Mr.  Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs,

Mr. Ian Phillips, Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Global Communications,

Ms. Wu Qian, Deputy President of Shanghai Media Group,

Dear Guests and Friends,

Good Afternoon! It is a great pleasure to join you today for the premiere of the documentary “Post-80s in the UN”.

I wish to first of all thank the Department of Global Communications and Shanghai Media Group for presenting this precious gift for the 80th birthday of the United Nations.

I also wish to thank our young colleagues for their recitation, which brought us back to the historic moment of the signing of the UN Charter, and allowed us to revisit the solemn pledges to peace and justice made by the founding fathers.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Over eight decades, the UN has traveled an extraordinary journey, and remained the most important multilateral institution and the core of the international system. 

Today, we are living in a world of changes and turbulence. Multilateralism faces strong headwinds, and the United Nations stands at a crossroads of crisis and reform.

Yet, there is one thing we must never forget: the United Nations is more than just an international organization. It is also a banner, symbolizing humanity’s shared values and the strength that drives our world forward.

To turn the ideals of the UN into reality requires the dedication of generation after generation. And in this long relay, young people play an indispensable role.

The term “Post-80s” in the documentary’s title refers to a generation born in the 1980s — now in their mid-thirties and forties.

In this documentary, through the moving stories of ordinary people, we see the extra-ordinary achievements of the UN. We follow the stories of several Post-80s young people: from refugee camp in Kenya to peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste, from the front line of humanitarian relief in Gaza to the fight against maritime crime in the Indian Ocean. We witness their smiles and hopes, but also their hardships and pressure, even pains and tears.

These moving and inspiring stories in the documentary are a reflection of countless young people around the world, who have been working tirelessly to advance the work of the UN, for peace, development, and human rights.

Dear Friends,

China has always been actively participating in the work of the United Nations, and firmly supporting the UN’s central role in international affairs.

I am especially proud to see some Chinese faces in this documentary. In their respective posts, they have contributed with commitment and professionalism, and earned the respect and recognition of those around them. 

And here with us today, are also many Chinese colleagues serving the UN. Your presence is a living testament to China’s broad engagement in global affairs, as well as China’s wholehearted contribution to the United Nations.

I sincerely hope, and firmly believe, that in the years ahead, more and more Chinese young people will join this Organization. They will prove themselves by their professional expertise, cultural confidence, and global vision, and make valuable contributions to the further development of the United Nations.

To conclude, I hope this documentary will help more people get to know the UN and understand its importance. And above all, I hope it will inspire more young people to join the UN and dedicate themselves to the noble cause of the UN, and contribute to the building of a better world for all.

Thank you.