Doha, December 05 (QNA) - The Doha Forum is a leading global platform for addressing contemporary international issues, and one of the largest international platforms for diplomacy, dialogue and diversity. The Forum annually brings together a selection of heads of state and government, policy makers, opinion leaders, as well as representatives of the private sector, civil society, non-governmental organizations and the media from around the world.
The Forum aims to discuss global challenges and provide innovative and implementable solutions, thus enhancing international cooperation and contributing to the formulation of effective future policies.
The Doha Forum was established in 2000, when it was launched by HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani. It is held annually in Doha with significant local and international participation. The Forums organizing committee determines an annual slogan for each of its sessions, under which fall many dialogue and discussion tables and sessions that serve its objectives, which focus on launching a dialogue on the critical challenges facing the world, enhancing the exchange of ideas and policy-making, and presenting applicable recommendations.
Over the years, the Forum held 21 editions, the first of which occurred in 2001. It was organized by the Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University in cooperation with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the name of the "Democracy and Free Trade". It was attended by 500 participants representing many official, academic, research, media and cultural circles from 30 countries, in addition to international and regional bodies and organizations.
The previous editions of the Forum discussed many issues and topics such as geopolitical alliances, international relations, the financial system and economic development, defense, cybersecurity, food security, sustainability and climate change, global transformations, technology, trade and investment, human capital, inequality, security, cyberspace governance, defense issues, international organizations, civil society and NGOs, and issues of culture and identity.
Given the great success achieved by the Doha Forum during its rich history, including the Enriching the Economic Future of the Middle East Conference, and continued in this manner for several sessions, becoming once again an independent event in itself, discussing urgent economic issues, and exchanging ideas and visions regarding the future prospects of the Middle East and Mediterranean region in the economic field.
In the seventh edition of the Doha Forum, its name was changed to the Doha Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade, and a large group of issues related to the Arab world took center stage in the seventh and eighth editions, including politics, development, security, free trade, information, culture, education, modern technology and globalization. Issues on the roles in economic growth and democratic change in the region were also discussed, in addition to visions about the present and future, global stability and security, development projects, modern trends and future transformations, common markets and others.
During the ninth edition, the features of the separation of economic and political issues began to appear clearly in the discussions and sessions of the Forum, as the Doha Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade and the Enriching the Economic Future of the Middle East Conference were held in parallel to one another.
The Arab Spring revolutions topped the discussions of the 11th and 12th editions of the Forum and conference. The 16th edition saw the Doha Forum separate from the Enriching the Economic Future of the Middle East Conference once again, and discussed ways to achieve regional and global stability and prosperity in light of the major challenges facing the world in the fields of defense, security, economy, energy, and civil society issues.
The 17th edition was held in May 2017 under the theme "Development, Stability and Refugee Crisis", and the 18th edition was held in December 2018 under the theme "Shaping Policy in an Interconnected World". During the event, the Doha Forum launched a new visual identity under the slogan "Diplomacy, Dialogue, Diversity." The slogan was designed to enhance and unify the Forums identity and strengthen its global presence and reputation in policy formulation. The Forums organizers said the new slogan reflected Doha Forums efforts to establish itself at the forefront of global policy making, foster vital dialogue, and benefit from the diverse backgrounds and expertise of its participants and speakers.
In December 2019, the Doha Forum held its 19th edition under the slogan "Reimagining. Governance in a Multipolar World." During the event, the Doha Forum launched the youth edition, established in cooperation with the QatarDebate Center, to involve young age groups in decision-making, discuss the Forums themes, and submit their recommendations to it. The number of participants in its activities at that time exceeded 3,000 people from various countries around the world. (MORE)