On March 24, the Asia-Pacific Youth Leaders China Tour of the World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) was officially lauched at Nanjing University's Suzhou Campus. Young representatives from the UCLG gathered by the picturesque Taihu Lake to discuss the theme of "innovation", gaining a deeper understanding of China, broadening their horizons, forging lasting friendships and enriching their personal development.
Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary-General of the UCLG-ASPAC; Tri Rismaharini, former Minister of Social Affairs of Indonesia and Ambassador of the UCLG-ASPAC; Yang Wanming, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC); Zhang Lefu, Vice Chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; and Tan Tieniu, Chair of NJU CPC Council and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, attended the event and delivered speeches.
The UCLG is an important platform for promoting global local cooperation, and the Asia-Pacific region is one of the most vibrant and promising areas in the world. Youth are the hope of nations and ethnicities and are the backbone of future cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region. This event is co-hosted by the CPAFFC and the UCLG-ASPAC, with Nanjing University as a co-organizer. It aims to promote experience sharing and cooperative exchanges among cities in the Asia-Pacific region through youth interactions.
In his speech, Yang Wanming stated that Jiangsu is a strong economic province in China and an important window for opening up to the outside world. Nanjing University, with its long history and profound academic heritage, was chosen as the venue for the Youth Leaders' China Tour based on these developmental advantages and talent foundations. He hopes that the young friends will become disseminators of "rational understanding", enhancing mutual trust through communication; companions in "innovative development", achieving win-win cooperation; and practitioners of "civilizational mutual learning", building a shared future through integration. He encourages everyone to take the China Tour as a new starting point, experiencing the openness, inclusiveness, and innovative vitality of Chinese modernization through field visits, deepening understanding and recognition through honest exchanges, and transforming the insights gained from this journey into future responsibilities and actions, contributing youthful strength to promote peace, stability, prosperity, and connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region.
Zhang Lefu expressed that as a major economic and cultural powerhouse in China, Jiangsu is characterised by its openness and inclusiveness, and leads the way in innovation. He hoped that through face-to-face exchanges and immersive experiences, the young people would come to know Jiangsu and gain a deeper understanding of China; that they would build consensus through mutual learning and exchange; share opportunities through innovative cooperation; and courageously shoulder their responsibilities in the face of changing times. Jiangsu will also work hand in hand with all parties to forge friendships and deepen cooperation with people from around the world, thereby contributing to the promotion of people-to-people friendship between China and other nations.
On behalf of Nanjing University, Tan Tieniu extended a warm welcome to the representatives of the UCLG and the young people in attendance. He noted that NJU's 124-year history and rich cultural heritage have forged its robust academic strength, its pioneering spirit of innovation, and its open-minded approach to the world. Hosting the opening ceremony of this event, he said, reflects NJU's earnest desire to support the nation's diplomatic efforts and to deepen exchanges between young people from China and abroad. Using the English acronym of Nanjing University, he expressed his best wishes for the event: "NJU" could mean both "New Journey United" and "Now Join Us". He looks forward to everyone gaining a deeper understanding of a real, multi-faceted and comprehensive China, becoming young ambassadors who foster friendship and promote cooperation; joining forces to tackle challenges through scientific and technological innovation; building consensus through cultural exchange; and taking a proactive role in global governance, thereby making new and greater contributions to advancing the building of a community with a shared future for the Asia-Pacific region and for humanity.
In her speech, Bernadia thanked the CPAFFC and NJU for their warm hospitality. She stated that this event focuses on the theme of "innovation", which pertains not only to technology but also to new ways of thinking, new forms of cooperation, and new solutions. It concerns how young leaders can become catalysts for innovation through cross-cultural exchanges, thereby making urban and regional development more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. She believes that universities like NJU, as centers of knowledge and bridges between nations, have vast potential in exchanging ideas, broadening horizons, and nurturing innovation. Quoting the famous saying, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step", she looks forward to the start of this China Tour, taking new steps toward deeper understanding, stronger cooperation, and a more innovative and closely connected future.
Yang Wanming, Bernadia, Rismaharini, Zhang Lefu, and Tan Tieniu jointly lanched this event.
Suo Wenbin, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Nanjing University Committee and Vice President of NJU chaired the lauch ceremony.
During the youth exchange activity, Arjan Shrestha, Senior Account Officer from the government of Neelakantha, Nepal, representing youth leaders of the UCLG-ASPAC, expressed his pleasure in participating in the China Tour. He noted that it showcases the genuine implementation of green development, innovative concepts, and business operations, helping to guide young people in the Asia-Pacific toward the right direction of social and economic transformation and finding new momentum for promoting green and sustainable development.
Xiao Yineng, a young teacher representative from NJU's Global Intellectual Property Institute, stated that the NJU campus is not only a temple of knowledge but also an innovative ecosystem that is open, inclusive, and interdisciplinary, where one can experience the forefront of technological waves. He looks forward to exploring new paths for intellectual property protection and technology innovation transformation with young scholars, striving to provide solid legal guarantees and intellectual support for innovative development in the Asia-Pacific region.
Student representative Huang Wenhao from the School of Integrated Circuits at NJU expressed that as a freshman at the Suzhou campus, he deeply feels the infinite potential and opportunities within the innovative ecosystem created by the collaboration of universities, governments, industry partners, research institutions, and communities. He shared vivid examples and hopes that everyone will transcend geographical and cultural boundaries to work towards an innovative future for the Asia-Pacific community.
At the event, attendees watched an English promotional video of NJU and a performance of a segment from "Peony Pavilion: The Dream of Awakening" by the NJU Kunqu Opera Study Society, which received warm applause.
Before the opening ceremony, the guest representatives visited NJU Suzhou campus, experiencing the beautiful campus scenery and innovative vitality. Jiang Tian, Assistant President of NJU accompnied their visit.
