Remarks by the President of the General Assembly
Mr. Philémon Yang
at the Roundtable Dialogue with Youth Representatives of Tsinghua University, China
31 October 2024
[As Delivered]
Friends,
Colleagues,
Dear students and young leaders,
I am honored to join you here at Tsinghua University, one of the most prestigious institutions in China.
I sincerely thank you for this wonderful opportunity to engage with some of the brightest young minds in China.
For over a century, Tsinghua University has made remarkable contributions to China’s development and academic progress.
Its motto, “Constantly seek self-improvement, shoulder more responsibilities by being virtuous,” has driven this success.
Indeed, it is a motto that captures the very spirit we need to make multilateralism work better, and faster, for everyone, everywhere.
A mission that will rely heavily on the contributions of young people like yourselves.
We are in an era of converging challenges – from climate change and conflict to environmental degradation, poverty, and hunger.
While these challenges appear diverse, they share a common trait.
They are borderless, and no single nation can solve them alone.
This is why multilateralism and cooperation remain essential.
For nearly eight decades, the United Nations has embodied this spirit of unity and collaboration.
This is especially true of the General Assembly, where all 193 Member States, large and small, stand as equals—in the tradition of open, equitable dialogue.
We witnessed this dynamic during the Assembly’s successful High-Level Week in September, when Heads of State and Government spoke on how their national concerns align with global trends.
They emphasized the need for the international community to work together to strengthen and improve our multilateral system.
That is exactly what the Pact for the Future, with its two annexes recently adopted by Member States, aims to achieve.
The Pact’s first annex, the Declaration on Future Generations, recognizes that the choices we make today will have lasting, intergenerational consequences.
We are thus called, as the current generation, to act responsibly in the interest of future generations.
You, the young people, are central to this effort.
You will inherit the world we are shaping.
It is only fitting that you are involved in the decisions determining how that world will unfold.
Next year, the General Assembly will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth.
This milestone offers a chance to not only celebrate progress but to confront the challenges facing young people worldwide.
I encourage young people across China to engage actively with the General Assembly and in broader international dialogues, including the Youth Forum held by the United Nations Economic and Social Council annually.
Your energy, ideas, and insights are essential to building a better, more sustainable world for all.
Most importantly, we need your innovative spirit to help guide our solutions.
As you know, innovation is the engine of human progress, and young people are leading the way.
The Pact for the Future includes a Global Digital Compact as a second annex, which serves as a blueprint to harness the rapid digital transformations that define our era.
China’s commitment to innovation is undeniable.
With world-class universities like Tsinghua investing in science and education and fostering innovation, China sets a powerful example for other developing nations.
Consider China’s own remarkable transformation.
In 1949, at the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the country had fewer than 50,000 scientific and technological professionals.
By the end of 2020, that number had surged to over 112 million, making China a global leader in scientific personnel.
I urge Chinese youth to seize the opportunities offered by this dynamic environment.
Embrace scientific inquiry, push the boundaries of technology, and take an active role in shaping the future.
As a Chinese saying goes, “A nation will prosper only when its young people thrive.”
With the energy of the younger generations, I am confident China’s continued modernization will be a resounding success, and Chinese youth will make significant contributions to the well-being of humanity.
I look forward to hearing your insights on the future we can build together.
Thank you.
****
Media Contacts
Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: + 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email: birchs@un.org
Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser/ Social and Digital Media/Media Relations M: +1 917 3614990, mariam.shaikh@un.org
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