On the morning of November 1, H.E. Mr. Philemon Yang, President of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, met with faculty and students from Tsinghua University for the Tsinghua Global Youth Dialogue.
Mr. Ivor Fung, Chief of Staff of the Office of the President of the UNGA; Mr. Pierre Fabien Nkot, Special Adviser to the President of the UNGA; Ms. Jiang Jun, Adviser on Sustainable Development Affairs in the Office of the President of the UNGA; Mr. Ernest Mbuh Kaah, Special Assistant to the President of the UNGA; Mr. El Hadrouni Oussama, UN Security Liaison Officer; and officials from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Counselor Wang Hongliu and Officer Guo Jiajun, also attended the meeting. Accompanying the dialogue from Tsinghua University were Ms. Liao Ying, Director of the Student Global Competence Development Guidance Center, Deputy Directors Zhang Runzhou and Huang Cheng, and Lecturer Xiang Zhiqian. The meeting was hosted by Zhang Runzhou.
In his opening remarks, President Philemon Yang reviewed the historic mission of the United Nations in promoting global peace and development and emphasized the shared responsibility of the international community in addressing global challenges. He stressed that future cooperation should focus on reforming and improving the global governance system, particularly in areas such as climate change, sustainable development and education. Emphasizing that youth are the future of the world, he called for more academic exchanges and talent development at the international level.
On behalf of the Tsinghua Global Youth Dialogue (TGYD) Secretariat, Zhang Runzhou extended a warm welcome to President Philemon Yang and the UNGA delegation. He hoped that Tsinghua students would actively participate in global governance and showcase the vitality and strength of youth on the international stage.
After that, an in-depth conversation between Tsinghua student representatives and President Philemon Yang was unfold.
He Yixuan, a master’s student from the School of Journalism, shared how his internships at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in China, the UN Department of Global Communications, and UNESCO deepened his understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strengthened his sense of responsibility as a global citizen. He emphasized the crucial role of youth in global affairs and shared his experiences with TGYD.
Zhu Xuguang, a PhD student from the Department of Computer Science, introduced an AI-powered weeding robot developed by his team that could precisely remove weeds with high-energy lasers, eliminating the need for chemical herbicides and ensuring zero pesticide residue. He explained that this technology not only enhances weeding efficiency and minimizes crop damage but also contributes to SDGs such as ensuring health and well-being, protecting terrestrial ecosystems, and striving for zero hunger. He mentioned that global collaboration is needed to make sustainable agriculture the standard rather than a luxury.
Also, he advocated for a global transition from chemical herbicides to precision technology, using AI to illuminate the path toward sustainable living.
Lin Minyi, an undergraduate from the School of Economics and Management, shared her experiences in innovative technology and sustainability projects, which deepened her understanding of the urgency of climate change. She emphasized the critical role of youth in promoting innovation and stated that continuous innovation for achieving SDGs is both a responsibility and a mission for the younger generation.
Liu Xingyan, an undergraduate from the Department of Foreign Languages, introduced herself as the founder of Tsinghua University’s “Climate Talk” podcast platform, which focuses on climate change and sustainability issues. She also mentioned that she would be serving as a youth representative at the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku this year. She highlighted the importance of cross-cultural dialogue and the voices of youth in climate action. Furthermore, she shared her experience conducting wastewater management research in Pengshan District, Sichuan Province. She explained how integrating traditional wisdom with practical action can help address global challenges.
Niu Lishan, a PhD student from the School of Environment, spoke about his research on microbial technology for controlling greenhouse gas emissions. He emphasized the global challenge of climate change and China's efforts toward achieving carbon neutrality goals. He expressed his hope for strengthened international cooperation to tackle climate issues and he was looking forward to more academic exchange and collaboration opportunities for young scholars provided by the UN.
Liao Yang, a PhD student from the School of Environment, shared how her involvement with TGYD and the Student Association of the Belt and Road Initiative (SABRI) broadened her understanding of sustainability and the role of youth in addressing global challenges. She presented successful collaboration cases from TGYD and SABRI, such as multilateral organizations founded by alumni to foster youth cooperation.
President Philemon Yang expressed his appreciation for the students' insights and encouraged them to continue unleashing their talents on the international stage. At the end of the session, he presented student representatives with the UN Charter as a token of encouragement. The dialogue was wrapped up with enthusiastic applause, followed by a group photo capturing the memorable moment between the student representatives, the faculty, and the UNGA delegation.
