Establishment Ceremony of BISU Institute for International and Regional Studies

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Chairperson of Beijing International Studies University (BISU) Council, Ms. Gu Xiaoyuan,

Vice-chairperson of the University Council, President, Mr. Ji Jinbiao,

Director of the BISU Institute for International and Regional Studies, Mr. Sun Weijia,

Representatives of the Ministry of Education, the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, and the Beijing Municipal Education Commission,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon,

I want to thank Director Sun Weijia for inviting me to join you today at this summit for the establishment of the BISU Institute for International and Regional Studies.

Education is the basic building block of every society, and its centrality to human well-being and sustainable development is universally understood.  Education, as a human right and a public good, is the single best investment countries can make to build prosperous, healthy and equitable societies. Ensuring high-quality education, including higher education, therefore is a key enabler of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Higher education institutions, such as BISU, as globally connected and inclusive bodies, are uniquely placed to aid young people with the necessary means to fulfil their potential and help their societies achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Global progress on the SDGs is now being disrupted and severely challenged by a number of interlinked crises. The COVID-19 pandemic, new and existing conflicts, the growing climate emergency, food, energy and finance crises, unequal recovery from the pandemic, and persistent inequalities between and within countries continue to threaten our future and require urgent multilateral action.

But every cloud has a silver lining. As President Xi Jinping said at the High-Level Dialogue on Global Development, “This is an age rife with challenges, but it is also an age of hope.” The COVID-19 pandemic, among many crises, has provided us with an opportunity to reexamine international cooperation and take action. We can build back better, find a path to recovery, and reimagine our economic and social structures. Universities here in China and around the world have a critical role to play in this journey.

Global challenges require global solutions, and global solutions can only be found through multilateralism. Issues that transcend national boundaries cannot be solved by one country alone. But as UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Our complex and interconnected world requires a multilateralism that is more effective, more networked, and more inclusive.  We need to combine the strengths of existing institutions to deliver together on humanity’s most pressing challenges.”

China, too has an important role to play in strengthening multilateralism. A number of newly proposed initiatives have the potential to do just that. The Global Development Initiative (GDI), for example, offers to accelerate global progress in achieving the SDGs. We also note and welcome the recent upgrade of China’s South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund into the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund.

The UN system in China is committed to supporting China’s international cooperation efforts as a strategic partner to ensure that the GDI is in alignment with the SDGs and recognized international norms and standards. As custodians and guarantors of the 2030 Agenda, the UN will continue to underscore possible departures of the GDI from the international agreement reached in 2015. The 2030 Agenda is one cohesive and integrated agenda, encompassing all three pillars of the UN system: peace and security, human rights, and development. There is equal prioritization of all three pillars along with the principle of Leaving No One Behind, which is to be specifically centered on the individual.

Important aspects of the 2030 Agenda, such as gender equality and women’s empowerment, youth employment and digital education, should also be integrated into the GDI. We should also highlight the potential of the GDI to address specific development challenges faced by vulnerable populations, including migrants, refugees and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Excellencies,

I offer my congratulations on the establishment of the BISU Institute for International and Regional Studies. By providing interdisciplinary studies, this institute can contribute to addressing global challenges. BISU was founded by Premier Zhou Enlai and later became the alma mater of many of China’s senior ambassadors and diplomats, including State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. I am confident that an emerging generation of new young leaders will follow. I wish today’s summit every success.

Thank you.