On 28 November, Xu Jianguo, Secretary General of China Foundation for Peace and Development, delivered his remarks at the Closing Ceremony of the Aisa Youth Leaders Forum 2021.

The full speech is as below.

Dear youths, ladies, gentlemen, and friends,

Good afternoon!

Over the past two days, delegates from all over Asia have been online and in person for the forum which is themed "Open and Innovate, Cultivating Asia's Future through the Strength of Our Youth". Concentrating on technological innovation and smart city; culture, education, and tourism development; international finance and investment cooperation; health, medicine, and charity, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cooperation and development, and international trade, we undertook in-depth communication concerning these six major issues and learned from each other in the process. We will release the "2021 Asia Youth Development Initiative", promote the establishment of "Asia Emerging Industry Investment Fund" and the "Children of Asia" special charitable fund, and also launch the "Asia Youth Leaders Training Program". We had a friendship forest planted by the youth of Asia, increased mutual trust, and condensed efforts to reach a consensus on building a community with a shared future for mankind. The forum has seen great results. Right now, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the co-organizer of this event, the China Foundation for Peace and Development, to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, to Mrs. Arroyo, former President of the Philippines, and to all guests attending the forum, who have supported the forum and taken active part in it! Thank you!

The China Foundation for Peace and Development enjoys special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Since its founding in 2011, it's been devoted to the concept of promoting peaceful development, developing international public welfare projects and cultural exchange activities as well as supporting the Chinese people in organizing international exchange, so that we could enhance mutual understanding and friendly cooperation between China and the rest of the world and promote world peace and mutual development. On this occasion, we have worked together with China Public Diplomacy Association, People's Government of Guangzhou Municipality, and Asia Youth Leaders Association to hold this Asia Youth Leaders Forum 2021 to help promote exchange and cooperation between the youth from all over Asia and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

In hosting this forum, we have enjoyed precious support and guidance from the Vice Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and President of our foundation, Mr. Gao Yunlong. Here, I would like to express my upmost gratitude toward him!

Ladies, gentlemen, and friends,

The General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and the President of the People's Republic of China, that the youth is the future of Asia. When the youth thrive, the nation thrives. When the young are powerful, the country is powerful. The youth are full of vitality and dreams, and they are the best at communicating with and understanding each other. We hope that the youth in Asia can learn from each other and promote friendship, striving to be positive contributors to its prosperity. There are over 40 countries in Asia, with a population of 4.2 billion, which accounts for two thirds of the world's population. Asia boasts hardworking people, enjoys longstanding civilizations, and is an important part of the human civilization. A united, developed, and prosperous Asia is a step forward to humanity's future and a milestone in our ascent to the summit of achievement. The future is for the young. Hope is placed in the young. We created the Asia Youth Leaders Forum to focus on the fields of technology, culture, finance, healthcare, philanthropy, and so on. As a platform to help the Asian youth to communicate with each other, grow together, and cooperate for mutual benefit together, we aim to promote discussions, joint development, and sharing and to create a peaceful, developed, and friendly home for everyone in Asia.

"Every journey begins with the first step." The Asia Youth Leaders Forum has already got off to a good start and I'm sure that with everyone's hard work, it will continue to grow. I'd like to share with everyone the following three recommendations:

First, adhere to the ideal of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Striving towards this goal is a challenging road that the entire world must face and a road that will lead to the well-being of all people. This forum strives to lead the Asian youth to promote peace, development, equality, and righteousness, while adhering to multilateralism, upholding peaceful development and mutual benefits. These Asian youth will contribute their intelligence and efforts to creating a beautiful world here on this earth by establishing lasting peace, general safety, mutual prosperity, openness, and tolerance.

Second, progress with the times. Faced with this unprecedented global transformation and pandemic, the youth must grow up healthily and go with the trend of the times. This forum aims to promote mutual learning between Asian youths. On the ideological basis of valuing openness, tolerance, innovation, and mutually beneficial cooperation, Asian youths should join hands to strive to promote world peace and development. Especially today we need to encourage the Asian youth to come together and stick to the concepts of "people first; life first", promote science-based ideologies, support international efforts in combating the pandemic, join hands in dealing with the crisis and the huge challenges this pandemic presents.

This forum takes place in the geometric center of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Our event has had the vigorous support of the CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee and People's Government of Guangzhou Municipality as well as the CPC Nansha District Committee and District Government. Here, on behalf of the China Foundation for Peace and Development, I would like to thank our host for their meticulous efforts and dedicated work to ensure the success of this forum. I’d also like to offer my gratitude for all the hard work everyone here has done at this forum and my best wishes to all involved.