The Youth Pre-Meetings for the Summit of the Future was held at Renmin University of China (RUC) on August 13.

The event brought together over 300 youth ministers, leaders, and representatives from nearly 100 countries to discuss key topics related to the upcoming United Nations Summit of the Future. The discussions aimed to provide policy and action recommendations for the summit's outcome documents.

The event was attended by Dong Xia, Director of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China and Deputy Secretary-General of the All-China Youth Federation, Liu Kai, Deputy Director of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Youth League of China, and Qi Pengfei, Vice Chair of the university council of RUC.

The United Nations Summit of the Future, scheduled for September 2024, is a significant global event focusing on development and governance. The summit will play a crucial role in revitalizing multilateralism and advancing development agendas, with a strong emphasis on youth issues and participation. The summit will produce key documents, including the Pact for the Future, Global Digital Compact, and Declaration on Future Generations.

The pre-meetings featured eight parallel sessions, co-chaired by young faculty members from RUC and youth representatives from UN agencies in China. Scholars and experts delivered opening remarks, followed by in-depth discussions among youth representatives on five key topics: "Sustainable Development and Financing for Development," "International Peace and Security," "Technological Innovation and Digital Cooperation," "Youth and Future Generations," and "Global Governance Reform." The atmosphere was lively and dynamic, with participants freely sharing their perspectives.

During the session on "Sustainable Development and Financing for Development," youth representatives discussed various aspects, including green energy, climate governance, soil restoration, disaster prevention, financing for development, infrastructure, and the values of harmony between humanity and nature. They emphasized the need for more international organizations and stakeholders, including businesses and young talent, to address the shared challenges of society.

In the discussion on "International Peace and Security," participants shared successful initiatives led by youth in resolving conflicts and promoting peace. They highlighted the importance of promoting a multipolar world order as a key to effective global governance and proposed policies to strengthen multilateral cooperation and address global environmental challenges.

The session on "Technological Innovation and Digital Cooperation" explored the challenges and opportunities presented by digital collaboration, such as data security and the impact of AI on education and employment. Participants called for enhanced cooperation among governments, businesses, and academia to address the challenges of digital transformation and promote a more equitable and sustainable future.

In the "Youth and Future Generations" session, discussions centered on the impact of the internet on mental health, the importance of vocational training for youth, guiding youth to establish correct values, and the urgency of personal data protection in the digital age. Participants stressed the need for youth to have a more significant voice in global governance. They called for organizations to provide effective support to empower young people in shaping a prosperous and just future for future generations.

The discussion on "Global Governance Reform" focused on innovative strategies for global governance in the context of the current international landscape and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Participants emphasized the critical role of governments in global governance and the importance of enhancing youth leadership to ensure a sustainable and inclusive future.

Representatives from various countries recognized the unprecedented opportunities and challenges facing humanity, particularly the younger generation, amid the rapidly evolving global landscape. They acknowledged that youth are the future of the world, and the topics and outcomes of the Summit of the Future are closely tied to youth development. Achieving the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and maintaining global peace and development require the unity and active participation of youth worldwide. The representatives also highlighted China's role as an engine of global economic growth and a key advocate for multilateralism and global governance reform. They expressed hope that the World Youth Development Forum would serve as a platform for furthering global youth collaboration and contributing to the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity.

The Youth Pre-Meetings for the Summit of the Future was part of the series of events under the 2024 World Youth Development Forum, co-hosted by the All-China Youth Federation and the UN System in China, organized by RUC, and supported by various UN agencies, including the International Labor Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, UN-Habitat, and the Asia-Europe Foundation. The discussions from the roundtable will be compiled into a report and submitted to the United Nations Summit of the Future.