In late July, the 2026 Asia-Pacific Youth Model United Nations & Youth Forum on Global Competence was successfully held in Macau and Hong Kong. The conference was initiated and guided by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), hosted by the BFSU Education and Training Centre and the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP), and generously supported by Macau University of Science and Technology (M.U.S.T.), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and Macau Millennium College, among others. Hong Kong Science Popularization and Science Fiction Academy (HKSPSF) served as the promotion partner for the Hong Kong & Macau regional session and, together with the Future Education Centre, was responsible for recruitment in Hong Kong, Macau, and overseas regions (see our earlier registration announcement).
Opening Ceremony: UN Charter Recited in Six Languages
On the morning of 27 July, the opening ceremony took place at M.U.S.T. In his address, BFSU President Jia Wenjian encouraged the young delegates to broaden their horizons and develop their abilities through exchange and consultation, becoming steadfast guardians of world peace and active participants in global governance. M.U.S.T. Vice President Pang Chuan noted that Macau, as an important platform where Chinese and Western cultures meet, offers unique opportunities for young people to connect with the world and build global competence. The ceremony featured a special video message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who urged young people to shape a better future with perseverance, fact-based thinking, and the courage to understand different perspectives. Young representatives from universities including BFSU, Peking University, Tsinghua University, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), and the University of Oxford jointly recited the Preamble of the UN Charter in Chinese, Arabic, Russian, French, Spanish, and English. A themed screen symbolising the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was then lit up, officially opening the conference.
Sessions and Topics
Centred on the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the core sessions ran from 27 to 30 July at M.U.S.T. and PolyU, covering six major areas: advancing reform of the UN Security Council, protecting the rights of civilians in armed conflict, strengthening the governance of deep-sea mineral resources and marine ecological protection, urban sustainability and future community development, artificial intelligence and employment in the digital economy, and protecting young people's digital safety. Young delegates from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, as well as from Panama, Germany, Malaysia, the United States, Spain, Armenia, and beyond, expressed their positions, engaged in policy debates, and conducted in-depth negotiations under UN rules of procedure, seeking innovative solutions to global issues.
Voting and Closing Ceremony
On 30 July, all delegates and dais members gathered at PolyU for the conference voting ceremony. Committee chairs summarised the proceedings of each committee in turn and presided over the final vote on draft resolutions. After days of intense negotiation, divergent positions converged into hard-won multinational consensus, and the resolutions embodying the delegates' wisdom and efforts were adopted to resounding applause. At the closing ceremony, representatives of BFSU and the organising committee presented honorary certificates to the participating students in recognition of the global vision and diplomatic demeanour they demonstrated during the conference. Awards for "Outstanding Organisation" and "Outstanding Teacher Advisor" were also presented, honouring schools and teachers for their dedication and achievements in Model United Nations education and international understanding education.
Extended Programme: HKU Course and Greater Bay Area Visits
After the sessions, the students visited HKU for a themed course on "Environment, Social and Governance" (ESG) delivered entirely in English by HKU experts, engaging in group discussions and simulations to explore practical pathways for sustainable development. During the trip, delegates also visited the Handover Gifts Museum of Macao and toured the Hong Kong Science Park for a close-up look at frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors, experiencing first-hand the high-quality development of the Greater Bay Area. The full programme concluded on 1 August.
Conclusion
This year's conference provided an important platform for Asia-Pacific youth to familiarise themselves with international affairs, discuss global issues, and enhance their international understanding and global competence. HKSPSF is honoured to have played a part in promoting this event and will continue to connect Hong Kong's young people with high-quality international educational resources. Outstanding delegates may also be invited to the summit to be held at BFSU in late November 2026, where they will reunite with young people from around the world.
