BEIJING, Aug 13 – The 2024 World Youth Development Forum opened in Beijing on Monday, with more than 2,000 young people from over 130 countries and 20 international organizations participating both online and on-site.
Monday marks International Youth Day. More than 500 young leaders and youth representatives gathered here for the forum’s opening ceremony and plenary meeting.
In a video message, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said young people are the driving force behind the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and called for greater support for youth development.
Mohammed said governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector and civil society must provide the resources and platforms the youth need to make their voices heard, while also vowed that the UN Youth Office will collaborate with the UN system and relevant teams around the world to amplify young people’s voices.
She also stressed protection of the rights and freedoms of young people and the importance of quality education and skills in empowering them.
“All sectors of society must create spaces where you can take charge and make a difference for peaceful societies and robust democracies,” she told the young participants.
The youth participants will also tour other Chinese cities, such as Nanning and Hangzhou, in the following days and engage in discussions about green development, digital development, cultural inheritance and innovation, as well as youth development-oriented cities.
Themed “Together for a Better Future,” the event is expected to serve as an important occasion to pool youth strength for implementing both the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Development Initiative, according to the forum organizer.
The forum is co-hosted by the All-China Youth Federation, United Nations in China and the organizing committee of the forum. The first edition of the forum was held in 2022.
