LJUBLJANA, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The 13th Bled Strategic Forum (BSF), a Slovenia's biggest foreign policy event at international level, started at the lakeside resort of Bled on Monday, calling for finding ways to bridge the divide in the changing world.
The opening ceremony was addressed by Slovenian outgoing Prime Minister Miro Cerar, who emphasised "bridging the divide", which is the slogan of this year's event, according to the Slovenian Press Agency STA.
The prime minister noted that the world had changed dramatically over the last few years, as the economic order and strategic alliances that had been known for decades were suddenly called into question, and multilateralism being severely challenged.
"All this is giving boost to growing individualism and divisions in our society," the STA report quoted him as saying.
Europe has to deal with a range of important issues, including how to best deal with Brexit, decisions about the future of Europe that would stress yet again the true strength of the Union, he added.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec said at the two-day forum that the BSF would take a closer look at some of the most pressing issues that divide the world, adding that trust, dialogue and compromise were the only way to bring people together.
In the forum, politicians, executives and members of the academia and the civil society will meet for a total of 24 panels at the 13th BSF, seeking answers to the many questions that arise as a result of deepening political, technological and economic divides.
According to the STA report, One of the most prominent guests will be the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, European Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc.
Senior Slovenian officials are also present. Since the new government will not be officially formed yet, the outgoing cabinet members represent the country, said STA.
Organized jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia and the Center for European Perspective, the forum is one of the leading international conferences in the region.