1.??
We have seen a more turbulent world with an unprecedented number of conflicts and crises. The year of 2024 began with the continuing Ukraine-Russia conflict and wars in the Middle East. The political disorders in South Korea, France and the violent conflicts in Syria, Sudan, DR Congo have not ceased, with some of those causing catastrophic humanitarian crises. More diplomatic efforts are needed for the mitigation of violence in the year ahead.
2.??
The spirit of multilateralism has been hailed at many multilateral platforms such as UN, BRICS, and G20 this year. In the face of a sluggish global economy, frequent geopolitical conflicts, and a severe deficit in global governance, multilateral cooperation is unprecedentedly essential to solving global problems. The practice of true multilateralism is also what China has been all along championing.
3.??
The process of digitalization, greening and intelligence has generated strong momentum for the acceleration of economic globalization. However, the forecast for next year is uncertain, driven by the risks of trade wars and geopolitical tensions. The outlook is complicated by possible shifts in US policies, such as raising tariffs, which could impact trading partners and harm global livelihood.
4.??
This year’s UN hunger report reveals that global hunger levels have plateaued for three consecutive years, leaving an alarming number of people facing food insecurity and malnutrition. With numerous regional conflicts fueling the crises, there is concern that the global hunger and poverty will continue to deepen in the year ahead.
5.??
The collective rise of the Global South is reshaping the world economic landscape. The voice of the Global South is magnified as BRICS has expanded this year. By working further more closely together, the Global South countries will play a more pivotal role as the stabilizer of international economic order.
6.??
2024 is poised to be the hottest year on record. This year’s UN Climate Change Conference, or COP29, is being widely praised as a milestone as it has maneuvered a breakthrough in climate financing. With more intensifying climate impacts predicted next year, the world needs to accelerate action and cooperation before Earth passes a point of no return on climate change.
7.??
The explosion of AI is increasingly shaping the global landscape. As AI safety, ethics and principles come under scrutiny, the stage has been set for stronger AI regulations and more extensive international cooperation is key to making sure AI technologies are developed responsibly, fairly, and for everyone's benefit.
8.??
The world is witnessing an increase in number and proportion of older people. Longer life expectancy and lower fertility rates are the main contributors to the population aging, a trend which is expected to continue. The whole world is facing the challenges to ensure the health and social systems are ready for the demographic shift.
9.??
It is essential to enhance civilization exchanges as suspicion, division and confrontation are still blocking the cause to seek peace. Many countries are introducing policies to make cross-border travel easier, which will facilitate the recovery of global tourism and foster stronger people-to-people exchanges. In the year ahead, we are probably to see more online catchphrases such as “city 不（bu）city” coined by an American tourist traveling in China.
10.?
The concerns about the impact of excessive amounts of low-quality online content are captured by this year’s Oxford Word of the Year “Brain rot”. Australia looks to completely ban access to social media for under-16s and the deterioration of mental abilities caused by low-value social media content might be one of the driving forces behind this policy.
