From December 14 to 16, the 6th BRICS Young Diplomats Forum (YDF) and Emerging Markets and Developing Countries Young Diplomats Forum were held online. More than 50 young diplomats from China, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates attended the forum. Xu Zhongsheng, Vice Chancellor of China Diplomatic Academy (CDA), Zhang Lei, Counsellor of the Department of International Economic Affairs of China's Foreign Ministry, and Ma Xinyu, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU) attended the opening ceremony and a number of events including “the role of diplomacy in exchanges in health, culture and science and technology”.

At the opening ceremony, Vice Chancellor Xu delivered a welcome speech and Counsellor Zhang gave a keynote speech. Vice Chancellor Xu said that the world is at an important turning point in the post-epidemic era with both opportunities and challenges. The economy-driven and development-oriented BRICS mechanism has emphasized mutual respect and win-win cooperation among its members. It has injected stability into the world by demonstrating the spirit of solidarity, coordination, and mutual help in dealing with global crises and challenges. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress clearly pointed out that China will stay committed to deepening and expanding global partnerships based on equality, openness, and cooperation, and broadening the convergence of interests with other countries. China will continue to actively advance partnerships with emerging market countries and developing countries and set an example of global cooperation. It is hoped that young diplomats from all countries will gain from this forum a deeper understanding of the crucial role that diplomacy plays in cooperation in health, culture, science and technology, and will continue to strengthen exchanges, deepen friendship and promote cooperation.

Counsellor Zhang said that BRICS has become a high-level, multi-dimensional and all-round cooperation mechanism. In today’s increasingly complex and unstable world, the BRICS mechanism has injected strength into the global economic and political stability. China, which held the rotating BRICS presidency in 2022, organized a series of events and meetings, which yielded tangible and groundbreaking results. General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative(GDI), which is China’s major initiative to accelerate the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. All are welcomed to join China’s international initiative to prioritize youth development under the GDI framework.

Representatives of Russia, South Africa, Brazil, and other BRICS members commended the BRICS cooperation on its commitment to the mutual benefits and the promotion of inclusive development, holding that the forum has created a platform for interaction and exchanges among young diplomats from different regions including BRICS countries, Islamic countries, Asia and Europe. The BRICS mechanism will certainly play a greater role in major international and regional affairs.

Representatives of Ethiopia, Indonesia, and other countries said that the forum was informative and hailed the in-depth interaction. During the forum, young diplomats from different countries had candid talks and learned from each other, expanding their horizons and improving their capabilities. And they looked forward to continuing to participate in related activities of the forum in the future.

In his closing remarks, Vice Chancellor Xu highly appreciated the action-oriented, informative and forward-looking forum centering on health, culture and science and technology. He called the active participation of young diplomats from relevant countries a vivid manifestation of the open and inclusive partnerships between BRICS countries and other countries, and a useful trial for the high-quality development of “BRICS Plus” cooperation in the future. Vice Chancellor Xu used three key words “share, shine and shape” as a recap on the forum and an outlook on cooperation in the future, saying that facing the future, focusing on cooperation, and promoting growth are the characteristics and requirements for the development of the forum. Young diplomats from all countries need to be more united and take practical actions to promote true multilateralism, better safeguard common interests, achieve prosperity and development, and jointly build a better future for humanity. It is believed that YDF will contribute more to the cooperation between emerging markets and developing countries.