On November 29, 2022, the first Asia-Europe Young Leaders Campus themed “Building Global Partnership for Green Development” was held in Xi’an, China. Hosted by the All-China Youth Federation and the Organizing Committee of the World Youth Development Forum and organized by the Shaanxi Youth Federation and the Foreign Affairs Office of Shaanxi Province, the event brought together more than 100 experts and youth representatives from across Asia and Europe for dialogues on green economy, ecosystems, climate change, low-carbon innovation, biodiversity, and youth engagement.

Zhang Lirong, secretary general of China Forum under Tsinghua University’s Center for International Security and Strategy, was invited to deliver a keynote speech on international cooperation on green development. COP27 was a strong impetus to the global climate endeavor, but it is also important to see the daunting climate challenges ahead, said Zhang.

He took stock of China’s achievements in air pollution control and ecological conservation over the past decade, and highlighted its commitment to green development. Although achieving its “dual carbon” goal requires unprecedented and even painful economic and energy restructuring, China is devoted to delivering those targets in a bid to build the community with a shared future for humankind.

There is ample room for cooperation between Asia and Europe in new energy and other green sectors, said Zhang. Addressing ecological and environmental challenges requires not only stronger cooperation among governments and international organizations, but also among businesses, universities, media and civil society organizations. He called for enhanced communication on those topics between young people in Asia and Europe, so that it might bring breakthroughs for solving more global challenges.