“Focusing on Global Development: Shaping our Future with the Power of Young People”-2023 “Global Young Leaders Dialogue (GYLD)” Annual Forum successfully held

On August 12th, 2023, International Youth Day, the “Global Young Leaders Dialogue (GYLD)” Annual Forum was held in Beijing. With the theme of “Global Development and the Power of Youth,” the forum gathered over 150 participants, including international young professionals, experts, scholars, embassy representatives, international organization delegates, business leaders, and media professionals from nearly 30 countries and regions. During the event, attendees engaged in discussions and shared insights on topics such as cross-cultural communication, climate change and urban sustainability, with an effort to exchange ideas and contribute to global development.

The President of Azerbaijan, the President of Israel, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, as well as heads of international organizations such as UN Women, UNESCO, the World Health Organization, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, sent messages of goodwill to the forum through video messages or congratulatory letters. They expressed their hopes for more young people to engage with global governance, actively contribute to world peace, stability, and prosperity, and infuse the efforts with the youthful and diverse energy needed for a more rejuvenated and inclusive future.

H.E. Mr. IIham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

H.E. Mr. Issac Herzog

President of the State of Israel

H.E. Mr. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif

Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Sima Sami Iskandar Bahous

UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director

QU Xing

Deputy Director-General of UNESCO

Zsuzsanna Jakab

Deputy Director-General of WHO

Jayathma Wickramanayake

UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth

Iván Duque Márquez

Former President of the Republic of Colombia

Roza Otunbayeva

Former President of the Kyrgyz Republic

Peter Maurer

Former President of the International Committee of the Red Cross

The participants expressed that with the rapid advancement of technology, audiovisual communication has become a bridge connecting diverse cultures, backgrounds, and regions. Young people can easily communicate with individuals from all around the world, share their perspectives and experiences, thereby promoting cultural diversity and mutual understanding. As representatives of future urban residents, young people possess a unique perspective on urban planning, design, and sustainable development which they can contribute to the prosperity and progress of cities through involvement in community projects, innovative entrepreneurship, and proposing sustainable development concepts. In the face of climate change, which is one of the pressing global challenges, young people have the potential to convey the importance of sustainable lifestyles to society through education, innovation, and action, stimulating a broad impact and awareness.

GYLD Talk

Plenary I: A New Era of Cross-Cultural Communication and the Role of Audiovisual Media

Plenary II: How to Create a City Friendly to Youth Development

Plenary III: Climate Change and Resilience

During the forum, various activities were organized, including GYLD Talk, an exhibition showcasing the “Global Young Leaders Dialogue” program, the Awards Ceremony for the Top 10 Proposals of the WiseDemo Campaign, and the Launch of the International Youth Program of Audio-Video Communication (IPAVC) Annual Projects. The forum was organized by Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and co-hosted by Tsinghua University’s Schwarzman College, Peking University’s Yenching Academy, and the Beijing Returned Overseas Chinese Federation.