Nanjing, September 9 (Reporter Yang Yanci) On September 20, the main forum of the 9 Nanjing Peace Forum focused on the theme of "Jointly Promoting Peaceful Development and Sharing the Fruits of Civilization - Youth in Action", inviting representatives of relevant international and domestic institutions and youth representatives who are committed to the cause of peace around the world to conduct in-depth discussions and vivid displays on related issues such as peace operations and international practice.

The 2023 Nanjing Peace Forum arrived as scheduled. Photo courtesy of Nanjing Peace Forum

The participants unanimously agreed that in the face of the world's unprecedented changes in a century, the theme of the times of peace and development is facing severe challenges. As the builders and agents of change in the future society, young people are also facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities, and they have the responsibility and ability to shoulder the heavy responsibility of promoting world peace.

On the 20th, the main forum of the 2023 Nanjing Peace Forum was held around the theme of "Jointly Promoting Peaceful Development and Sharing the Achievements of Civilization - Youth in Action". Photo courtesy of Nanjing Peace Forum

Focusing on topics such as security cooperation and peace, sustainable development and peace, openness and inclusiveness and mutual learning among civilizations, experts, scholars and practitioners from international security, ecological environment, sustainable development, cultural heritage, and young international volunteers spoke freely, exchanged ideas, and interpreted and disseminated the concept of "jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind".

At the same time, the voices expressed by the guests also conveyed to the world the youth practice of actively implementing the "Global Development Initiative", "Global Security Initiative" and "Global Civilization Initiative".

Little by little, the power of youth among international volunteers

Tao Shilei, one of the founders of the Nanjing Blue Sky Rescue Team, told the growth story of a civil rescue team from 5 people to more than 300 people. They have crossed borders to the Philippines, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey and other countries to participate in natural disaster relief, and while returning from this honor, they have been thinking about the meaning of international rescue. That is, "let more people who face disasters and need rescue believe that there will be countless such professional rescue teams from all over the world, and they must not give up." Tao Shilei said that this is also what drives more young people to participate in the rescue team.

Tao Shilei, one of the founders of the Nanjing Blue Sky Rescue Team, told the growth story of a civil rescue team from 5 people to more than 300 people. Photo courtesy of Nanjing Peace Forum

Leonia Kanglia, Assistant to the Office of the Representative of UNICEF, delivered a speech on "Youth Voices in Sustainable Development", saying that in 2022, the UN Volunteers community sent more than 12000,<> volunteers around the world, and in this way, they participated in ecological protection, community development, medical education and other fields, and played an important role in sustainable development.

Wang Suping, director of the SEE Ecological Association, said that the current team is the youngest in 20 years. She shared with the participants the story of her joint "Blue Partnership Action" China-ASEAN Marine Conservation Initiative. Through open recruitment, funding supports local youth groups, social good forces and communities in Southeast Asia to carry out marine conservation actions. It is currently being carried out in Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia and other places, and is expected to benefit more than 37,<> coastal community residents, fishermen, tourism workers, especially local residents, women and children.

Tang Dingding, honorary chairman of the Green Trade and Investment Committee of the Chinese Society of Environmental Sciences, gave a course to young people on "Ecological Challenges from a Global Perspective and China's Responses". He said that looking at the world, in order to address climate change and build a better future, countries are actively taking measures to reduce carbon footprint and carbon emissions; Based in China, all walks of life are making an all-out dash towards the "14th Five-Year Plan" and the "dual carbon" goals. In the face of such a situation, young people should seize the opportunity of green development and promote carbon emission reduction to a new stage.

Innovative ways to engage in "Design for Peace"

Young people are the "torchbearers" of sustainable development, playing a pivotal role, not only as beneficiaries of sustainable development, but also as designers and participants. In addition to the keynote speeches, the main forum of this year's Peace Forum featured sharing and interactive sessions where young people from different fields engaged in or involved in sustainable development initiatives shared their experiences and demonstrated their resilience, resourcefulness and leadership in creating a better world for all.

Pan Yusha, a young sinologist from the Netherlands, shares the environmental impact of fashion consumption choices from the perspective of "Generation Z". Many young consumers prefer to choose brands that pay attention to environmentally friendly production methods and materials, and share them on social platforms and online shopping platforms. To cater to this trend, Chinese fashion brands are starting to integrate sustainable practices into their operations. Pan Yusha said that this is a sustainable development thinking and path formed by the interaction between "Generation Z" and the fashion industry.

Anna Pan, a young sinologist from the Netherlands, shared the environmental impact of fashion consumption choices from a "Generation Z" perspective. Photo courtesy of Nanjing Peace Forum

Dewendel Kumar from India spoke as a media person about his cultural exchanges between China and India, introducing yoga to Chinese youth and kung fu to Indian youth, stimulating the interest and enthusiasm of young people of the two countries in each other's culture. "Through such integration and mutual learning, the excellent cultures of the two ancient civilizations can also be better inherited and developed, which is interesting!" Kumar said.

Wu Xiaomai, a PhD graduate in neuroscience from McGill University in Canada, shared with his friends five action plans for Nanjing's sustainable development and international peace city construction. From August 5 to 8 this year, more than 11 interdisciplinary outstanding young students from famous Chinese and foreign universities participated in the cross-cultural learning program IUP "Walking Together China: Into Nanjing Sustainable Development Training Camp" cooperated by Tsinghua University and Stanford University and Yale University.

After 8 days of immersion research, these young students finally formed five programs: "Nature Convenience Store", "Sustainable Urban Walk", "Intangible Inheritance Breakthrough and Innovation", "Open Science for Peace Action City Community" and "Street Peace Corner" against the 17 global sustainable development goals of the United Nations. Wu Xiaomai vividly elaborated on the plan to launch the "Street Peace Corner" initiative. "We selected eight street corners that reflect the characteristics of Nanjing's old and new cities, connected the dots into lines, and were pleasantly surprised to find that this line formed a huge 'heart' shaped pattern."

Learn from each other to create a sustainable future

This year's Nanjing Peace Forum not only looks at the sustainable development of China and the world from the perspective of foreign youth, but also highlights the growing number of Chinese youth, which shows that Chinese youth have become an important force for promoting global sustainable development.

Guests from various countries spoke on the concept of peace and harmonious development. Photo courtesy of Nanjing Peace Forum

26-year-old Jingyi Tong works as an infrastructure technology consultant and researcher in the strategy, policy and budget department of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Part-time, also volunteering, he leads the global strategy and operations team at the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, an international organization. From the perspectives of community co-construction, media communication and technological empowerment, she told the stories of young practitioners of sustainable development in China through multiple channels and languages.

And Ling Yuhan, co-founder of the Animal Citizen brand from EASIN International Volunteer Travel, is also a "Generation Z" girl, because of the unique experience she got from participating in volunteer travel, she chose to start a volunteer travel company at the age of 20, turning every traveler into a responsible traveler.

"Helping the local children, the elderly and the animals as much as possible during the trip, but also rewarding a very deep trip." Ling Yuhan said, "Participating in volunteer travel allows you to return to the role of traveler and choose the small charity you can do. long and can involve education; Short time, you can be involved in animal protection... This can greatly improve the effectiveness of global public goods. (End)