Some 300 young people will hold discussions and debates to address the most urgent world issues as UN delegates during a 3-day model United Nations conference in Beijing. They are appointed to perform the diplomatic duties of diffrent nations under an exact UN convention schedule.
Does the experience of the event place a young person at a higher starting level for a career as a diplomat?
Student delegates from all over China arrive in the auditorium of China Foreign Affairs University for the opening ceremony of Voice of the Young - Beijing Model United Nations 2011 on Friday, April 8, 2011. (Photo: Youth.cn)
More than three hundred students from Chinese universities and high schools gather in China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU) on Friday for the opening of Beijing Model United Nations 2011, the ninth of the theme events ever held in Beijing.
The 2011 conference is named “Voice of the Young”, which not only draws students from 49 prestigious universities and high schools from home, but participants from Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Nigeria.
CFAU, regarded as the “cradle of diplomats” in China, boasts a well-documented history in introducing MUN to Chinese mainland in 1995. This year is the eighth time for the university to host the Model UN gathering.
"Beijing Model United Nations Conference provides a unique platform for university students to promote understanding of international relations and global affairs. As the vanguard that first introduced MUN to China, CFAU is featured by a long and glorious MUN history," said Peng Pai, president of the Model UN Association of CFAU, in her welcome speech.
Zhang Xiao'an, Vice President of UN Association of China, shares her views on diplomatic skills with the audience at the opening ceremony of Voice of the Young - Beijing Model United Nations 2011 on Friday, April 8, 2011. (Photo: Youth.cn)
"Model UN is an combined art of language, persuasion, compromise and leadership," noted Ms Zhang Xiao'an, Vice President of UN Association of China, "no matter what you are going to do in the future, those qualities are very important in your future career."
Model United Nations is technically a mock UN conference where students will attend a string of sessions debating on hot-spot world issues in the identity of diplomats from different nations across the globe. The event is aimed to introduce young people to the operation of UN and inspire them to shoulder the responsibility of world affairs.
Sovereignty debt crisis, violence on children and food safety will make the key topics at this year’s model sessions. Delegates will draft a declaration to wrap up the conference following a fixed UN procedure.
BMUN 2011 will conclude on Sunday, 10 April.
Zhao Xi, Han Yuning and Liu Ge (from L to R), students of Beijing University of Technology, attend the opening ceremony of Voice of the Young - Beijing Model United Nations 2011 on Friday, April 8, 2011. (Photo: Youth.cn)
