Atthecrossroadsofhistory:amessagefromournewCEOSiddharthChatterjee

Global Neighbours welcomed its new CEO, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, at his welcome event in Vienna, Austria. In his address, he expressed his gratitude and excitement for the journey ahead.

I was honored to be officially inaugurated as CEO of Global Neighbours in Vienna —a city that remains the beating heart of global diplomacy. It was an evening defined by dialogue, reflection, and a profound sense of renewed purpose.

My sincere thanks to our Chairwoman, Ms. Jovanka Porsche, and her husband for their gracious hospitality and for curating such a thoughtful gathering to mark this milestone.

In today’s complex geopolitical landscape, I had the opportunity to reflect on the enduring importance of multilateralism—and the urgent need for institutions like Global Neighbours to step forward in strengthening and adapting our global systems for the challenges ahead.

The evening was made truly exceptional by the presence of several senior board members of Global Neighbours, whose collective wisdom is a cornerstone of our mission. It was a privilege to be joined by:

Dr. Philipp Rösler, Secretary General of GN and former Vice Chancellor of Germany.

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Frank, a leading voice in East Asian economy and society.

Dr. Vladimir Norov, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 and former Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

They were joined by a galaxy of senior Ambassadors, diplomats, heads of think tanks, and scholars. I am especially grateful to Ambassador Qi Mei, Chinese Ambassador to Austria, for her presence and her invaluable contributions to our exchange.

Behind every successful gathering—and every impactful organization—is a dedicated team. Global Neighbours is fortunate to have an exceptional one. Young, diverse, brilliant and talented and driven by a deep sense of purpose:

The journey ahead calls for trust, dialogue, and collective action. We are ready to build the bridges the world urgently needs.