The 2025 World Youth Development Forum (WYDF), held from July 15 to July 20 in Suzhou and in Shanghai, successfully concluded with a powerful focus on harnessing the potential of youth to drive global development. With more than 500 participants from over 100 countries, this global gathering marked a pivotal moment in mobilizing youth-led solutions for today’s most urgent global challenges.

The event’s theme, “Unleash Youth Potential for Global Development,” provided a platform for youth leaders, government representatives, international organizations, and youth organizations to come together and explore innovative solutions to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The forum’s discussions reflected a shared commitment to fostering youth-led actions for sustainable development and global progress.

The forum was marked by the launch of three major initiatives aimed at accelerating youth-driven solutions: International Youth Advocacy for Unleashing Youth Potential, 100 Excellence Actions of the Global Youth Development Action Plan 2025 and Acceleration Week for Global Youth Development. These initiatives aim to empower youth across the globe and accelerate global efforts to achieve a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future.

At the opening ceremony, Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), delivered an address in which he highlighted the urgent need for decent jobs and economic opportunities for the world’s 1.2 billion young people. Mr. Houngbo reaffirmed the ILO’s commitment to supporting youth empowerment through initiatives focused on digital literacy, green transition skills, and enhancing youth participation in decision-making processes.

Thematic Forum on Artificial Intelligence & Technology Innovation

A major thematic session on Artificial Intelligence and Science & Technology Innovation brought together 150 youth leaders from 64 countries. The session focused on how technological advancements are reshaping the future of work and creating new opportunities for youth worldwide. Discussions centered on the importance of equipping young people with the skills needed to thrive in the digital and green economies, which are increasingly becoming integral to future job markets.

Youth-Led Green Consumption and Sustainability Innovations

The forum also highlighted youth-led initiatives in green consumption and sustainable development. Innovators from around the world shared their solutions to combat climate change, promote renewable energy, and foster sustainable lifestyles. These young leaders demonstrated how innovation and new technologies, alongside grassroots advocacy, can drive environmental change.

The European Youth Association played a central role in this year’s WYDF, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of China-Europe relations. The China-Europe Youth Leader Development Forum underscored the growing impact of international collaboration in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with youth at the center of these efforts.

With the successful outcomes of the 2025 WYDF, the European Youth Association is committed to continuing its work in empowering young people worldwide. The association looks forward to fostering cross-regional collaboration and advocating for sustainable solutions to the most pressing global challenges, all while ensuring that youth are at the forefront of these efforts.

As the forum concluded, participants left with a renewed sense of purpose, driven by the knowledge that youth have the power to shape the future and contribute to a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable world.

Youth unites for a better future

The European Youth Association took part in the World Youth Development Forum in Beijing and in the Bridge of the Future ”China – Central and Eastern Europe Youth Development Campus in the Thematic Forum of Digital Development in Chongqing.

The World Youth Development Forum, with the theme of “Together for a Better Future”, opened in Beijing on August 12 at the International Youth Day.

The WYDF forum aims to harness the power of youth to advance the Global Development Initiative and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The United Nation will host the Summit of the Future in September in New York, with a commitment to accelerating the realization of the SDGs. During the opening ceremony and plenary meeting of the  WYDF, youth representatives from eight countries read out the “International Youth Advocacy for the Summit of the Future”. They pledged to stay conscious of global matters, be innovative, embrace cooperation and take on the responsibility to work in solidarity toward accelerating the achievement of global sustainable development and promoting the building of a community with shared future for mankind.

Youth Pre-Meeting for the Summit of the Future was held on August 13, and 4 Thematic Forums for Green Development, Youth Development-oriented Cities, Digital Development, Cultural Inheritance and Innovation were held in Nanning, Hangzhou, Chongqing, and Changsha respectively, from August 14 to 15.

This forum bringing together over 2,000 youth representatives from more than 130 countries and regions and over 20 international organizations, both online and in person.

The series of events of the forum were invite the heads of United Nations agencies, ministers for youth affairs, youth leaders and youth representatives from all walks of life to participate in person, building a worldwide platform for exchanges, mutual learning and cooperation, and facilitating stakeholders to jointly address global challenges and build a better future.

Our president had speech in the thematic forum for digital development on the topic realistic demands and promotion mechanism of youth development and speech in the roundtable conference on building green and low carbon cities together in Chongqing.

He said that “Addressing the real needs of our youth and fostering effective promotion mechanisms is not merely an investment in the future—it is a commitment to building a more equitable, innovative and vibrant society today. By prioritizing mental health, economic stability, social inclusion, digital literacy and personal fulfillment, and by implementing supportive community engagement, educational reform and effective policy, we lay the foundation for a brighter future for all.

Let us embrace this challenge with determination and compassion, working together to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to reach their full potential. For in the strength and success of our youth, we find the promise of a better tomorrow.”

On August 11th, our president visited one of the seven wonders of the world – Great Wall of China protected by UNESCO. There is a famous quote attributed to Chairman Mao, – ”He who has not been to the Great Wall is not a true man”. Exploring the Great Wall of China is surely one of the unforgettable experiences. Other two groups visited Forbidden city and Temple of Heaven.

In Chongqing, we visited the Seres Group Co., Ltd, where the staff and robots working together to assemble new energy vehicles and experienced technological sense of China manufacturing in the electronic cars. Next day, we went in the Dazu Rock Carvings. It is the one and only UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in Chongqing municipality. They provide outstanding evidence of the harmonious synthesis of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Also, we visited Chongqing planning exhibition gallery, Mobile IoT Global Exhibition center, CCTEG Engineering Group Co., Ltd, Hub international logistic park, enjoyed the night view of Yangtze and Jialing rivers and we tried the special tradition spicy hot pot and it was so delicious.

According to the organizers, this year’s forum is especially timely as the world faces unprecedented changes and significant challenges. The ongoing crises in Ukraine and Gaza, setbacks in global economic recovery, the widening North-South divide, food security issues, humanitarian crises, cybersecurity threats, and climate change all underscore the urgent need for global youth to take on the responsibility and contribute to solving these pressing global problems.