On May 23, the “2023 Forum on the Development of Xizang, China” was inaugurated in the Beijing Conference Center, co-hosted by the State Council Information Office and the People’s Government of Tibet (Xizang) Autonomous Region. The Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University organized the fourth sub-forum on the topic of “Younger Generation Contributing to the Construction of Ecological Civilization on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.” The sub-forum was attended by Xu Xinge, Executive Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Qinghai Provincial Party Committee, who delivered a speech. The sub-forum was divided into two sessions, separately moderated by CISS Deputy Director Xiao Qian, and Adham Sayed, Research Fellow at Zhejiang Gongshang University. The event was concluded by CISS Deputy Director Chen Qi.

The sub-forum invited more than 20 representatives from both domestic and foreign organizations, including foreign embassies in China, central ministries and commissions, local governments, enterprises, universities and media circles. Some of them are engaged in theoretical research on the construction of ecological civilization on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, while others work to protect the environment practically. Additionally, there were young scholars and students deeply involved in ecological and environmental protection on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. During the forum, participants conducted in-depth discussions and exchanges on issues such as the protection of the ecological environment of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and the contribution of younger generations, the construction of ecological civilization, and sustainable development. Many participants believed that the protection of the ecological environment of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is crucial, and young people should be encouraged to participate in the construction of a beautiful Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Younger generations should also be guided to contribute their strength to ecological civilization on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau as the best role models in this regard.

During his speech, Executive Deputy Director Xu Xinge of the Publicity Department of the Qinghai Provincial Party Committee emphasized the critical role played by Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in China’s ecological civilization construction thanks to its magnificent scenery. Xu also stated that the young generation represents the future of the country and the hopes of the nation. They should be encouraged to firmly believe in Xi Jinping’s thought on ecological civilization, and promote the development of ecological civilization in the new era. Li Sang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Department of Ecology and Environment of the Tibet (Xizang) Autonomous Region, introduced the specific practices and measures of the Party Committee and the government of the Tibet (Xizang) Autonomous Region in strengthening the construction of ecological civilization, based on the realities of ecological and environmental protection in Xizang. Furthermore, Fiji Ambassador to China Manasa Tagicakibau, Research Fellow Adham Sayed at Zhejiang Gongshang University, Editor Daniel Xu at the English Department of China Internet Information Center, and Doctoral Fellow Minh David Thao Chan of the Department of Electronic Engineering at Tsinghua University shared their experience of a seven-day visit to villages, schools and enterprises in Xizang. They highly admired the achievements made in rural revitalization, industrial development, cultural inheritance and relic protection, and ecological protection and called on more young people of Generation Z to contribute to the ecological and environmental preservation on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

During the forum, Shi Changsheng, Secretary of the Youth League Committee of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited, and Gong Dongchang, General Manager and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of State Grid Tibet Electric Power Company Limited, shared their experience of encouraging and supporting the “Generation Z” to contribute to the development of transportation and power sectors in Xizang. They emphasized the importance of engaging the younger generation in the construction of a beautiful Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Additionally, Research Fellow Ma Yaoming at the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Dzheni Madzharov at the Sofia University in Bulgaria, Professor Katarzyna Anna Nawrot at the Polish Academy of Sciences, Shuimu Tsinghua Scholar Zhou Xiongdong at the Department of Hydraulic Engineering at Tsinghua University, Postdoctoral Fellow Wang Taihua at Tsinghua University, and doctoral student Yue Siyu at the Department of Earth System Science at Tsinghua University shared their research results on topics such as climate change, biodiversity, ecological civilization construction, and sustainable development on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau from their respective research fields, and proposed concrete suggestions.

The “2023 Forum on the Development of Xizang, China” drew over 150 guests from 36 countries and regions to engage in extensive discussions on the theme of “New Era, New Xizang, and New Journey — A New Chapter in Xizang’s High-Quality Development and Human Rights Protection,” who exchanged ideas and delved deep into the topics at hand. It also recognized the recent strides made by Xizang in economic development, cultural preservation, ecological conservation and human rights protection.