I began my career with the United Nations 🇺🇳 in 1997, but my commitment to peace was shaped earlier, during a decade of military service 🇮🇳 . That period instilled discipline, duty and loyalty and also exposed me, at close range, to the human cost of violence. Over time, a growing unease took hold: the realisation that force alone cannot address the underlying drivers of conflict. That recognition ultimately led me to seek a different path. un-dco.org/stories/three-dec…

Thank you 🙏 Ambassador Li Song, for your gracious hospitality and for hosting my colleagues & me from Global Neighbours at the magnificent premises of the Chinese 🇨🇳Permanent Mission in Vienna 🇦🇹. It was a genuine pleasure to exchange views on the dire state of multilateralism & the need to resurrect the primacy of dialogue and cooperation in an increasingly complex & fragmented world 🌎. I greatly appreciated the warmth of your welcome, the candour of our conversation, and our shared commitment to building bridges across cultures, nations, and perspectives. I look forward to continuing our exchanges and exploring opportunities for collaboration in the spirit of mutual understanding and global partnership. @global_neighbor @Amb_LiSong #GlobalNeighbours #Dialogue #Multilateralism #Vienna #China #UnitedNations

A pleasure to meet with Mr. Christian Kern, President of Global Neighbours and former Federal Chancellor of Austria 🇦🇹. Christian brings a rare combination of political leadership, strategic vision, and international experience—qualities that are increasingly valuable in a world marked by fragmentation and uncertainty. I left our conversation even more convinced of the tremendous potential of Global Neighbours. Under Christian’s leadership, together with the vision of our founder Ms. Jovanka Porsche & Secretary General Dr. Philipp Rösler together with the dedication of our growing team, I believe we can build a truly world-class 🌎 platform for dialogue, business, and development—helping to foster understanding, cooperation, and ultimately peace. 🕊️ ✌️ Vienna has long been a bridge between worlds. Global Neighbours has the opportunity to become one of the institutions that carries that legacy forward. #GlobalNeighbours #Leadership #Vienna #Dialogue #InternationalCooperation #Peacebuilding

It was an honor to join the 2026 celebration of the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations at the Vienna International Centre 🇺🇳 🇦🇹 Having spent five memorable years as the UN 🇺🇳 Resident Coordinator in China 🇨🇳 , and having come to regard Beijing as a second home, this occasion held special personal meaning. It reminded me of the enduring wisdom of Chinese civilization and its belief that harmony does not require uniformity — 和而不同. The message from the Foreign Minister of China 🇨🇳 H.E. Wang Yi was a timely reminder that dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding among civilizations are not merely diplomatic aspirations; they are essential foundations for peace and cooperation in an increasingly fragile world.🌎 I was particularly moved by the exhibition Blossoms 🌺 of Civilizations, Fragrance Shared Across the World, which beautifully captured a simple but powerful truth: our diversity is not a source of division, but one of humanity’s greatest strengths. For Global Neighbours, this gathering reflected the very purpose of our work — building meaningful bridges between Europe, Asia, and the wider international community through dialogue, trust, and human connection. My sincere thanks 🙏 to H.E. Ambassador Li Song, the Permanent Mission of China 🇨🇳 to the UN 🇺🇳 in Vienna, and the United Nations 🇺🇳 Office at Vienna for hosting such a thoughtful and inspiring event. I look forward to deepening our engagement and exploring new opportunities for partnership and shared purpose in the years ahead. Press release ⬇️ globalneighbours.org/en/even…

I was pleased to welcome Ms. Angela Kane to the Global Neighbours office in Vienna 🇦🇹 today. Angela is one of the most distinguished leaders to have served in the United Nations 🇺🇳 system, with an exceptional career spanning nearly four decades. As former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, she played a pivotal role in some of the most consequential diplomatic and security challenges of our time, including international efforts surrounding the Syria 🇸🇾 chemical weapons crisis. Our conversation ranged across the future of multilateralism, global security, conflict prevention, and the importance of sustained dialogue in an increasingly fragmented world. Her insights, shaped by decades of leadership at the highest levels of international diplomacy, remain as relevant as ever. Angela and I also share another connection as fellow faculty members at Schwarzman College, part of the remarkable Tsinghua University 🇨🇳 —an institution dedicated to preparing the next generation of global 🌎 leaders. It is always inspiring to engage with colleagues who combine intellectual depth, practical experience, and an unwavering commitment to international cooperation. I am grateful for her continued engagement with Global Neighbours and look forward to exploring future collaborations, including dialogue initiatives that bring together diverse perspectives in pursuit of peace, understanding, and common purpose. #GlobalNeighbours #Vienna #UnitedNations #Multilateralism #Diplomacy #Leadership #Peacebuilding #Disarmament #TsinghuaUniversity #SchwarzmanScholars #InternationalCooperation

I was honored to meet Austria’s Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA) for a forward-looking exchange with Mr. Feri Thierry, Head of the Strategy and Planning Unit. Our conversation took place at a particularly significant moment for Austria. I congratulated 👏 Austria 🇦🇹 on its election to the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term. At a time when conflicts are multiplying and trust between nations is under strain, Austria’s longstanding commitment to dialogue, neutrality, and bridge-building will be an invaluable asset. The country is uniquely positioned to help advance a renewed push for peace in an increasingly fragile and fragmented world.🌎 Against this backdrop, we exchanged perspectives on regional connectivity, multilateralism, and Austria’s historic role as a convener and connector at the heart of Europe. We shared a common conviction that the defining challenges of our era—from security and development to climate and economic resilience—cannot be addressed in isolation. They require dialogue over division and partnership over polarization. I was particularly pleased to present the mission of Global Neighbours and our flagship initiative, Tracks to the Future, which seeks to deepen practical cooperation, people-to-people engagement, and mutual understanding between Europe 🇪🇺 , Central Asia, and China 🇨🇳 and beyond. My sincere thanks 🙏 to Mr Thierry for a candid, thoughtful, and highly constructive discussion. I look forward to continuing our dialogue and exploring new avenues of cooperation that can help strengthen understanding, foster connectivity, and contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous future. @BMeinl @MFA_Austria @AustriaUN 🇦🇹 🇪🇺 🌏 #GlobalNeighbours #Diplomacy #Multilateralism #UnitedNations #UNSC #Peacebuilding #EuropeAsia #InternationalCooperation #Vienna #TracksToTheFuture

1/5 Delighted to mark the International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations with all guests. Cultural exchange & mutual respect pave the way for shared future. See my full remarks: vienna.china-mission.gov.cn/…

4/5 Thank you @sidchat1 for joining us and delivering such an inspiring speech at the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. Your vision of civilizations as bridges, not walls, resonates deeply. We look forward to continued collaboration.

It was an honour to meet former Austrian 🇦🇹 President Heinz Fischer together with Ms Monika Froehler CEO of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation 🇰🇷 🤝 🇦🇹 together with their COO a.i. Ms Kathrin Ebner and to represent Global Neighbours in a thoughtful discussion on development, diplomacy, and the future of international cooperation. At a time when many of the institutions that have underpinned global 🌎 collaboration are under strain, our conversation reinforced a simple but powerful truth: development is not merely an outcome of peace—it is often its foundation. Investments in human development, opportunity, and inclusion build trust, reduce the drivers of conflict, and create the conditions for lasting stability. President Fischer’s decades of leadership, grounded in dialogue, humility, and bridge-building, offer an important reminder that principled leadership remains indispensable in an increasingly complex and multipolar world.🌎 We also reflected on the importance of strengthening Europe 🇪🇺 –China 🇨🇳 and Asia engagement. At Global Neighbours, fostering understanding and cooperation between regions, cultures, and generations lies at the heart of our mission. In that regard, I see significant potential for collaboration between Global Neighbours and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation in advancing development-centred diplomacy and meaningful international dialogue. My sincere thanks 🙏 to President Fischer and Monika Froehler for their warmth, wisdom, and generous exchange of ideas. I look forward to continuing the conversation and exploring opportunities to build bridges where they are needed most. #GlobalNeighbours #Leadership #Diplomacy #Development #Peacebuilding #EuropeChina #InternationalCooperation #SDGs #BanKimoonFoundation

Some meetings leave you genuinely energized — my conversation with H.E. Ambassador Matilda Aku Alomatu Osei-Agyeman, Ghana’s 🇬🇭 Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Austria 🇦🇹 and the United Nations 🇺🇳 in Vienna, was one of them. We covered a lot of ground: how Global Neighbours and Ghana might work together on sustainable development, education, youth leadership, and the kind of people-to-people connections that quietly hold the world 🌍 together. These aren’t abstractions for either of us — they’re the work. What struck me most was Ambassador Osei-Agyeman’s clarity of vision. Ghana has long punched above its weight in West Africa — as a steady democratic anchor, an economic trailblazer, and a principled voice within the multilateral system. That combination of domestic confidence and genuine multilateral commitment is rarer than it should be, and it matters enormously right now. We live in a moment when the architectures of global 🌎 cooperation are under real stress. What gives me hope are conversations like this one — where diplomats, institutions, and citizens are actively building new connective tissue across continents, not waiting for the old structures to hold. I’m looking forward to turning this conversation into something concrete — with Ghana, from Vienna, outward toward Europe, Africa, and Asia. Warmest thanks 🙏 to Ambassador Osei-Agyeman for her generosity, insight, and that rarest of diplomatic gifts: genuine candor. @matildaalomatu cc: @GhanaPresidency @JDMahama @Global_Neighbrs @_AfricanUnion 🇬🇭 🇦🇹 🌍 #GlobalNeighbours #Ghana #AfricaEuropeAsia #Multilateralism #InternationalDevelopment #Partnerships #Leadership #SustainableDevelopment #Diplomacy #WestAfrica #Vienna #GlobalCooperation #SDGs #BridgeBuilding

Some weeks leave a mark on your soul. Bellagio 🇮🇹 was one of them. From June 1 to 5, twenty leaders from across the world 🌎 gathered at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center on Lake Como for something I will carry with me for a long time. Under the inspired leadership of Prof. Poman Lo — founder of One Earth Initiative and one of the most quietly tenacious people I know — and co-convened with the remarkable Deepali Khanna, Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific at the Rockefeller Foundation, we spent five days asking a question that felt both necessary and daunting: What kind of institution does Asia — and the world — actually need right now? We weren’t there to make speeches. We were there to build something. And that meant sitting with real disagreements, naming tensions rather than smoothing them over, running pre-mortems on how the One Earth Institute might fail before it even begins — so that it doesn’t. That is what serious institution-building looks like. What emerged from those conversations — along the lake, over long dinners, on garden walks and in working sessions — was the architecture of the One Earth Institute, to be anchored at @hkust 🇭🇰 🇨🇳. Not another talking shop. A living centre — built to convene, connect, and catalyse — to advance progress at a moment when our world 🌍 is battered by interlocking crises that no single institution, country, or sector can navigate alone. The three pillars we shaped together — AI for Good, Financing the Transition, and Climate Resilience and Health — are not abstract themes. They are the terrain where leadership grounded in empathy, solidarity, and courage can actually make a difference. What I will remember most is not the frameworks or the flipcharts. It is the people in that room. Their generosity. Their willingness to stay with difficulty rather than skip to answers. The laughter over dinner. The quiet conversations on the terrace as the sun set over Como. This is how institutions worth building begin — not with a press release, but with people who trust each other enough to dream out loud. My deepest gratitude to Poman for the privilege of this partnership. To Deepali for the warmth and wisdom she brought to every moment. And to every member of our Bellagio family — you have given this initiative something no document can capture: belief. Next stop: Hong Kong. October. The journey is just beginning. 🌏 #OneEarth #OneEarthInstitute #Leadership #Asia #Bellagio #HKUST #Multilateralism #ClimateAction #AIforGood

Inspiring to see Yoga serving as a bridge between wellness, community service, and people-to-people connections. The engagement of volunteers, students, blood donors, athletes, and families highlights Yoga’s enduring relevance as a shared global heritage that brings people together across cultures. Congratulations 👍🏽 to Consul General Pratik Mathur and the entire team for this remarkable outreach effort. Wishing all participants a successful and impactful International Day of Yoga 2026.

Honored to speak at the 179th Mingde Forum hosted by the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University 🇨🇳 on “China, the Asia-Pacific, and the New Multilateralism: Leading Through Fragmentation.” 🌏 At a time when the world faces overlapping challenges—from climate change and conflict to inequality and public health crises—the need for effective multilateral cooperation has never been more urgent. Drawing on my years with the United Nations 🇺🇳 in China, I reflected on the country’s extraordinary development journey and the valuable lessons it offers for many nations across the Global South. Inspired by the forum’s rich exchange of ideas, I also spoke about why empathy, solidarity, and compassion are not just ideals, but essential qualities for leadership in an increasingly complex and divided world. As the international system comes under growing strain, China has an important role to play—not only as a major global actor, but as a connector, bridge-builder, and catalyst for dialogue and development. My sincere thanks to Professor Zhu Junming for moderating, Professor Li Yingbo for her insightful commentary, and to the students and colleagues who joined the discussion both in person and online. Their thoughtful questions reinforced the vital role that universities and young people will play in shaping a more peaceful, inclusive, and resilient future. In an age of fragmentation, dialogue remains one of our greatest sources of hope. 🌎 🤝 🌎 #Multilateralism #GlobalGovernance #China #AsiaPacific #TsinghuaUniversity #GlobalSouth #Leadership

Delighted to welcome Dr. Armen Sarkissian, former President of Armenia, to the Global Neighbours Advisory Board! 🇦🇲🌏 With a distinguished 35 year career spanning state leadership, global diplomacy, physics, and international business, Dr. Sarkissian brings an invaluable wealth of insight to our mission. His extensive global networks and visionary approach to "Quantum Politics" and multilateral dialogue will greatly enrich our work in connecting stakeholders across politics, business, and society. Welcome to the team, Dr. Sarkissian! Read more: globalneighbours.org/en/peop… #GlobalNeighbours #Diplomacy #InternationalRelations #Leadership #AdvisoryBoard

𝗖𝗘𝗢 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗷𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮–𝗨𝗦 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 On 21 May, Global Neighbours was pleased to see our CEO, Siddharth Chatterjee, participate in a high level forum hosted by China Daily together with leading academic institutions, convening prominent Chinese and international experts to examine the future of China–US relations at a moment of profound geopolitical and economic transformation. 🤝 Discussions underscored the importance of sustained dialogue, practical cooperation, and stronger people to people engagement in shaping one of the most consequential bilateral relationships of the 21st century. 🌍 Drawing on more than three decades of leadership within the United Nations system, Siddharth Chatterjee emphasised that cooperation between China and the United States remains indispensable to addressing today’s defining global challenges. Reflecting on successful public health collaboration in Kenya, he highlighted how international partnership can deliver tangible outcomes for communities worldwide. Against the backdrop of climate change, conflict, food insecurity, inequality, and unprecedented levels of forced displacement, he called for renewed convergence around shared global responsibility. He also highlighted the potential of initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative and underscored the importance of leveraging existing frameworks for cooperation to advance sustainable development across Africa, the Global South, and beyond. #GlobalNeighbours #ChinaUSRelations #GlobalDialogue #GlobalGovernance

The Sino 🇨🇳-American 🇺🇸 relationship remains the single most consequential bilateral relationship of the 21st century. It carries within it the unique capacity to address the global challenges that touch every human life on Earth.🌍 I say this not as an American citizen, nor as a Chinese citizen, but as a global citizen shaped by thirty years of frontline multilateral service at the United Nations. 🇺🇳 Here are my full remarks from a recent event hosted by China Daily, which brought together an illustrious array of Chinese and American opinion leaders. 🇺🇸 🤝 🇨🇳 ⬇️ enapp.chinadaily.com.cn/a/20…

Siddharth Chatterjee @sidchat1, former UN resident coordinator in China, said the Sino-US relationship, the most consequential relationship of the 21st century, has the power to tackle global challenges that affect us all. He posed a striking question: Why can't the US Build Back Better Act and China's Global Development Initiative and Global Governance Initiative come together to drive a transformative change? He called this the "why not" moment for China and the US. #ChinaUS

𝗔𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲, 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲–𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗷𝗶𝗻𝗴 Co-convened by Global Neighbours and the Capital Club Beijing, the evening reception brought together diplomats, business leaders, academics, and distinguished members of Chinese society for a substantive exchange on the future of Europe–Asia relations amid an increasingly complex global environment. The Global Neighbours delegation, led by Jovanka Porsche, Founder and Chairwoman, was joined by H.E. Vladimir Norov @VladimirNorov , Board Member of Global Neighbours, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to cross-regional and cross-institutional dialogue. In his remarks, CEO Sid Chatterjee @sidchat1 presented Global Neighbours as a Vienna 🇦🇹 based platform dedicated to constructive dialogue between Europe, Asia, and the wider international community 🌍. He emphasised that in a period of geopolitical transformation, sustained and credible engagement across borders is increasingly essential. Special appreciation is extended to the Ambassadors of Kenya 🇰🇪 and Türkiye 🇹🇷, whose contributions highlighted trust, continuity, and human connection as foundations of international relations. The evening reflected a shared sense of purpose and momentum. The historical Silk Road served as a reminder that connectivity across cultures and regions remains both possible and necessary when grounded in mutual respect and openness. #GlobalNeighbours #EuropeAsia #Dialogue #GlobalCooperation

Our head of mission, HE Willy Bett emphasized the need to trilaterally cooperate as Africa-China and Europe and build on the ancient silk route. Currently, China’s Belt and Road initiative #BRI is being promoted as a revival of this Ancient Silk Road spirit. Therefore, our partnership under the “Tracks to the Future” initiative shall facilitate more cultural exchanges and economic cooperation, specifically in Kenya, along the SGR corridor, thus providing new sources of income and livelihoods #VijanaNaOpportunities Asante sana Balozi Bett & @sidchat1 👏🏾👏🏾

The Capital Club in Beijing 🇨🇳 set the stage yesterday for an evening I will not quickly forget. Diplomats, business leaders, academics, and distinguished members of Chinese society came together not for ceremony, but for genuine conversation — about where Europe and Asia are headed, and what it will take to navigate that journey well. The reception was co-convened by Global Neighbours and the Capital Club, and for me personally, it carried added weight: Beijing is home, and introducing Global Neighbours in a city where I have live felt meaningful in a way that went beyond the professional. Our delegation was led by Ms Jovanka Porsche, who founded Global Neighbours in Austria 🇦🇹 with a clear-eyed conviction that the world needs more spaces for honest dialogue, not fewer. Alongside her was H.E. Vladimir Norov — former Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 and former Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization — whose presence alone communicated something important about the organization’s reach and seriousness of purpose. In my remarks, I spoke about what Global Neighbours actually is: a Vienna, 🇦🇹 based platform committed to bringing Europe, Asia, and the wider world 🌎 into more productive conversation with each other. This is not abstract work. At a moment when the geopolitical ground is shifting in ways that affect ordinary people everywhere, the case for dialogue — real dialogue, not performative diplomacy — has never been stronger. That is the work we are here to do. The Ambassadors of Kenya HE Willy Bett 🇰🇪 and Türkiye 🇹🇷 H.E. Selcuk Ünal to China 🇨🇳both spoke with conviction about the enduring value of trust between nations, and the patience it requires to build it. Their words were a reminder that the best diplomacy is rarely dramatic — it is consistent, human, and ongoing. The evening felt, in the best sense, like a beginning. The Silk Road was never just a trade route; it was proof that connection across distance and difference is possible when there is will and mutual respect. That spirit is very much alive. This room was evidence of it. #TracksToTheFuture #BeltAndRoadInitiative #SilkRoadSpirit #TrilateralCooperation

At the invitation of the Global Neighbours CEO and Former UN Resident to China, @sidchat1 we converged to engage on the “Tracks to the Future” a Trilateral Cooperation and a trilateral bridge across Asia, Africa, and Europe that embodies the very spirit of modern diplomacy, shared history, and global connectivity.  Conceived by Ms. Jovanka Porsche, this initiative revives the ancient Silk Road spirit. Centuries ago, Admiral ZhengHe sailed from China to Kenya’s coast, first to Malindi and Mombasa and later to the Lamu Archipelago. That voyage was the first chapter of Asia-Africa diplomacy. The Belt and Road Initiative is the latest, building on the truth which I believe is infrastructure drives development. Under the Belt & Road initiative, our Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) proves it as it is moving people, goods, and opportunity. It's the modern rail link in an ancient story of connection. Proud that Kenya stands with China and global partners in honoring history, building today to engineer a sustainable future. This Diplomacy in action is not just talking ties, but building them for our youth to derive tangible outcomes and dignified livelihoods #VijanaNaOpportunities #TracksToTheFuture #BeltAndRoadInitiative #ChinaAfricaFOCAC #SilkRoadSpirit #TrilateralCooperation #DiplomacyInActionKE