Guests pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]

The fifth Canal Cities Model United Nations Conference (CCMUN) and the Global Citizens Model United Nations China Conference opened in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, on July 25.

Spanning four days, the event attracted nearly 500 students from China and abroad, including around 60 teachers and students from the United States and Europe.

During the conference, the youth delegates, following the regulations of the UN meetings, represented different countries and engaged in discussions on international hot topics such as global AI technology sharing, rare disease research and treatment cooperation, and refugee protection.

Participants in the event pose for a group photo on the day of their arrival in Wuxi on July 24. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]

In his address, Zhan Yi, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Wuxi municipal people's government, said that Wuxi, as an important city along the Grand Canal, has long been committed to promoting the inheritance and innovation of canal culture. He pointed out that the city will take this conference as an opportunity to further strengthen cooperation with cities at home and abroad, promote mutual learning and integration of diverse cultures through exchanges in culture, education, and other fields, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Huang Ping, vice-chairman of the China-US People's Friendship Association, emphasized the importance of people-to-people exchanges in China-US relations in his speech. He said that the CCMUN provides a valuable platform for dialogue between young Chinese and Americans, contributing to enhanced understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

An ice-breaking session takes place before the event commences. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]

Sophie Muller, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in China, delivered a speech via video, praising the CCMUN for participating in the UNHCR MUN Refugee Challenge for another year. She looks forward to young people engaging in more dialogues and making more contributions to world peace and development.

Launched in 2021, CCMUN is a flagship event jointly created by Window of Philadelphia and Deno International Education. It is dedicated to providing professional MUN conferences, MUN clubs, and related academic courses and programs, giving more young people the opportunity to engage with and participate in MUN activities.