An online event of the 2022 International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage Along the Silk Roads was held on December 15. It was co-hosted by the UNESCO, the China's National Commission for UNESCO, the Changsha Municipal People's Government and the Nanjing Municipal People's Government. Zheng Jianxin, deputy secretary of the CPC Changsha Municipal Committee and mayor of Changsha, delivered a speech via video link.

The online forum is themed "Youth Creativity to Promote Intercultural Dialogue and Tackle Global Challenges". It aims to promote exchanges among young people around the world, guide young people to follow the trend of history, bear their responsibility and contribute their strength to global sustainable development. 

Experts on heritage along the Silk Road, Maritime Silk Road, UNESCO Framework for Enabling Intercultural Dialogue, and digital inclusion were invited to deliver keynote speeches.

At the venue of the Malanshan Video Cultural and Creative Industrial Park in Changsha, 23 youth representatives from Belt and Road countries discussed with their counterparts in other countries on two topics: "Imagine 2030 -- Challenges and Opportunities for Global Youths" and "The Role of Media Arts in Promoting Intercultural Dialogue and Creating a Better Future".

Mayor Zheng said in his video speech that Changsha, as an important node city along the Belt and Road, is a place that young friends at home and abroad yearn for visiting. In recent years, Changsha has deeply integrated into the Belt and Road Initiative, actively connected with UNESCO's Creative Cities Network, and striven to implement the Changsha Initiative. The city has carried out a series of international cultural exchange activities such as the International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage Along the Silk Roads, the "Media Arts Promoted on Campus", and the Media Art International Artist-in-Residence Program. Thanks to the forum and the artist-in-residence program, more and more youth representatives from Belt and Road countries have come to Changsha. They experienced and discussed together, and shared what they have seen and learned back home. The forum and the artist-in-residence program have already become a bridge of cultural exchanges and mutual learning among youths.

Mayor Zheng added that, Changsha is willing to work closely with UNESCO and the China's National Commission for UNESCO to ensure the success of the forum and other activities and provide platforms and assistance to global youth connectivity, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, innovation and entrepreneurship. The city will also work together and forge ahead to contribute wisdom and strength to a more open and inclusive world.

Source: en.changsha.gov.cn