Opening Remarks by Mr James George at the 2024 Youth National Dialogue

November 29, 2024

a screen shot of a computer — UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in China, James George, delivered opening remarks at the 2024 Youth National Dialogue in Beijing, China

Mr. Zhang Yi, Deputy Director-General of CICETE

Ms. Xu Jincao, Deputy Director of Experience Center of SCLSCC (Soong Ching Ling Science & Culture Center for Young People)

Mr. Teng Hongjun, Executive Vice President of Citibank China,

Dear Youth entrepreneurs,

Good morning,

It is with great pleasure that I address you today at the 7th Youth National Dialogue, with the theme of “Green Entrepreneurship”.

As we gather here, in the presence of like-minded individuals who share a passion for sustainability and entrepreneurship, there is no doubt that the challenges our world faces have become infinitely more complex.

2024 has shown climate calamity is now commonplace.

As UN Secretary General António Guterres recently emphasized at COP29, “We are in the final countdown to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.”

There is only a 14% chance of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees by the end of this century.

Climate action is not optional, it’s imperative.

At UNDP, we understand the pivotal role that young people play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially through innovation and entrepreneurship.

Ladies and gentlemen and friends,

7 years ago, the UNDP regional office in the Asia-Pacific started the Youth Co:Lab journey alongside Citi Foundation, allowing us to witness the remarkable impact that young entrepreneurs can have on society.

I’m proud that in 2019, the Song Ching Ling Foundation, SCLSCC and CICETE joined hands with us to anchor this endeavor in China.

Over the past six years, the National Dialogue has supported over 300 Chinese young social entrepreneurs to incorporate the SDGs into their startup missions.

Since 2021, we have collaborated with private sector companies to establish the Youth Innovation Grant, providing funding to startups to enhance their scalability and attract further investments.

To date, the grant has funded a total of 16 startups, and this year, I’m happy to see that CVC Capital is providing grants to 2 more.

"The choices we make today will determine the future and shape the world that our children and grandchildren will inherit."

In partnership with Tsinghua X-lab, we also developed 12 online courses for youth startups this year as part of the National Springboard Programme to provide valuable insights, practical tools, and real-world case studies to equip young innovators with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills.

It is my hope that you will take advantage of these resources and opportunities, to take your ideas to the next level and realize your ambitions to help solve our world’s most pressing issues.

Indeed, as youth – your initiatives are beacons of hope, shining brightly in a world that often seems shrouded in darkness.

From renewable energy solutions to eco-friendly businesses, from sustainable agriculture to green technology, the avenues for innovation are vast, and your potential is limitless.

Take Star Gallery for example, a youth-led start-up from last year’s National Dialogue cohort that is helping autistic children with physical and mental rehabilitation through AI technology and art therapy.

Or Mr. Liu Jichen and Ms. Wang Hanyuan, who were named SDG Young Leaders in 2020 and 2022 respectively by the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth for their leadership and contribution to a more sustainable world – two of just 17 awardees from around the world in those two years and the only ones from China.

This year, we have 60 young people from 30 start-ups that were selected from a total of 237 start-ups that applied.

I want to congratulate you on being chosen to participate in this important event, and I am confident that you will continue to build on the strong legacy that participants from previous years have helped to establish.

Going forward, UNDP China is committed to continue its work with government, civil society, the private sector, and impact financing institutions to strengthen the social entrepreneurial ecosystem and create a more supportive environment for youth-led initiatives aligned with the SDGs.

In closing, I extend my deepest gratitude to our partners, CICETE, the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, SCLSCC, and Citibank China, for their unwavering support in nurturing ingenuity and sustainability in the hearts and minds of young entrepreneurs.

Together, we can inspire the kind of innovative spirit that will endure for generations to come.

Young people – as you set forth on this exciting journey, remember that the future belongs to those who dare to dream, to those who are willing to take risks, and to those who believe in the power of their own ideas.

I wish you a productive and fruitful journey ahead.

Thank you and “Jia You”.