Dear Young Friends,

On the occasion of the opening of the ninth UNESCO Youth Forum and the 70th anniversary of the founding of UNESCO, I wish to extend, on behalf of the Chinese government and people and in my own name, warm congratulations to the opening of the forum!

Themed on Young Global Citizens for a Sustainable Planet, this forum is highly relevant to promoting sustainable development and dialogue among civilizations. Not long ago, the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Meeting the targets set by the agenda and building a fair, inclusive and sustainable world is the responsibility that all of us, including young people across the world, need to come forward to undertake.

Filled with vigor and full of dreams, young people are the leaders and creators of the future. China values, cares about and plays trust in the young people. We support them as they aspire to pursue personal development, contribute to the community and serve the larger population. They will have every opportunity to make their dreams come true in the historical process of realizing the Chinese dream.

The future of the world is in the hands of the younger generation. When young people around the world pursue their ideals and fulfill their responsibilities, mankind will have a more promising future, and there will be an inexhaustible source of strength to support the lofty cause of peace and development. I hope that young people of all countries could see the world with appreciation and in a spirit of sharing and mutual learning, promote exchanges and harmony among different cultures, and contribute to the building of a community of shared future of mankind.

I wish the forum a complete success!