CANGO Attends Forus 2026 General Assembly, Advocating Enhanced Experience Sharing and Global NGO Collaboration

From March 23 to 27, 2026, the Forus General Assembly was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, attracting 94 representatives (including 27 online attendees) from member organizations across over 50 countries and regions. On behalf of the China Association for NGO Cooperation (CANGO), Lelia Yanling Li, Director of Corporate Engagement of the International Cooperation Department, attended the General Assembly.

The General Assembly focused on the Forus Strategic Plan 2026–2030 and its statutes, as well as the election of new council members. Through the opening session, panel discussions, regional meetings and meetings with local Cambodian NGOs, participants conducted in-depth exchanges on the current global context and emerging trends of sustainable development, approaches to addressing challenges, and the building of a support ecosystem to empower Forus members. Key issues such as effective engagement with policymakers, data-driven advocacy strategies and resource mobilization also attracted extensive attention from representatives.

During the General Assembly, participants emphasized strengthening interactions with multilateral development banks, influencing their project evaluation processes and securing financial support. They also explored specific approaches to establishing connections with international organizations including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Given the common challenges faced by NGOs, Lelia Yanling Li advocated for building momentum for members, promoting experience sharing among Forus member organizations, and strengthening exchanges on institutional strategy, resource mobilization, policy advocacy and other areas, so as to enhance the capacity of NGOs and promote pragmatic cooperation between institutions.

To brief all participants on China’s policies and new progress in global governance, CANGO invited Associate Professor Li Li from the College of International Development and Global Agriculture, China Agricultural University, to deliver a pre-recorded video speech at the opening session. She noted that China’s international development cooperation is moving towards greater inclusiveness, pragmatism and multilateralism, adhering to development priority and the principle of no political strings attached, and welcomed international NGOs to participate in global governance as partners. She also shared practical experience of South-South cooperation projects implemented by institutions such as China Agricultural University, which aroused active attention from participants.

Leveraging Forus’s network and resources, CANGO will continue to actively promote the participation of Chinese NGOs in global governance, facilitate cross-regional experience sharing and international cooperation, and contribute the strength of China’s civil wisdom to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.