Wu Jianmin Foundation launches a Visiting Program for Youths – Experience the United Nations

Ambassador Wu Jianmin devoted his life to China's diplomacy, struggling to safeguard the benefit of the country and its people throughout his life. As a diplomat of the PRC, Ambassador Wu had a deep-rooted connection to the United Nations. As China resumed its legal seat in the UN in 1971, he became a member of the first Chinese delegation to the UN; he served as head of the research team and the members of the party committee of the Permanent Mission of the PRC to the UN since 1987, and the representative of the Permanent Mission of the PRC to the UN Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland from 1996 to 1998.

As Ambassador Wu said, the United Nations is a window for diplomats of all countries, a university for diplomats, and the most important multilateral diplomatic arena in the world. Here, outstanding diplomats of various countries have fully demonstrated their wisdom, greatly benefiting everyone engaged in their work. Here, you can learn how to use the procedures and rules to handle multilateral international affairs, listen to the wonderful speeches of diplomatic giants, understand the principles and arts in diplomatic negotiations and rhetoric battle over foreign affairs, broaden your vision and hone your ability. Here, you can witness the ferocious debate at meetings and experience the deliberation for major resolutions.

In view of this, the Beijing WJF launched the “Experience the United Nations” Visiting Program for Youths, aiming to provide global practice opportunities for outstanding young students willing to engage in foreign affairs, enabling them to directly get in touch with international affairs, broaden their vision, and deepen their roots, so as to lay a better foundation for becoming good diplomats.

The WJF will work with the China Foreign Affairs University. From 2018 onwards, the "Beijing International Model United Nations" will set up the "Ambassador Wu Jianmin Award," which will be granted to 5-10 students selected from the candidates who voluntarily get registered, submit their thesis papers and perform well at the Assembly. They will be invited to participate in the learning activities in Switzerland, visit the Permanent Mission of China to the UN at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, and exchange and dialogue with Chinese officials.

Model United Nations (MUN), is a meeting that simulates the UN and other international agencies by following their means of operation and principles of procedure in dealing with hot international issues. At the MUN, young people will be able to get familiar with the operation of the UN, and develop an interest in the work of the UN and a sense of responsibility for international affairs. .

CFAU has been hailed as "the cradle of Chinese diplomats." As early as in 1995, it took lead in introducing this activity from Yale University, and has successfully hosted 13 sessions of national "Beijing Model United Nations" since 2002. As a pioneer introducer, CFAU has a long and glorious history of MUN. The annual Beijing Model United Nations hosted by CFAU demonstrates the top academic level of China's MUN and is a banner of MUN activities nationwide. The Beijing Model United Nations officially changed its name to Beijing International Model United Nations (BIMUN)in 2017.

In 2018, the BIMUN plans to further expand the scope of the conference and engagement, with 119 well-known universities and 51 well-known high schools invited to participate. A total of 12 committees were set up, including the Chinese Language Council, the English Language Council, the French Language Council, the Spanish Language Council, and the Press Center, etc., to cover all the 17 SDGs. In addition, the BIMUN plans to invite a number of foreign chairmen and representatives from Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia, etc. It is scheduled to be held at the CFAU Shahe Campus from May 10 to May 13, 2018, with "Youth Responsibility, Common Destiny" as its theme.