(Hong Kong) On the morning of July 14, the "2025 Asia-Pacific Youth Model United Nations Conference & Global Competence Youth Forum" hosted by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) grandly opened at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). This forum was jointly undertaken by the Global Alliance of Foreign Studies Universities, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, and BFSU Education and Training Center, and received strong support from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the China Education Exchange (Hong Kong & Macao) Center. The Hong Kong Science Popularization and Science Fiction Academy (HKSPSF) participated in this forum as a supporting unit.
Jia Wenjian, President and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing Foreign Studies University
At the opening ceremony, Jia Wenjian, President and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing Foreign Studies University, first delivered a welcome speech. He emphasized that against the background of the accelerated evolution of the century-old changes and the world facing multiple challenges, it is crucial for young people to participate in global governance and innovative development. This conference has built an important international platform for youth in the Asia-Pacific region and the world to pay attention to development, promote dialogue, deepen exchanges, and spread voices. President Jia encouraged the participating young people to cultivate feelings for family and country, uphold the concept of harmony in diversity, forge a sense of responsibility, bravely shoulder the responsibility of the times, expand their international vision, actively devote themselves to the cause of human progress, and contribute youth power to world peace and development and the progress of civilization.
Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. He stated that PolyU is determined to cultivate leaders who care about their families and the country and shoulder the world, and is committed to guiding students to unite knowledge and action and give back to society, which is closely related to the spirit of the Model United Nations. Youth is the key force driving the progress of civilization and solving global challenges. He encouraged youth representatives to uphold the innovative thinking of "Technology for Good" in the event, forge future core literacy, temper global competence, protect the foundation of human civilization while harnessing technological changes, integrate technological innovation with humanistic care, and realize a sustainable future where "no one is left behind".
Student Representatives Speaking
Ran Yan from Ningxia Yinchuan No. 1 High School, Gu Junpo from Singapore International School (Hong Kong), and Vlasovskiy Artem, an international student from Beijing Foreign Studies University, spoke as conference representatives, sharing their thoughts on global governance and sustainable development, and expressing their expectations for this event.
Special Message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres
A video of a special message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres was played at the opening ceremony. Secretary-General Guterres stated that the United Nations urgently needs the ideas, energy, determination, and voices of young people, which are important references for formulating policies and strategies. He highly praised the positive role of Model United Nations activities in improving the relevant abilities of young people and pointed out that the young people present are leaders in schools and society. The United Nations is willing to join hands with global youth to build peace, bridge differences, and create a future of peace, dignity, and prosperity for all mankind.
Launch Ceremony
Subsequently, President Jia Wenjian, Vice President Christopher Chao, and other representatives of the host, organizer, and co-organizer units jointly lit up the large screen symbolizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), marking the official launch of this grand event.
Chinese and Foreign University Student Representatives Reciting "Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations"
This conference attracted the participation of young people from many countries including China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Australia, Pakistan, Germany, Russia, the Philippines, Spain, and India. 11 Chinese and foreign university student representatives from Beijing Foreign Studies University, Tsinghua University, The University of Hong Kong, and Monash University recited the "Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations" together in Chinese, Arabic, Russian, French, Spanish, and English, paying tribute to the spirit of the UN Charter with resonance across languages and cultures.
Hosts
The opening ceremony was co-hosted by An Dong, a famous host of Phoenix TV and a BFSU alumnus, Zhang Wentian, a BFSU student, and Diego Rodriguez, an international student from Tsinghua University. In the upcoming sessions, participating youths will conduct in-depth discussions on global issues such as "Sharing of Artificial Intelligence Technology and International Cooperation", "Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage", and "Sustainable Development of Blue Economy and Marine Resources", and jointly draw a blueprint for global sustainable development through multilateral consultations.
Attending Leaders and Guests
Leaders and guests attending the opening ceremony also included Zheng Yue, Director of the China Education Exchange (Hong Kong & Macao) Center; Wang Jian, Director of the International Department of the Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR; Yang Jiaqiang, Executive Vice President and Group CFO of Phoenix TV Investment (Holdings) Limited; Gong Junchuan, President of the BFSU Hong Kong Alumni Association; He Jing, Director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of BFSU; Wang Fang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of FLTRP Group, and President of FLTRP; Zhang Yanhong, Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Office of Hebei University of Engineering; Deng Guodong, Director of the International Exchange Office of Kunming University of Arts and Science; Cui Yongkang, Head of the Department of Applied Social Sciences and Co-Director of the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Lu Haitian, Director of Mainland Development; Wu Chili, Associate Director of the Policy Research Centre for Innovation and Technology and Principal Investigator of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering; and Chen Cuifang, Assistant Director of the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship Office.
Youth building together, world winning together. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the critical node with only five years left before the final deadline of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, youth from the Asia-Pacific and the world gathered at this forum to work together to build a more sustainable and inclusive future with the vitality, creativity, and novel perspectives of youth.
As an important project of the Global Competence Education System of Beijing Foreign Studies University, this forum gives full play to the professional advantages of BFSU, coordinates high-quality international education resources in Hong Kong universities and the SAR, aims to deepen exchanges between Chinese and foreign youths, boost the construction of an education center with global influence, and contribute to the through-train cultivation of international talents, the promotion of the construction of a powerful nation in education, and the promotion of high-level opening up of education.
Group Photo