Forum highlights youth's role in shaping a shared future

The "Globalization and Youth Development: Creating a Shared Better Future" Sub-Forum, part of the 7th Hongqiao International Economic Forum, took place at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai on November 6. Participants emphasized the vital role of young people in tackling global challenges and building a sustainable future through cooperation, innovation, and cultural exchange.

Co-hosted by China's Ministry of Commerce and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and organized by the China International Import Expo Bureau and Taihe Institute, the event attracted global leaders and experts to discuss the critical role of youth in addressing global challenges and advancing a sustainable future.

In her opening remarks, Leila Pakkala, UNICEF supply division director, highlighted the challenges facing today's youth, including unequal access to education and employment. She called for equipping young people with tools to address inequality, climate change, and digital divides, underlining the importance of green initiatives and sustainable ecosystems to empower youth in building a more equitable world.

Yao Ming, vice-president of the All-China Youth Federation, emphasized the dual impact of globalization and technological progress. While these offer unprecedented opportunities, he noted, they also present challenges such as environmental crises and economic inequality. Yao urged youth to drive innovation, foster cultural exchange, and engage in new systems of global governance to build a sustainable future.

Adding a cross-cultural perspective, Zhang Yongmin, academician at Académie Nationale de Pharmacie in Paris, celebrated the 60th anniversary of Sino-French relations this year and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, highlighting how exchanges between universities and research institutions have created a dynamic platform for youth development and cultural exchange, inspiring collaborative action.

Echoing the theme of youth empowerment, Hugo Duminil-Copin, Fields Medalist and professor at the Institut des hautes études scientifiques in Paris, highlighted youth as a vital force in scientific and technological progress. He stressed the need for open science, international collaboration, and diverse research environments to foster creativity, noting that these factors support the next generation's potential.

Toily Kurbanov, executive coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers, affirmed the growing cooperation between UN Volunteers and China, pointing out that Chinese volunteers have made significant contributions to UN projects across 21 countries in fields such as climate action, digital equality, and agriculture, underscoring the impact of youth-led volunteerism on global development.

During the roundtable discussions, scholars and business leaders, including Yu Miaojie, president of Liaoning University, Christopher Thomas, founder of Integrated Insights Ltd, Bolor-Erdene Battsengel, strategic engagement advisor at SpaceX, Maurice Louis-Dreyfus, member of the supervisory board of Louis Dreyfus Holding BV, Timothe Dupont, president of Lesaffre Asia-Pacific Region, and Abdullah Al Araf, co-founder of EcoTech Innovation, shared insights on how to empower youth to meet global challenges. Topics ranged from "Opportunities and Challenges Faced by Youth Under Economic Globalization" to "The Tide of Technological Advances: Innovation and Entrepreneurship by Youth".

Through these thought-provoking discussions, the sub-forum highlighted a shared commitment to supporting youth as essential contributors to a more inclusive, sustainable, and interconnected future.

Zhang Jun and Liu Weining contributed to this story.