Interview: Cooperation only way forward to benefit all: President of Rhodes Forum

China holds a significant role in the formation of a possible new paradigm of economic development to promote prosperity across the world, according to Vladimir Yakunin, President and Co-Founder of the World Public Forum "Dialogue of Civilizations" (Rhodes Forum).

"Judging from the contemporary situation in the world China plays a very important role in the formation of a new possible paradigm of economic development. China is presenting something different than other economies," the Russian public thinker told Xinhua in an interview during the 13th annual three-day Rhodes Forum that ends on Sunday.

The course towards a new model of economic development to counter the current neo-liberal framework that has fuelled inequalities, conflicts and pain, was the main topic under discussion among more than 350 academics, intellectuals, religious figures and representatives of the business sphere from 50 countries who gathered on the Greek island.

For Yakunin the only way forward to the benefit of all sides is cooperation.

Yakunin welcomed China's presence in the forum and overall efforts to cooperate in building a new better world beyond the current disorder.

"We value very much the fact that representatives of the Chinese society are working with us in recent years," he told Xinhua, urging for the enhancement of this cooperation also in the forum's new endeavor to establish a new think tank and research center to provide practical policy recommendations for the resolution of ongoing crises to the interested parties.

Yakunin will present the idea during the Beijing Forum in November.

"Our attempt is to reach the level when the forum results should be considered by different circles in business and civil society as the reflection of people's opinion. It is very important for the further development of the new economic and political model," he explained.

Yakunin strongly believes that the activity of civil societies can help restore cross-cultural communication and build bridges of cooperation to resolve crises, such as the current Syrian conflict and the refugee challenge, and prevent new ones.

"Civil societies should try to put the questions in front of their governments," he argued. Endit