Xi urges youths to champion vision of peace

President Xi Jinping has encouraged youths to champion the vision of peace, and contribute to peaceful development and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Xi made the remarks on Tuesday in a message sent to the World Youth Conference for Peace, which is the first of its kind and gathered over 3,000 young representatives from more than 130 countries in Beijing.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The president noted that 80 years ago, the Chinese people, together with people around the world, fought bravely and tenaciously to completely defeat fascism and achieved hard-won peace.

Xi stressed that the future of peace lies in the hands of young people, expressing hope that they could use this conference as an opportunity to exchange ideas, enhance mutual understanding and foster friendships.

The World Youth Conference for Peace was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the All-China Youth Federation.

At the conference, a World Youth Peace Initiative was issued, calling on young people across the globe to unite in safeguarding peace, pioneering mutual learning among civilizations, advocating win-win cooperation, tackling climate change and promoting "technologies for social good".

Ly Navuth, a member of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia Central Committee, said that peace serves as the cornerstone of human progress, enabling individuals and nations to thrive in an environment free from violence, fear and conflict.

"As youth leaders, we are not bystanders in the journey toward peace, we are active participants, influencers and change makers," he said, adding that young people have the ability to promote dialogue, reject hatred and build peaceful communities.

Akerke Iskanderova, chairwoman of the Youth Wing Jastar Ruhy under the AMANAT Party of Kazakhstan, said that in a time of global instability, heightened geopolitical tensions and growing fragmentation in global perceptions, it is important to strengthen mutual understanding, cultural respect and trust between nations.

Youth is capable not only of upholding these principles, but also of actively shaping a new international agenda based on the values of humanity, openness and cooperation, she said.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in China Siddharth Chatterjee said that the future of peace and multilateralism depends on youth cooperation. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the UN.

Young leaders were united at the conference by the belief that dialogue and understanding can overcome division and mistrust, he said.

Zhai Zihan, chairman of the Singapore China Association Youth Chapter, said that despite the fact that members of the young generation today are the beneficiaries of an unprecedented era of relative peace and stability, they must not take this for granted.

Global challenges, especially in ecology and economic inequality, continue to shape the world, Zhai said.

The new generation shouldn't let historical and past burdens stop them from imagining or inventing what the future may hold, he said, adding that cooperation and economic development form the foundation for continued peace and prosperity.