Chinese NGO makes debut at World Public Forum

 Chinese NGO makes debut¹ at World Public Forum²

RHODES, Greece, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese academics on Thursday participated in the 10th World Public Forum "Dialogue of Civilizations" for the first time as a delegation³.

The Chinese delegation, organized by Soong Ching Ling Foundation, is composed of philosophers, sociologists, economists⁴ and experts from other fields.

Li Ning, secretary-general of Soong Ching Ling Foundation and the head of the delegation, told Xinhua that the participation⁵ of the Chinese delegation helps the international community know more about China and Chinese civilization.

Li said the participation indicates the rising status of Chinese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) domestically and internationally.

He said the forum is also a platform for China's academics to share their views with more than 500 delegates from around 80 countries and regions on a series of important issues.

At this year's forum, China's academics are expected to take part in the plenary sessions of Global Peace and Justice, Building Solidarity⁶ Economies, The Family in a Changing World and demographic perspectives for humanity, among others.

The keynote speaker of Thursday's opening plenary session of the forum was Russian politician-cum-businessman Vladimir Yakunin, the founding president of international NGO which was registered in Vienna, Austria.

Yakunin, who is also the president of the Russian Railways, told the session that "only a broad public movement will be capable of making practical progress toward the objective of broadening the domain⁷ of dialogue and transforming it into an effective international process."

He reiterated⁸ that the dialogue of civilizations relies in its work toward achieving consistent and peaceful intercultural interaction among different nation-states and societies.

The forum was co-founded by Yakunin with C. Kapur of India and N. Papanikolao from Greece/United States.

It unites various nongovernmental organizations, representatives of public and state institutions, civil society organizations and faith-based groups, academics, members of diverse civilizations and cultural traditions, and individuals.

The main goals of the forum are to protect the spiritual and cultural values of humankind and to create a space for constructive⁹ dialogue among the major civilizations of the modern world.

The first annual session of the forum took place in September 2003 on the Greek island of Rhodes, about 430 km southeast of the capital Athens.

1 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

4 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

6 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

7 domain   

n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围

参考例句：

• This information should be in the public domain.这一消息应该为公众所知。
• This question comes into the domain of philosophy.这一问题属于哲学范畴。

8 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

9 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。