World Youth Discussed International Peace and Security

Li Yuanyuan and Yang Baoguang/China Youth Daily

"We have a conflict for more than 2 years between Russia and Ukraine. We have regional conflicts in the middle east. Global peace has become an issue we must pay attention to". At the "Future Summit" Youth Roundtable held at Renmin University of China on August 13th, Rodrigo Reis, Executive Director of the Global Attitude Institute from Brazil, stated that in terms of peace and security, we are currently in a very delicate period in history. This Future Summit presents an excellent opportunity for young people to gather and discuss these topics.

It is knownthat the United Nations Future Summit will be held in September 2024. The "Future Summit" Youth Roundtable is one of the series of events under the framework of the 2024 World Youth Development Forum. The discussions at the roundtable will form a report, which will deliver the voices of youths from various countries to the United Nations Future Summit.

"Consensus is achieved through debate, democracy, and sincere communication."

"Today's meeting was very international, gathering youth representatives from over 40 countries, so I heard various individual opinions here", Reis told China Youth Daily. To resolve conflicts, consensus must be reached, and consensus can only be achieved through debate, democracy, and sincere communication.

In recent years, Reis has actively participated in events such as the G20, BRICS, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, seeking dialogue and exchange with youths from different countries. "The World Youth Development Forum is constantly evolving and growing, and being part of it is very meaningful to me."

Discussing the topic of peace and security, Nkemcha Martin Tikufrom Cameroon, the founder and national coordinator of RoyalBoys and Girls of Ages, and Youth Leader of Basic Knowledge Aqusistion Challenge, mentioned that Cameroon once faced a crisis.

It is understood that Cameroon is a bilingual country with English and French, and many radical residents of the English-speaking region were attempting to break away from the rule of the Cameroonian government through armed struggle. "Armed conflict has led to displacement of people,making them feel depressed and angry. Therefore, we launched the 'Smiling Again' initiative, aiming to bring back their smiles," Tiku told reporters from China Youth Daily.

According to Tiku, the "Smiling Again" initiative encompasses two aspects: on one hand, it provides vocational skills training for internally displaced youths and assists them in starting small businesses to become self-sufficient; on the other hand, it promotes peace and social cohesion through sports. "Young people today are very passionate about sports. We organized football matches where young people came together. Through these matches, we convey values of fair play, peace, and love to guide them towards more interaction and peaceful living." Tiku stated that over the past three years, they have brought together more than 2,000 youths.

When it comes to sports, Francis Chuks Njoaguani, Director of ECOWAS Youth & Sports Development Centre, resonated deeply. In his view, the recently concluded Paris Olympics was a "perfect platform". "I saw Chinese medalists wearing Spanish badges to receive their awards in the badminton events", Njoaguani said. On this Olympic platform, young athletes from different backgrounds can gather to exchange ideas and share common principles, which is a great practice for resolving conflicts and contradictions.

"From the perspective of West African youth, we believe that more dialogue is needed. War has never benefited anyone", Njoaguani stated. After wars end, people still need to return to the negotiation table to talk, so why not engage in dialogue before conflicts arise? "Conflicts arise from differences in opinions. We need to always remain calm and easily resolve areas of disagreement through dialogue", Njoaguani said.

The Role of Youth in Promoting World Peace is Crucial

Njoaguani believes that young people play a vital role in advancing the cause of world peace. So, how should young people fulfill this role?

"If the United Nations were to disappear, do we have a better institution to advocate for peace? According to our discussion just now, there isn't", Njoaguanisaid. Therefore, young people should advocate for change and actively participate in policy-making. "We need to improve the current situation, identify where it has failed, try to solve these problems, and then move forward." Furthermore, Njoaguani believes that the presence of Assistant Secretary-Generals for Youth Affairs at the United Nations, Youth Ambassadors at the African Union, and Youth Ambassadors at the Economic Community of West African States all illustrate the importance of involving young people in decision-making.

Moreover, Njoaguani believes that young people should enhance their potential in entrepreneurship and innovation. "When you start a business, you contribute to solving the challenges of world peace."

Regarding this, Dai Zhixin, a professor at the School of Finance and Economics at Renmin University of China, highly agrees. "I am an economist. I have always believed that economics is fundamental", Dai Zhixin said. He believes that by creating businesses or jobs, the root causes of conflicts, such as poverty and inequality, can be addressed.

"Additionally, it is important to promote peace education among youth, raising their awareness of the importance of peace, human rights, and conflict resolution, such as through organizing seminars like today's to disseminate information", Dai Zhixin stated. Youth should also fully utilize social media platforms like TikTok and WhatsApp to express their views on hot topics and bring about positive change.

"In the digital age, we can communicate anytime and anywhere via the internet, providing a platform for youth to solve problems through dialogue rather than force", said Yonggi Jeon, National Assembly Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. He said that young people are creative, adept at mastering new technologies, and capable of adapting to rapid changes in life, thus the younger generation will lead the country's future and play a significant role in promoting international peace and resolving disputes.

Wei Ling, the Party Secretary of the School of International Relations at the University of International Business and Economics, mentioned that the Future Summit will be held at the United Nations Headquarters next month, aiming to reach a consensus on the challenges we faceas well as the measures and actions we should take to address these challenges. "So I think today's gathering is very timely, allowing us to hear perspectives from young leaders around the world. I hope the suggestions made today can be incorporated into the 'Future Compact', so that we can truly become the shapers of the future," Wei Ling said.