Co-chair of NGIC meets with H.E. Sefik Dzaferovic
Published: 28 June 2022
The Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Šefik Džaferović received the Co-Chairman of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC), Ismail Serageldin. The exceptional civilizational significance of multiculturalism was discussed, with special emphasis on the centuries-old experience of coexistence of different cultures and traditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Chairman of the Presidency of BiH said that Bosnia and Herzegovina, although not a large country in terms of territory and population, is one of the most important countries in the world, due to its multiethnic and multicultural paradigm. Dr. Serageldin, who served as vice president of the World Bank and director of the Library of Alexandria, stressed the great importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina's experience in the recent past, and said that the war BiH went through and the genocide committed, as well as the huge progress in BiH's reconstruction made in the post-war period, they should be something from which the whole world will learn lessons. Dr. Serageldin presented the Chairman of the Presidency of BiH, Dzaferovic, with a special recognition for the promotion of values inherited from the NGIC, as well as for the support he continuously provides to the activities of this organization. Chairman Džaferović thanked for the recognition, and said that it was an honor and pleasure for him to cooperate with the NGIC, and that he considered it to be an extremely serious and respectable platform for international cooperation, supported by HE Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The meeting was also attended by the President of the Shared Society and Values Foundation and a member of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Zlatko Lagumdzija
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NGIC is an official partner of the 2025 Imperial Springs International Forum
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 NGIC held a series of bilateral meetings in Beijing
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.
NGIC actively participated in COP30
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.
NGIC hosted the side event to the Paris Peace Forum titled “From COP29 to COP30 & XIII Global Baku Forum.”
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.
