At the invitation of the Y.Elites Association, Liu Aiping, Chairwoman of the Governing Council of China International Youth Exchange Center (CIYEC), attended the 2024 Boao Forum for Asia Youth Summit (Hong Kong)from Nov18 to 19 and delivered a speech at the International Youth Dialogue.

The 2024 Boao Forum for Asia Youth Summit (Hong Kong) is held in Hong Kong on Nov 19.

Under the theme "Pioneering Tomorrow: Roles and Contributions of Youth", this year’s summit attracted more than 1,200 young participants from diverse fields and more than 30 global policymakers, experts and scholars. Discussions centered on inspiring youth innovation and action to address global challenges.

Prominent speakers included Jenny Shipley, former prime minister of New Zealand; Surakiart Sathirathai, former deputy prime minister of Thailand; Emmanuelle Pérès, Chief Executive Officer of the Fondation Prospective & Innovation chaired by Mr Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former prime minister and former vice-minister, France; and Mattia Marino, CEO of Ambrosetti (Beijing) Consulting Ltd. They shared insights on how young people can adapt to global transformations and technological innovation, drive social progress and sustainable development, and play a bigger role in regional and global development.

Participants agreed that young people, with their unique perspectives and innovative abilities, are a vital force for societal progress. Emphasizing the importance of embracing diversity and leveraging technology, they called for young people to enhance their global perspectives, foster collaboration, and actively engage in education and practice. These efforts would empower them to understand and address global challenges, contributing to a fairer and more sustainable world.

The summit also featured eight young representatives from fields such as biotechnology, data analytics, and policy research, who shared their views during the session "The Future of the World: Youth Perspectives".

They advocated for youth to act as a bridge between tradition and the future, leveraging technological innovation and cultural heritage to drive society toward inclusivity and intelligence. They also underlined thatit is imperative for Asian youth to enhance global competitiveness through education and take a leading role in regional cooperation so as to build harmonious international relations.

Zhang Jun, Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia, said the summit aimed to explore critical global issues from a youth perspective, examining their roles and contributions in shaping the future. Zhang emphasized that today’s youth, with both patriotic sentiment and a global outlook, should uphold a long-term vision, maintain historical confidence, and commit to international dialogue and cooperation to achieve mutual benefits.

In her speech, Liu stressed the importance of openness, innovation, collaboration and inclusivity to build a prosperous, sustainable, and harmonious future. She highlighted that young people are the leaders and builders of tomorrow. In the face of global challenges and transformations, they should embrace openness, enhance mutual understanding, and respect cultural diversity, to pursue sustainable development and innovation. The CIYEC remains committed to providing opportunities and platforms for youth to learn and grow, nurturing them into exceptional leaders of the future.

The International Youth Dialogue of the 2024 Boao Forum for Asia Youth Summit is held in Hong Kong on Nov 19.

As a signature annual event of the Boao Forum for Asia, Boao Forum for Asia Youth Summit (Hong Kong) has been held seven times since its inception in 2009. This year’s summit also included roundtable discussions on "Artificial Intelligence: Youth Innovators Leading the Future" and "Climate Challenges: Youth in Action."