On Aug 12, International Youth Day, the Global Civilization Initiative International Youth Talk was held in Beijing. The event, themed “Youth Together for the Glorious Chapter of Civilization“, was hosted by the China International Youth Exchange Center (CIYEC) and supported by the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF).

Nearly 200 young people from China and other countries have gathered to share their views and discuss exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations.

Addressing the event, Xu Xiao, President of the ACYF noted that young people bear the hope for global development and progress, and urged them to proactively undertake their historical mission to implement the Global Civilization Initiative(GCI), promote exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Xu highlighted the responsibility of youth to respect cultural diversity and promote the inheritance and innovation of world civilizations, as well as to act as bridges to enhance people-to-people connectivity and deepen exchanges and mutual learning.

Youth should also shoulder the mission of promoting the common values of humanity and advancing civilization progress and peaceful development of the world, he noted.

Shahbaz Khan, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, underlined the role of young people as cultural innovators in his address. He encouraged them to tap into digitalization in cultural dissemination, interpret and present different civilization achievements, and spread the essence of various cultures to enhance mutual recognition and understanding. This, he noted, would promote a more diverse development of human civilization.

The event was divided into four chapters, each with a distinct theme: "Coffee's Grind Greets Tea's Leaf," "Mogao's Caves Meet the Pyramids' Steep," "Classics' Lore Melds with Modern's Zeal," and "Original Aspiration Lead the Future Deal."

It kicked off with featured spectacular performances featuring tea art and coffee brewing, the harmonious interplay of violin and guzheng playing, and the fusion of street dance with traditional Chinese culture. Young representatives from China and abroad shared their views on various topics.

In the chapter titled "Coffee's Grind Greets Tea's Leaf,"  Zhang Chen, President of the New Youth Hutian Ceramic Community of Jingdezhen and an inheritor of a ceramic intangible cultural heritage, shared his insights on ceramic art, saying that ceramics embody people's expectations for promoting cultural diversity and experiencing harmonious coexistence between different cultures.

Alexandre Grillet, a French tech blogger, made a speech on the charm of European civilization, noting that artworks, more than displays of beauty, transcend borders and evoke deep emotional resonance.

In the chapter of "Mogao's Caves Meet the Pyramids' Steep," Zhang Shanqing, a professor at the Institute of Dunhuang Studies of Lanzhou University, gave a speech titled "The light of Dunhuang: Mutual Enlightenment of Civilizations on the Silk Road". He said that Chinese culture, as exemplified by Dunhuang culture, is highly inclusive and allows for the acceptance of foreign cultures.

Mohammed Jihad, a foreign expert from Egypt who has lived and studied in China for many years, gave a speech on new dialogue between Egyptian and Chinese Cultures. He advocated for active efforts to ensure that cultures thrive vibrantly through dialogues, emphasizing the importance of actively promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning of different cultures.

In the chapter titled "Classics' Lore Melds with Modern's Zeal," Jack Young, a registered architect from the UK, analyzed the innovative interpretation of contemporary culture through architecture, emphasizing that innovative designs can endow buildings with unique identities and new cultural connotations.

Meng Qingyang, the lead dancer of the dance drama The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting, in describing the drama as an in-depth interpretation and recreation inspired by traditional Chinese culture, noted that the process of art creation is also a process of inheriting, promoting, and reviving the fine traditional Chinese culture.

Youth representatives from five continents came together to speak on the theme "Youth Together for the Glorious Chapter of Civilization." They expressed their hope for cultural exchange and integration, depicting a vivid picture of dialogue and interaction between civilizations.

They agreed that every civilization is a brilliant gem in humanity’s treasure trove, each shining with unique brilliance and collectively forming the rich diversity of human society.

During the event, the IP of the International Youth Pop Culture season officially launched. Five pandas, embodying roles as a travel content creator, a ultimate player, a mangaka, a street dancer, and an electro DJ, are designed as pop culture buddies for young people.

The Global Civilization Initiative International Youth Talk is part of efforts to implement the China-proposed GCI. It aims to enhance understanding and trust among young people from different countries through dialogue, promote people-to-people connectivity, and provide a regular platform for intellectual exchanges and civilization-based dialogue among youth worldwide.

The event seeks to promote exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, enhance mutual understanding among youth, and support their common development.