(Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
The 2024 Global Youth Development Forum opened in Beijing on Monday, with more than 2,000 young people from some 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and in person.
This Monday marks International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders and youth representatives gathered here for the forum’s opening ceremony and a plenary meeting.
Participants will also visit other Chinese cities, such as Nanning and Hangzhou, in the coming days and engage in discussions on green development, digital development, cultural heritage and innovation, as well as youth-focused cities.
At the opening ceremony, renowned Chinese epidemiologist Zhong Nanshan, also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, shared his personal development and work experience via video link.
Zhong said young people have become the vanguard and main force in public health emergency responses, whether it was SARS in 2003 or the more recent COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Zhong encouraged young people to have ideals, dream big and strive for greater progress by pushing technological boundaries.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said in her video message that young people are the driving force behind the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, calling for efforts to make their voices heard, and empower them through education and skills.
Themed “Together for a Better Future,” the event is expected to serve as an important opportunity to pool the strengths of youth to implement both the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Development Initiative, according to the forum organizer.
A youth initiative for the upcoming UN Future Summit was unveiled at Monday’s event, while an international cooperation programme on youth skills training and entrepreneurship was also launched.
The forum is co-organized by the All-China Youth Federation, the United Nations in China and the forum organizing committee. The first edition of the forum was held in 2022.
