On March 24, 2016, the Peking University National Model United Nations (PKUNMUN) Conference for High School Students was held at the Peking University Hall. A total of over 500 student delegates, more 100 student observers and volunteers, and teachers from over 100 high schools in China participated in the event. Moreover, special guests including Danis Antoine, Ambassador of Grenada to China; Li Yansong, Vice-President of PKU; Yan Liang, Secretary-General of UN Association of China; Nicole Huxley, International Communications Consultant of UNDP (United Nations Development Program) China; Wang Yiming, Vice Chairman of the PKU Youth League Committee; Jia Qingguo, Dean of the PKU School of International Relations, and other officials attended the opening ceremony. Liu Xinyu, junior in the PKU School of Economics and Secretary-General of PKUNMUN 2016 delivered the opening address for the ceremony.
With the theme of “Global Governance: Collaboration and Reform”, PKUNMUN 2016 focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by world leaders on 25 September 2015 at the United Nations for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which officially came into force in 2016. The SDGs aim to end all forms of poverty, in addition to tackling many other global problems. The year 2016 presents itself as an unprecedented opportunity to bring the countries and citizens of the world together to embark on a new path to improve the lives of people everywhere.
Vice-President Li Yansong first welcomed all students and teachers to the conference. Looking back over the twelve-year history of PKUNMUN, he noted that PKUNMUN has long been a prestigious MUN conference, which has so far gathered more than 5800 participants in total. He then mentioned that quite a few high school delegates of the conference were admitted by PKU after graduating.
Then his Excellency Danis Antoine shared his story of being a former UN delegate of Grenada and ambassador to China. He underscored peace, development, and international cooperation, which have been the core UN values since its founding seventy years ago. As the ever tight bonding of international community and the growing complexity of the international relations, problems tend to be shared worldwide, posing great threats to the practical significance of those fundamental values. Youth represents the future of the world, and will gradually share an ever larger ownership in global affairs. Therefore, according to Mr. Antoine, an important reason for having MUN is to encourage teenagers and young adults to offer solutions and make changes from the perspectives of their age. “The world will be yours”, he said to the audience with great passion.
Following Mr. Antoine were the speeches from Yan Liang, Jia Qingguo, and Wang Yiming. They all showed great appreciation of the PKUNMUN conference, and they sincerely wished for a successful conference. Then, Nicole Huxley from the UNDP China addressed the audience. She briefly introduced the SDGs and stressed the significance as a following-up international agenda for the next fifteen years, built on the success of the past Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). She also presented the project co-sponsored by UNDP China and NetEase for everyone to join in the program, calling for individuals’ effort in the accomplishment of the goals.
Liu Xinyu delivered the last opening address. With the core principle of “academic, independence, and creativity” that PKUNMUN has always cherished, this year’s conference will definitely provide every participant with unique experience and unforgettable memory. She then officially declared PKUNMUN 2016 started.
Written by: Liu Xiya
