'I started participating in the Model United Nations (MUN) activities when I was in middle school. In high school, I competed in the Beijing MUN, the premier national MUN gathering in China organized by China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU). That sowed the seed of my dream to study at the university and take part in the organization of this event," Lu Zhiyuan told Beijing Review. Today, he is a senior student at his dream college and serves as president of the CFAU Model United Nations Association. In doing so, he has realized that teenage dream.

MUN simulations are popular exercises for those interested in learning more about how the UN operates. Hundreds of thousands of students worldwide take part every year at all educational levels—from primary school to university. Many of today's leaders in law, government, business and the arts—including at the UN itself—participated in MUN conferences as students, the UN website reads. The program was first introduced into China by the CFAU, known as the cradle of China's diplomats, in 1995. The association, in turn, was founded in 2001 and has organized 13 editions of MUN activities to date.

In 2017, the Beijing MUN was renamed the Beijing International Model United Nations (BIMUN). Meanwhile, it adopted the Beijing Rules of Procedure. This move marked a new stage of development for the BIMUN and indicated the greater mission and responsibility it shoulders.

Cui Qiming, Secretary of the CFAU Committee of the Communist Party of China and former Chinese Ambassador to Belarus, said in over two decades, MUN activities have helped the participants cultivate a greater awareness of global citizenship, expand their vision and enhance their abilities in dealing with sophisticated issues.

Many of the participating students joined diplomatic services after college graduation and are working hard to make China's voice heard in the international arena.

A platform 

This year's BIMUN conference took place from May 20 to 23. About 650 students from more than 160 high schools and universities were divided into 10 groups. They discussed topics such as the Korean Peninsula peace process, global population aging, post-COVID-19 tourism revival and the role of women in peacekeeping operations.

Designated to represent different countries, regions or organizations, the participants need to understand the issues at their core, maintain their own position firmly during the debates while avoiding failing to reach a draft resolution because of occurring differences. Nicolas Chapuis, Ambassador of the EU to China, told Beijing Review that it is an opportunity for young people to understand the reality of diplomatic exchanges and put what they have learned into practice.

In recent years, President Xi Jinping has made clear China's commitment to multilateralism on many international occasions, placing higher requirements on China's active participation in global governance and the training of diplomatic personnel for international institutions.

"This is a practical platform to cultivate potential diplomats," Wu Hongbo, Special Representative of the Chinese Government for European Affairs and former Under Secretary General of the UN, said at the opening ceremony of this year's BIMUN edition.

According to Lu, some 120 members of his association took seven months to prepare for BIMUN 2021, including research of the topics for debate, composition of study guides and rule setting. "Everything was going well as we have gained experience. At the same time, our members have their coordination skills improved while communicating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN organizations and foreign diplomatic missions in China," he said. 

This year, in the context of COVID-19, the event took place for the first time both offline and online. The competitions for French and Spanish majors were held virtually. "With fewer participants, we broke new ground. If it works well, we will invite more participants from all over the world in the future," Lu added.

Once a participant, Lu said the BIMUN not only serves to improve the caliber of its participants, but also helps to promote the exchanges, mutual learning, and cooperation among them. For example, "The UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should never be empty talk. They should be a mission for the youth and inspire us to contribute to their realization," he said. 

In 2018, a program was established by a foundation created by Wu Jianmin, former Chinese Ambassador to France and President of the CFAU who passed away in 2016. Every year, 10 people selected from the participants and organizers of the event will be awarded visits to the UN agencies in Geneva. However, the winners will only be able to go to agencies or representative offices of international organizations in China this year due to the pandemic.

Growing influence 

The BIMUN has received great support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. In recent years, its influence has expanded significantly.

UN Secretary General António Guterres sent a video message to this year's edition. "Our world faces an unprecedented crisis that is causing widespread human suffering, upending lives, devastating the global economy and risking reversals of hard-won progress toward the SDGs," he said. He also congratulated the hosting of the conference in 2021 going forward as scheduled at this trying time, saying the unwavering commitment of young people to international cooperation is essential in tackling the pandemic.

"I draw great hope from seeing your generation mobilize to address the challenges of our time and to build a healthier, more equitable and sustainable future for all," he said.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the UN, and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the CFAU Model United Nations Association. Xu Jian, President of the CFAU, said the BIMUN activities are expected to enable the participants to understand and become familiar with the operations of the UN and other international institutions. "We also hope they can make their due contributions to world peace and development and human progress through these platforms in the future," he added.

(Print Edition Title: Getting Started On Campus) 

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon 

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