Asia Youth Leaders Forum

A recording of this message can be found on Tencent Video and YouTube with Chinese subtitles provided by the event organizer

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank the China Public Diplomacy Association for the invitation to address the Asia Youth Leaders Forum.

Today, the world counts 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10 and 24: the largest generation in history, with close to 90 per cent of these living in developing countries.

Connected to each other and the world like never before, young people are actively contributing to affect positive change in their communities, bringing innovative solutions, driving social progress and inspiring political change. They are the strongest and loudest voices calling for change, mobilizing efforts to improve the lives of people and the health of the planet.

The active engagement of youth in sustainable development efforts is central to achieving sustainable, inclusive and equitable societies by 2030, ensuring we avert the worst threats and challenges to sustainable development, including climate change, unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, conflict, and migration.

While considerable progress has been made in promoting youth development and engagement, young people are disproportionately impacted by interlinked global crises, with the pandemic only exacerbating these fragilities.

Many youths lack access to education, economic opportunities, and health and wellbeing during a crucial stage of their life development. The International Labor Organization (ILO) confirms that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a greater impact on young people, who faced increased difficulties in entering the labor market and retaining their jobs. Those aged between 15 and 24 years experienced a much higher loss in employment compared to adults since early 2020, With the total number of unemployed youths globally estimated at 73 million in 2022, only a slight improvement from 75 million in 2021 but still six million above pre-pandemic levels.

This is alarming and we must not let this continue.

With less than seven years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, there is an urgent need to work together to advance the rights of young people around the world.

Through the Youth 2030 Strategy, the United Nations is committed to working, for and with young people, acting as a source of protection and support for young people and a platform through which their needs can be addressed, their voice can be amplified, and their engagement can be advanced.

For the UN in China, we have a strong mandate to advance youth development and youth engagement through the UN Theme Group on Youth to ensure that the UN’s work on youth issues is pursued in a coordinated, coherent, and holistic manner. 

As part of celebrations for the 77th UN Day last year, the UN in China convened a youth-led dialogue to share their hopes and aspirations for the future, while underscoring the importance of youth solidarity and engagement in realizing the vision of the 2030.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As the torchbearers of the 2030 Agenda, young people in all countries are both a major human resource for development and key agents for social change, economic development and technological innovation and we must provide them with the platforms and opportunities they need to display their talents and to more actively participate in the decisions that will affect their future.  

Dear Friends,

Youth are our future, and it is time to invest in young women and men across the region to unleash their potential to become social innovators, leaders, thinkers and a powerful force for change in their communities, countries and the world.

We should partner with young people, to provide them with the space to participate in decisions affecting them, strengthening their ability to advance human rights and development issues, such as health, education and employment.

The Asia Youth Leaders Forum provides a platform for young people to enhance their mutual understanding, promote friendship and reach out cooperation.

Young people are at the forefront of our efforts to build a world based on inclusive, fair and sustainable development for all. “We have no time to lose”, as the UN Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, encouraged young people to “keep pushing; to keep mobilizing; and to keep bringing your ideas to the table.”

I wish the conference a great success. Thank you.