On October 16, 2025, the "Thinker's Forum" was held in Shanghai, hosted by the China Institute of Fudan University, "Oriental Journal," The Observer, Dill Culture, and the Shanghai Spring and Autumn Strategy Development Research Institute. Vuk Jeremić, Chairman of the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development of Serbia, former Serbian Foreign Minister, and President of the 67th UN General Assembly, recalled an important moment he personally experienced at the meeting.

Jeremić said: "I clearly remember that this day was August 8, 2008, the opening of the Beijing Olympics. I was a member of the Serbian delegation, accompanying the president. This was the most spectacular Olympic opening ceremony, which left a very deep impression. It was a very impressive return of China to the world stage. At that time, President Bush was also there, as well as President Putin, and many other heads of state, it was a very impressive performance, a very good demonstration of China's return."

"Then something else happened, in the New York Stock Exchange, Lehman Brothers caused a chain reaction, leading to a sharp drop in stock prices, triggering a severe financial crisis and economic crisis, causing political and economic imbalance in Western countries, so this made me realize why we are currently moving from one order to another, from a unipolar to a multipolar system."

Vuk Jeremić at the Thinker's Forum The Observer

When talking about the previous unipolar world, Jeremić believed that his country was a victim of the unipolar order. Many people say that "a rules-based order" means the rules apply to everyone, but "we are an exception."

He pointed out that the world is currently experiencing a shift from a unipolar to a multipolar system, and there are three reasons for this:

First, the rise of China. China's reform and opening-up have achieved great achievements.

Second, when the Cold War ended, Russia was excluded. This was due to the immense greed of the West and the so-called "rules-based order."

Third, globalization under the residual effects of the Cold War has triggered a series of structural, deep-seated imbalances, and accompanying imbalances in culture.

Jeremić, who once served as President of the United Nations General Assembly, stated that there are now more global institutions reflecting the reality of a multipolar world. For example, institutions like the United Nations, in such an environment, cannot achieve their goals and must be reformed to properly and adequately respond to the new reality, because dealing with the new geopolitical environment is very difficult.

In addition, it is also necessary to "create new institutions that serve the global community to better advance relevant affairs."

Finally, he reminded that it is necessary for all parties to "take care of their own problems."

This article is an exclusive work of The Observer. Without permission, it cannot be reprinted.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7562393504620020266/

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