I had the privilege of speaking at the Faculty Talk Series at Schwarzman College 🇺🇸 🇨🇳 Tsinghua University 🇨🇳 , on “The Imperative of US–China Engagement: Safeguarding Multilateralism in an Age of Drift”, as President Trump 🇺🇸 prepares to visit Beijing on May 14, 2026.
Drawing on my experiences across the United Nations 🇺🇳 system, from Sarajevo 🇧🇦 to Baghdad 🇮🇶 , Nairobi 🇰🇪 to Mogadishu 🇸🇴, I reflected on a reality that many nations across the Global South understand deeply: when the world’s two largest powers compete without guardrails, everyone else pays the price, & when they collaborate, incredible things happen.
We are living through an era where multilateralism is not collapsing dramatically, but eroding quietly — through fragmentation, distrust, transactional politics, and the growing pressure on nations to choose sides.
Yet I remain convinced of one thing:
The bridge between Washington 🇺🇸 and Beijing 🇨🇳 will not be built in either capital. It will be built painstakingly, imperfectly, necessarily — in the United Nations 🇺🇳 and its institutions, in forums, universities, think tanks, and in conversations that happen in rooms like this one at Schwarzman College 🇺🇸 🇨🇳 at Tsinghua University 🇨🇳
That is not a small thing.
That is, in fact, everything.
My sincere thanks 🙏 to Dr. Vasilis Trigkas, Schwarzman College, and the students and faculty as well as many scholars & officials from China and the USA for such an engaged and thoughtful discussion at a consequential moment in world affairs.
#USChina #Multilateralism #GlobalGovernance #TsinghuaUniversity #SchwarzmanCollege UnitedNations GlobalSouth Diplomacy InternationalRelations
Today May 01, 2026 has a very special meaning.
Some journeys take a lifetime to complete. Today, one of mine did. 🌏
I am deeply honoured to have been appointed as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University 🇨🇳 — one of the world’s great institutions, and a living symbol of China’s extraordinary rise.
This one is personal.
I was born in Chinatown, Calcutta 🇮🇳 . China was the first foreign country I ever truly knew — not from a distance, but from within. Decades later, life brought me back as the senior-most United Nations 🇺🇳 representative in China.
And today, it has brought me Tsinghua University — a community of scholars and leaders dedicated to the questions that matter most.
For me, as CEO of Global Neighbours — a think tank built on the conviction that Europe and Asia must understand each other far better than they do — an affiliation with an institution of Tsinghua’s calibre is not just an honour. It is an absolute privilege. It deepens our work, sharpens our thinking, and connects us to the brightest minds grappling with the world’s 🌎 hardest problems.
The great challenges of our time — climate change, inequality, artificial intelligence, the future of multilateralism — demand exactly the kind of rigorous, interdisciplinary thinking this university embodies. I look forward to contributing to that mission.
Beginning May 2026, I will be teaching China 🇨🇳 and the World 🌎 at Schwarzman College at Tsinghua — engaging the next generation of global leaders on the defining questions of our shared future. 🌍
My heartfelt gratitude to Professor Yang Bin, Vice Chairperson of the Tsinghua University Council, for presenting the appointment letter; to Professor Zhu Xufeng, Dean of Tsinghua SPPM, for his warm introduction; to Professor Qian Xiaojun, Chief Academic Officer of Schwarzman College, for her generous remarks; to Dr. Joan Kaufman, Senior Director of the Schwarzman Scholars Program; and to all the dear friends and colleagues who made this ceremony so gracious and memorable. 🙏
#TsinghuaUniversity #SchwarzmanCollege #DistinguishedVisitingProfessor #ChinaAndTheWorld #SPPM GlobalNeighbours GlobalLeadership
I was honored to address an exceptional cohort of healthcare executives, clinicians, and professors from China’s healthcare system 🇨🇳 this week. Hosted by @hkust , this 3-month Global 🌎 Public Health Talent Program is a vital step in preparing China’s future leaders for the international stage.
Our dialogue centered on the “Triple Transition” facing China: the rise of chronic diseases, a rapidly aging demographic, and the urgent need to pivot from a culture of treatment to a ‘culture of prevention.’ Key reflections from our session:
1. The Power of Health Diplomacy: In an increasingly fragmented and polarized world, public health remains a universal language. It is one of the few remaining bridges that can foster global peace and harmony.
2. The Centrality of the WHO 🇺🇳: As we navigate global health security, a strong, effective, and well-supported World Health Organization (WHO) is indispensable. Multi-lateralism is not an option; it is a necessity for tackling the NCD (Non-Communicable Disease) burden that threatens both China and the global economy.
3. China’s Global Role: With its vast experience in poverty alleviation and health infrastructure, China has a unique opportunity to lead through the “Health Silk Road” and South-South cooperation, sharing lessons that can transform health outcomes across developing nations.
4. A Culture of Prevention: We discussed how individual resilience—body, mind, and spirit—must become the bedrock of public policy. To lead globally, we must first model health locally.
Thank you 🙏 to the National Health Commission of China 🇨🇳. The Hong Kong Jockey Club and HKUST for convening this meaningful dialogue. The future of global health depends on the leadership and integrity of the professionals in this room.
Together, let us move toward a “One Earth” 🌍 vision where health is recognized as the ultimate global public good.
#GlobalHealth #HealthDiplomacy #China #WHO #PublicHealth OneEarth NHC HKUST Leadership PreventionFirst Multilateralism GlobalNeighbours
What a privilege to join the 2026 AT ONE IMPACT WEEK China 🇨🇳 alongside some of the world’s most inspiring leaders in Suzhou.
Sharing the stage with Dr. Chavalit Frederick Tsao — a brilliant corporate leader and a visionary champion of a global wellbeing ecosystem — alongside Professor Jun Zhang 🇨🇳 from Fudan University and the powerful video address of Professor Jeffrey Sachs 🇺🇸 from Columbia University was a reminder of what purposeful dialogue can achieve.
The presence of Ms. Irina Bokova, former Director-General of 🇺🇳 UNESCO, and Ambassador Matthew John Rycroft, UK 🇬🇧 Permanent Representative to the United Nations 🇺🇳 , alongside a remarkable gathering of international and national leaders and organizations, made this a truly landmark forum.
The theme — The Eastern Path to Sustainable Development — could not be more timely. In a world 🌎 of fragility and fragmentation, East and West must come together to accelerate green growth, inclusive development, and a multilateral order that works for everyone.
This is the mission of Global Neighbours, the Vienna-based think tank and dialogue platform I am honoured to lead as its CEO. We work at the intersection of Europe and Asia — advancing cooperation on the defining issues of our era.
And we are putting that mission on rails. In October 2026, we launch Tracks to the Future — a transcontinental think train from Europe to China via Central Asia. A living dialogue across the ancient Silk Road, connecting diplomats, thinkers, and changemakers along one of the world’s most consequential corridors.
The path between East and West is open. At Global Neighbours, we are building the tracks.
🌏 #GlobalNeighbours #TracksToTheFuture #AtOneImpactWeek #SustainableDevelopment #EuropeAsia GreenGrowth Multilateralism SilkRoad
It was a pleasure to welcome Ambassador Irene Giner-Reichl 🇦🇹 — former Austrian Ambassador to China 🇨🇳 and one of Europe’s most distinguished diplomats — to our offices at Global Neighbours here in Vienna 🇦🇹.
We last met in Beijing 🇨🇳 in 2025 when I was the UN 🇺🇳 Resident Coordinator to China 🇨🇳.
Our conversation ranged wide and ran deep. We reflected on the profound challenges facing multilateralism today — a system under stress from geopolitical fracture, eroding trust, and the absence of the kind of bold, principled leadership the moment demands.
Ambassador Giner-Reichl brings a rare combination: decades of frontline diplomatic experience, a deep understanding of China 🇨🇳 , and an unwavering belief that dialogue remains the only credible path forward.
Exactly the kind of voice we need more of — not less.
At Global Neighbours, we believe this is precisely the moment for organizations, institutions, and individuals to step up — not step back.
Bridges do not build themselves.
We share a conviction that multilateralism is worth fighting for. 🌍
A new chapter begins at the crossroads of history. 🌍✨
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.
#Multilateralism #GlobalDialogue #GlobalNeighbours #SharedFuture #Diplomacy Vienna Leadership AsianCentury 🌏
ps:///en/articles/appointment-of-mr-siddharth-chatterjee-as-chief-executive-officer-of-global-neighbours
Being selected as a 2026 resident at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center 🇮🇹 is a profound honor and a moment of deep gratitude.
For decades, the Rockefeller Foundation 🇺🇸 has made Bellagio a place where ideas are sharpened, collaborations are born, and solutions to global challenges take shape. To join this remarkable community of thinkers and practitioners—on the shores of Lake Como—is both humbling and inspiring.
During my residency, I will complete my upcoming book. It grows from a deeply personal journey: living with the invisible scars of war—chronic illness, depression, and the enduring weight of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from my years in the army.
But this book is not only about struggle. It is about resilience. It is a map drawn in the dark—written in the hope that it might light the way for others navigating their own storms. If even one person finds strength, understanding, or a sense of not being alone, then it will have served its purpose.
I am deeply grateful to the Rockefeller Foundation for believing in this work and for creating a sanctuary where reflection, courage, and new ideas can take shape. I look forward to the conversations, creativity, and breakthroughs this extraordinary place inspires. My sincere gratitude to @antoinettetaus a fellow resident in Bellagio for helping to put this beautiful document together.
There are no words to describe the surge of emotion I felt watching this surprise from my team. It’s one thing to look back at the milestones we’ve reached together—from the halls of the Great Hall of the People 🇨🇳 to the global stage of the One Earth 🌍 Summit—but it is another thing entirely to hear the voices of the people who made it all possible.
To my team at RCO 🇺🇳 China 🇨🇳- You didn’t just support the mission; you became family. Thank you 🙏 for this beautiful reflection on our journey from 2021 to 2026. As I turn the page to a new chapter, I carry your kindness, your energy, and our shared memories with me. 🇺🇳🤝🇨🇳
There are no words to describe the surge of emotion I felt watching this surprise from my team. It’s one thing to look back at the milestones we’ve reached together—from the halls of the Great Hall of the People 🇨🇳 to the global stage of the One Earth 🌍 Summit—but it is another thing entirely to hear the voices of the people who made it all possible.
To my team at RCO 🇺🇳 China 🇨🇳- You didn’t just support the mission; you became family. Thank you 🙏 for this beautiful reflection on our journey from 2021 to 2026. As I turn the page to a new chapter, I carry your kindness, your energy, and our shared memories with me. 🇺🇳🤝🇨🇳
On March 1, 2026, as I stepped away from my role as the United Nations 🇺🇳 Resident Coordinator to China 🇨🇳 , I did more than conclude a five-year term; I closed the book on a career spanning nearly three decades of public service.
To look back across thirty years is to see a tapestry woven with the threads of many nations, many crises, and many triumphs.
Yet, as I stand at this final horizon, I can say with absolute clarity: my time in China 🇨🇳 has been the jewel in the crown of my professional life.
After three decades of service with the United Nations 🇺🇳, I am often asked where this journey now leads.
I completed my final UN assignment as United Nations 🇺🇳 Resident Coordinator in China 🇨🇳 on March 1, 2026, and on March 2, 2026, I assumed a new role as CEO of Global Neighbours in Vienna, Austria 🇦🇹.
At this meaningful juncture in my journey, I am delighted to share that I have been selected for the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Residency Program as a Bellagio Center Resident, where I will spend the month of March 2026 in the serene beauty of Bellagio, reflecting, writing, and engaging with an exceptional community of thinkers.
The Bellagio Center has long been a place of reflection, ideas, and innovation, welcoming outstanding artists, policymakers, scholars, authors, practitioners, and scientists from across the globe 🌎. To be counted among a community that has included Maya Angelou, Dikgang Moseneke, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Mary Robinson, and so many others is a profound honor.
My sincere gratitude 🙏 to @RockefellerFdn ’s Bellagio Center 🇮🇹 for this exceptional opportunity to devote time to my book on Health and Wellbeing being published in June 2026 and to engage with such an inspiring cohort of thinkers from every discipline.
I am honored of being part of this remarkable tradition. #RFBellagio @rajshah@SingoeiAKorir
https://rockfound.link/3IY51GG
From the Indian Army to the UN’s top post in China. Now to Vienna’s policy circle.
Veteran UN diplomat Siddharth Chatterjee has been appointed CEO of Vienna-based Global Neighbours, effective March 2, 2026, following his retirement as UN Resident Coordinator in China. In 2021, at the height of India-China border tensions, he led 26 UN offices. His three-decade UN career spans Denmark, Iraq, Africa, Asia and Europe, including senior roles with UNOPS, UNICEF and peacekeeping and serving as chief diplomat at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
A defining milestone. Helping demobilise over 3,500 child soldiers in South Sudan during active conflict.
An NDA Pune alumnus and gallantry awardee, he is married to Ban Hyun Hee, daughter of former UN chief Ban Ki-moon. Founded in 2022 by Jovanka Porsche, Christian Kern and Philipp Rösler, Global Neighbours promotes fact-based dialogue across Europe and Asia.
#GlobalIndian #IndianDiaspora #SiddharthChatterjee #Vienna #GlobalLeadership
