11月27日上午，在2021亚洲青年领袖论坛开幕式上，中国公共外交协会会长吴海龙发表重要讲话。

原文如下：

各位嘉宾、朋友们：

欢迎大家出席由中国公共外交协会、中国和平发展基金会、广州市人民政府、亚洲青年领袖联合会共同举办的亚洲青年领袖论坛。

我最近就这个青年、中年和老年的定义咨询了好几个联合国的机构，因为我想知道我究竟是属于哪一类，但是都没有一个明确的说法。但是无论如何 ，我可能也划不到青年一类了。

有人说，一个国家最好看的风景就是这个国家的年轻人。其实年轻人不仅仅是一道好看的风景，更是决定着一个国家未来的前途和命运。

青年朋友们，你们也许不如我们中年人、老年人有阅历，不如我们有经验，但你们有比我们更敏捷的思维，更丰富的想象，更大胆的创新和更新型的知识，你们最富有朝气，最富有梦想。你们都是键盘上的高手，你们的电脑玩得一定比我们溜，你们的游戏打得一定比我们棒，你们对时尚的追求一定比我们酷，你们交流的语言一定比我们潮。你们游走在网络空间、虚拟世界，乃至现在热得不得了的元宇宙之间，我们有许多不懂的东西需要向你们请教，需要向你们学习。我们需要紧跟这个目不暇接地变化的世界，否则就有被淘汰和边际化的危险。毋庸讳言，我们与你们有代沟，可能你们的人生观、价值观和世界观和我们有差异，你们看世界、看人生、看问题有你们的视角，有你们的理解和有你们的判断 。但是，我们与你们也有共情，我们与你们对国家的情怀、对社会的责任、对事业的职责、对使命的担当是一样的，我们与你们都需要奋斗、拼搏和奉献。当你们碰到挫折遭遇逆境心情不爽精疲力竭时，当你们想放弃、想退缩、想躺平时 ，我们能理解你们需要喘口气，需要疗愈跟抚慰受伤的心灵 ，需要有一个反思的机会，需要调整一下自己。但你们不能永久地躺平，也不能时不时就厌倦，你们最终需要坚定信心，鼓起勇气重新站起来，寻找新的诗和远方。

习近平主席指出：“全球青年有理想、有担当，人类就有希望，推进人类和平与发展的崇高事业就有源源不断的强大力量。”的确，世界的未来属于青年一代，亚洲是全球充满希望的地方，青年人是亚洲发展合作的见证者和受益者 ，也是亚洲发展合作的推动者和践行者。当前亚洲发展合作势头强劲，广大亚洲青年施展才华的舞台将更加广阔。与此同时，在当前复杂多变的世界形势下，亚洲也面临着前所未有的挑战。新冠疫情反复肆虐，经济复苏曲折艰难，气候灾害频频发生，亚洲如何战胜这些困难和挑战，亚洲青年对此可以发挥什么样的作用，亚洲的青年必须要有严肃的思考，也必须要拿出实际的行动。

本次论坛将主题设置为“致力开放创新，聚合青年力量，共建亚洲新未来”，可谓切中了时代的命题，响应了亚洲的呼唤。亚洲青年要同舟共济、共克时艰，使本地区尽早战胜疫情，确保亚洲人民生命健康，恢复正常的经济和社会生活秩序；亚洲青年要不惧艰难，勇于开拓，善于创新，为本地区经济的复苏贡献力量；亚洲青年要做低碳绿色生活的倡导者和先行者，为把亚洲建设成为一个清洁美丽的家园而努力；亚洲青年要做亚洲文明的守护者和传播者，要推动不同文明交流互鉴、包容互敬、和睦相处。亚洲青年之间要加强交流、增进互信、促进友谊，为构建亚洲命运共同体而奋斗。

亚洲大家庭属于每个亚洲青年，亚洲青年要呵护好这个大家庭。中国公共外交协会愿为亚洲青年搭建交流与合作的桥梁。我们将通过开展丰富多彩的活动把亚洲青年的朋友圈做大、做深、做亲。

青年朋友们，新时代激发新活力，新使命需要新青年，亚洲的明天是属于你们的，亚洲的未来是属于你们的，亚洲的命运掌握在你们手里，亚洲的发展需要你们的新担当和新作为。你们行亚洲就行，你们强亚洲就强，你们是亚洲未来的希望之光，你们一定会用你们的智慧和双手创造一个更加辉煌和灿烂的亚洲世纪。

我们衷心地为你们祝福。

On 27 November, Wu Hailong, President of the China Public Diplomacy Association, delivered a keynote speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Asia Youth Leaders Forum 2021.

Distinguished guests and friends,

Welcome to the Asia Youth Leaders Forum, co-organized by the China Public Diplomacy Association, China Foundation for Peace and Development, the People’s Government of Guangzhou Municipality, and Asia Youth Leaders Federation.

Recently, I consulted several UN agencies on the definition of youth, middle age, and old age, because I wanted to know which category I belonged to. There is no clear definition, but in any case, I may not be classified as a young person. Some say that the most beautiful scenery of a country is the youth of the country. In fact, youth are more than just a beautiful scenery. They determine the future and destiny of a country.

Young friends, 

You may not be as experienced as us middle-aged or elder people. But you think faster than us, and you are more imaginative and more daring to innovate and update your knowledge. You are the most energetic and ambitious. You are all masters of the keyboard, and you must be better at computers than we are. You must be better gamers. Your pursuit of fashion must be more fantastic than ours. Your language of communication must be trendier than ours. You travel among cyberspace, virtual worlds, and even the now incredibly hot metaverse. There is so much we don't know that we need to ask you for advice, and we need to learn from you. We need to keep up with the ever-changing world or risk becoming irrelevant and marginalized.

Needless to say, there is a generation gap between us. Perhaps your outlook on life, values, and the world are different from ours. You see the world and problems from your own perspectives. You have your understanding and your judgment, but we also have empathy with you. We share your love for the country, your responsibility towards the society, your commitment to your careers, and the responsibility for your missions. You and us, we both need to strive, fight, and contribute. When you encounter setbacks, adversity, frustration, and exhaustion; and when you want to give up, wish to retreat, want to lie down, we can understand. In this stressful world, you need to take a breather, heal and soothe a broken heart, and need a chance to reflect on and adjust yourselves. But you cannot lie down forever; nor can you grow bored now and then. In the end, you need to be confident, take up the courage to stand up again, and look for new poems and dreams.

President Xi Jinping pointed out that as long as global youth are with ideals and commitment, there is hope for humanity and a constant force to advance the noble cause of peace and development. Indeed, the world's future belongs to the young generation. Asia is a place with hope. Young people are the witnesses and beneficiaries of Asian development cooperation, as well as the promoters and practitioners. Currently, Asian development cooperation is gaining momentum, and the stage for young Asians to show their talent will be even wider. At the same time, in the current complex and ever-changing global situation, Asia is also facing unprecedented challenges. COVID-19 has been raging on; the economic recovery is tortuous and challenging; and climate disasters frequently occur. How can Asia overcome these difficulties and challenges? What role can Asian youth play in this regard? Young people in Asia must think about this seriously and take practical actions.

The theme of this forum is Open and Innovate – Cultivating Asia’s Future Through the Strength of Our Youth. It’s in line with the development of the times, and respond to the call of Asia. Asian youth are in the same boat to overcome difficulties together and fight against the pandemic as soon as possible, so that we can ensure the health of Asian people and restore to normal economic development and social life. Asian youth should be unafraid of difficulties, dare to explore, be good at innovation, and contribute to the recovery of the regional economy.

Asian youth should be advocates and pioneers of a low-carbon and green lifestyle, working hard to make Asia a clean and beautiful place to live. Asian youth should be the guardians and promoters of Asian civilization, promoting exchanges, mutual learning, tolerance, mutual respect, and harmonious coexistence between different civilizations. Asian youth need to strengthen exchanges, enhance mutual trust, and promote friendship, striving to build an Asian community with a shared future.

The giant Asian family is the home of every Asian youth, and Asian youth should take good care of this big family. The China Public Diplomacy Association is willing to build a bridge of exchange and cooperation for Asian youth. We will carry out a variety of activities to make the circle of friends of Asian youth bigger, with deeper and closer friendship.

Young friends, 

A new era inspires new vitality, and new mission needs new youth. Asia's tomorrow is yours. The future of Asia is yours. The destiny of Asia is in your hands. Asia's development needs your new commitment and action. If you are strong, Asia will be strong. You are the light of hope for the future of Asia, and you will use your wisdom and hands to create a more glorious and splendid Asian epoch.

We wish you all the best from our hearts.