Youth diplomacy takes center stage

The 2024 China Daily Model United Nations Conference highlighted the role of youth in global diplomacy through diverse discussions and activities.

Themed "Energizing Youth, Saluting the Nation", the 2024 China Daily Model United Nations Conference (CDMUN) marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Established in 2019, CDMUN is an educational project focused on international understanding and public diplomacy. It aims to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind through the power of youth.

This year's conference was held from Aug 1 to 4 at the Yao Lake International Convention Center in Yixing, East China's Jiangsu province. Hosted by China Daily's 21st Century English Education Media, the event attracted over 1,300 participants, including students and teachers from middle schools, high schools, and universities across China.

At the opening ceremony, former foreign minister Li Zhaoxing delivered a keynote on patriotic education titled "Serving the Country Through Diplomacy". He shared his personal experiences and growth while working in Europe, Africa, and the UN, encouraging students to love their country and people, study hard, and take on the responsibilities of national rejuvenation.

Wang Hao, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily, emphasized the crucial role of youth in driving global progress and sustainable development.

"The baton of addressing contemporary issues and taking historical initiative has been passed to the younger generation," he said. "Today's Chinese youth are the most energetic and creative group in society."

This level of intelligence and diligence is precisely what CDMUN expects from young students. "Not drifting in empty fantasy, not pursuing trivial fame" is a phrase written by Li Dazhao (1889-1927), one of the founders of the CPC, a century ago, and it has become the guiding principle of CDMUN.

The four-day event featured keynote speeches, face-to-face sessions with ambassadors, a teachers' forum, a Global Village event, and 17 parallel sessions — 16 Chinese or English committees and one media center.

Students engaged in in-depth discussions on global governance issues, guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, covering topics such as strengthening ethical governance of artificial intelligence (AI) for sustainable development, emission reduction and climate finance in the post-Paris Agreement era, improving global mental health services, and enhancing international cooperation and mechanisms for conventional arms control.

During the event, experts and professors provided on-site guidance to various committees.

Liu Biwei, vice president of the China Public Diplomacy Association, advised that when representing a country, delegates should clearly state the country's stance on the topic, and speak loudly, slowly, and logically.

Professor Zhang Wenjie from the National Security College of the National Defense University emphasized the importance of knowledge accumulation and thorough preparation.

"As a national representative, a delegate must conduct comprehensive research on the topic to speak confidently. If you only need a glass of water on stage, you should prepare a bucket of water offstage," he said.

A highlight of this year's conference was the participation of over 30 cadets from military academies nationwide.

Huang Junhao, a student at the National University of Defense Technology, explained that Model UN is a simulated academic activity replicating the UN General Assembly and other multilateral institutions, designed as a civic education exercise for youth.

"Students can not only enhance their academic research, writing, speaking, and debating skills but also develop organizational, planning, management, conflict resolution, and consensus-building abilities through challenging sessions," he said.

Li Jiayan, 23, is a PhD candidate in clinical medicine at the Naval Medical University in Shanghai. Her roles in Model UN activities have evolved significantly: she started as a delegate, then became a committee dais member, and this year, she served both on the dais and as a teacher, instructing high school students on how to write Model UN documents.

As a member of the dais for the UN Women Committee this year, she chose the topic "Accelerating the achievement of gender equality by addressing poverty with a gender perspective".

Li Jiayan explained that Model UN events hosted by military academies often feature committees with a military focus, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the First Committee of the UN General Assembly (GA1), which address topics like disarmament and international security. However, as a young person who is "deeply concerned about international issues", she hopes to "hear more voices" at each Model UN event.

"Poverty is one of the key focuses of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By combining it with gender issues, I aim to diversify the committee's discussions and encourage more expansive thinking among the delegates," she said.

Qian Mingchang, 22, is a senior at the Air Force Engineering University in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province. With extensive experience — this being his 10th Model UN — he served as the team leader for his university. He led five fellow students in the Model UN Security Council (UNSC), representing Russia, South Korea, and Chad to discuss the topic "Countering terrorism in the Sahel region".

Qian noted that military academy students and young officers tend to be more sensitive to their country's interests and positions, demonstrating a strong sense of patriotism.

At this year's CDMUN, Qian had the opportunity to interact closely with diplomats, listen to their speeches, and feel the strong sense of pride they exuded, which deeply inspired him.

"One of my career aspirations is to join the Air Force or the Ministry of National Defense's foreign affairs department, and possibly to be stationed abroad or participate in future UN missions," he said.

According to Qian, there are relatively few military academies and their interactions with each other are closer than with civilian universities. Most military academies concentrate more on science and engineering, resulting in students having a more comprehensive understanding of STEM rather than global governance and international perspectives.

"By participating in Model UN, I hope to become well-versed in various fields — military strategy, diplomacy, economics, and more — broadening my knowledge and enhancing my critical thinking," he said.

The outstanding performance of the student delegates at CDMUN received high praise from experts.

Zhao Yali, vice president of the China National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation, highlighted the importance of Model UN activities in shaping students' global perspectives, understanding the workings of the UN, and improving their overall abilities.

"CDMUN has left a deep impression on me," he said. "Its topics cover almost all the major challenges humanity faces today. It provides a great platform for young students to explore and engage with international developments."

Wu Qian contributed to this story.

guiqian@i21st.cn