Kong as a key super-connector for trilateral cultural exchanges, noting cultural cooperation builds lasting mutual trust beyond commercial partnerships.
Other panellists Olivier Segura and Hannah Thuo talked about equitable value distribution in craft supply chains and inclusive global education.
Afternoon Session: Cross-Cultural Innovation and Women Leadership
Bokova turned to women’s leadership and cultural innovation. She noted women are central to advancing cross-cultural dialogue and sustainable development. She stressed inclusive leadership creates safer, more creative ecosystems, and called for stronger support for female creators, educators and innovators across regions. Global citizenship education, she added, is key to dismantling prejudice and unlocking women’s potential.
The afternoon panels centred on women’s role in cross-cultural creative collaboration. Designer Ruby Fang emphasised rooting artistic creation in native culture to share universal values of beauty and kindness. Hong Kong Ballet’s Heidi Lee shared its inclusive outreach programmes spanning senior participants and community partnerships. Sculptor May Yeung introduced her charity art projects supporting disabled groups and underprivileged students. Scholars Esterina Nervino and Kira Matus called for inclusive education, encouraging young people to pursue authentic goals rather than narrow definitions of success.
(Reported by Lynn Zhou)
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