UN in China and International Teochew Federation Co-Host Event in Chaozhou to Mark the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations

Chaozhou, 29 November 2025—To commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN), the UN in China and the International Teochew Federation today co-hosted an event in Chaozhou under the theme “Tides Uniting the World, Harmony for a Shared Future: Heritage and Innovation, Shaping the Future Together”. 

The event brought together senior representatives from the Government of China, international organizations including the UN, leaders from the global Teochew community, entrepreneurs, academics, youth representatives, and cultural leaders. Participants explored how cultural heritage, technological innovation, private-sector dynamism, and sustainable development efforts can collectively shape a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous future.

Li Junhua,  UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, highlighted that Teochew history has been shaped by openness, migration, and entrepreneurship around the world. Teochew communities have built bridges across cultures and economies, while maintaining strong ties with their roots. These qualities are vital for sustainable development today.

A key highlight of the event was the launch of the “Harmony for a Shared Future: Global Teochew Sustainable Development Initiative”. Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN Resident Coordinator in China, said: “As we look ahead, a key question guides us: What should the next chapter of global cooperation look like? The launch of the Initiative today offers a compelling answer. By mobilizing diaspora networks, resources, and expertise, this initiative demonstrates how communities can power Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) achievement from the ground up.”

Chen Younan, Executive President of the International Teochew Federation, stated: "Faced with global changes, the UN's Pact for the Future has charted a course for humanity. Taking this opportunity, Teochew people worldwide should integrate the advantages of Teochew business into the overall framework of sustainable development; enable Teochew culture to transcend national borders; and unlock the innovative vitality of young Teochew talents on the international stage."

Zhou Ruyin, Vice Mayor of Chaozhou Municipal People's Government, Guangdong Province, emphasized that over the past 80 years, the UN has always taken the UN Charter as its cornerstone, playing a leading and core role in global governance. It serves as a crucial platform for realizing multilateralism and advancing global governance. At this important historical juncture, our engagement with the UN in China to discuss cooperation and envision the future carries even more profound significance.

During a special session hosted by China Media Group’s Dialogue programme at the event today, prominent Teochew leaders and innovators from around the world exchanged views on how global Teochew communities are contributing to sustainable development, philanthropy, and cross-border partnershipUN Resident Coordinator and Mr. He Xiaojun, Party Secretary of Chaozhou highlighted the importance of forging partnerships, fostering innovation and solidarity, which are critical to address differences and convene different stakeholders at a time of unprecedented challenges. 

The event formed part of a series of commemorative activities organized by the UN in China throughout 2025 to reflect on eight decades of multilateral achievements, renew commitments to the Pact for the Future, and reinforce partnerships, including with the local governments and private sector, to accelerate global progress towards the SDGs, as a follow-up of the pre-Pact dialogue that we co-convened with International Teochew Federation in August 2024 in Shenzhen, to provide private sector perspectives to the Pact, ahead of the Summit of the Future.