Over 3,000 young people from 130 countries and regions gathered at Peking University this week for the World Youth Conference for Peace, emphasizing unity and dialogue amid global challenges. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message to attendees, highlighting the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and urging youth to champion international cooperation.
"The future of peace depends on the youth," Xi stated, encouraging cross-cultural exchanges to foster mutual understanding. His remarks resonated with global delegates, including Jacobo Garcia of the Global Youth Leadership Forum, who stressed that "global challenges demand global solutions."
Leonid Petukhin of the Russian-Chinese Friendship Association echoed the sentiment, noting that "remembering the past is essential to building a brighter future." The conference culminated in the "World Youth Peace Initiative," a call to action for young people worldwide to safeguard peace and promote development.
Cambodian representative Ly Navuth urged attendees to transform the event\u2019s "Together for Peace" theme into tangible action: "Peace starts with us." The initiative underscores youth\u2019s role in addressing modern crossroads of division and zero-sum politics.
