Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger (R) talks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the 58th Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 18, 2022. The conference opened in the southern German city of Munich on Friday afternoon with a theme focusing on "unlearning helplessness." (Xinhua/Lu Yang)
MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The 58th Munich Security Conference (MSC) opened in the southern German city of Munich on Friday afternoon with a theme focusing on "unlearning helplessness."
There is a mounting feeling of "helplessness" in many societies of the world in the face of a growing number of crises and conflicts, according to a security report published ahead of the conference.
"The feeling of helplessness is becoming a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy, which leads to give up, even though we have all the tools and resources to address such challenges as the pandemic, climate change or great power confrontations," said Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the MSC.
Man-made problems can be solved by man, Ischinger said, calling on everyone to collectively unlearn and overcome helplessness.
In addition, the high-profile conference is about to see a number of meetings on the sidelines to discuss the Ukraine issue.
Except official Russian representatives, more than 30 heads of state and government, 100 ministerial officials and heads of important international organizations gathered at the conference to discuss current crises and future security challenges. ■
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during the 58th Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 18, 2022. The conference opened in the southern German city of Munich on Friday afternoon with a theme focusing on "unlearning helplessness." (Xinhua/Lu Yang)
Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger speaks during the 58th Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 18, 2022. The conference opened in the southern German city of Munich on Friday afternoon with a theme focusing on "unlearning helplessness." (Xinhua/Lu Yang)
