BEIJING, China – 12 August is the International Youth Day and its global theme for this year is ““From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.” The United Nations Theme Group on Youth, in coordination with the UN system in China, hosted a youth dialogue to welcome this important international day and highlight the digital contributions that young people in China have made to advance sustainable development.

Opened by Dr. Shahbaz Khan, Representative of UNESCO, the event stressed that the UN always recognizes the pivotal role young people play in creating an inclusive, equitable and sustainable world for all.

The dialogue is held during Mr. Felipe Paullier, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs’ visit to China for the upcoming World Youth Development Forum. 

As the first UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs appointed by the UN Secretary General, he leads the UN Youth Office and helps ensure more young people are included in decision-making spaces at all levels.

“Young people are diverse and they bring different perspectives to the challenges facing our world. We have the opportunity to work together with UN system entities and UN country teams around the world to support and elevate the voices of youth, ensuring that they are heard and that their contributions are valued,” he said.

According to the event, young people in China, with support from the UN, are using digital technologies to drive change and create solutions, in areas including rural development, food safety, women’s empowerment, youth health and public-private partnerships. 

“Through the Youth Co:Lab, co-led by UNDP and Citi Foundation, more Chinese young people are participating in rural revitalization. By developing the digital governance platform with easy access, they are supporting local villagers in living a low-carbon life,” said Dr. Ma Xiaoding, alumni of Youth Co:Lab and Digital Construction and Operations Manager of the Ten Thousand Villages Renovation project in Meilin Village, Zhejiang Province. 

About 80 participants from the UN systems in China, youth groups and institutions attended the dialogue.

• For more information on the United Nations International Youth Day 2024, please visit: https://www.un.org/en/observances/youth-day.
• For more information, please contact: Shujun Liu, Communications Analyst, UNFPA China, sliu@unfpa.org.