The first HORIZONS | Sustainability and Connectivity Forum, jointly organized by the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development, CIRSD, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, CCIS, brought together more than 500 participants and over 20 leading global authorities in economics, finance, high technology, artificial intelligence, sustainable development, energy and international affairs at the Sava Center in Belgrade on June 18 and 19.
Through the organization of the Forum, Belgrade demonstrated its capacity to serve as one of the few open spaces where international experts, business leaders, investors, diplomats and policymakers with different perspectives can meet and exchange views on equal footing. At a time of accelerating economic, technological and geopolitical change, the Forum confirmed Belgrade’s potential to act as a bridge of cooperation between Europe, China and Asia.
Over two days, the Forum opened space for dialogue on issues shaping the contemporary global economy and international relations, from the energy transition, ESG investment and the future of finance to artificial intelligence, new technologies and Eurasian connectivity.
Through six panel discussions, these themes were examined as part of a broader question: how sustainable growth can be achieved in a world increasingly defined by the ability to connect people, markets, knowledge, technology, capital, infrastructure and political dialogue.
The first edition of the Horizons Forum was also marked by the establishment of the Sustainability & Connectivity Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to advancing sustainable development through cross-border cooperation and connectivity. The first recipients of the Award were Jeffrey Sachs, world-renowned economist and expert in sustainable development; Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD; and Zhang Chuanwei, Chairman of Ming Yang Smart Energy.
Opening the Forum, CIRSD President Vuk Jeremić said that Serbia, due to its historical, geographical and political position, holds a special place in discussions on sustainability and connectivity. He emphasized that bridges of understanding between Europe and China are becoming particularly important at a time of profound geopolitical, technological and economic transformation.
For CIRSD, the first Horizons Forum represents a natural continuation of its work over the past decade in connecting international actors, ideas and experiences. Inspired by the 34th issue of Horizons journal, the Forum emerged as a new space for dialogue in which questions about the future of global cooperation move from academic and strategic reflection into direct conversation among people from different parts of the world, professional backgrounds and views of contemporary international relations.
The Horizons Forum will continue to develop as a traditional meeting place in Belgrade. Through this format, CIRSD will bring together relevant international interlocutors, experts and decision-makers from different parts of the world, contributing to Belgrade’s recognition as an open space for dialogue on issues of importance to the wider international community.
Horizons Forum 2026 in Numbers
- 2 days of programming
- 3 recipients of the Sustainability & Connectivity Award
- 6 panel discussions
- 25 experts and speakers
- 500+ participants
Horizons Forum will return to Belgrade next year.
