SCIO press conference on white paper 'Youth of China in the New Era'
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 27, 2022
CRNTT:
Youth volunteers made significant contributions to the successful hosting of a splendid, exceptional, and extraordinary Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the phrase of "Youth of China in the New Era" appears many times in this white paper. What are the distinctive characteristics of China's youth in the new era? Thank you.
He Junke:
I will take this question. About 20,000 volunteers served the Beijing 2022, showcasing quite a fine image of the Chinese youth. Volunteers serving in competition venues remained there and worked really hard for two to three months with a strong sense of devotion and sacrifice. Their outstanding performance has won applause from the International Olympic Committee and the entire society. These volunteers epitomize the youth of China. People tend to be judgmental towards younger generations. We used to doubt whether the youth born in the 1980s, the 1990s, or the 2000s could shoulder the heavy tasks of the times. Lots of observations and practices have echoed what General Secretary Xi Jinping said about the vigorous youth: they are the most vibrant and the most creative group of society.
The youth of China today impress me in the following aspects: First, they are firmer in ideals. We are often touched by their love for the leader of the Party, their confidence, belief, and trust in the Party and the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, as well as their full assurance in the future of the country's development. Both domestic and foreign surveys show that 80-90% of Chinese people, including the youth, have confidence and trust in their country and government, a ratio that remains the highest among all countries. The youth don't just say it but firmly put it into practice. Among the excellent examples of the youth we award, some are college graduates turned village officials, some are innovators and pioneers in the field of science and technology, and some are hard-working young people dedicated to ordinary jobs, all demonstrating the lofty value of pursuit.
Second, they have stronger intellectual foundations. In 2021, the gross enrollment rate in higher education reached 57.8%, which means that a majority of youth have the opportunity to receive higher education. We also notice that a large number of young people find ways to add to their knowledge base after work: Some seek continuing on-campus education for adults, while others pursue on-the-job postgraduate education, trying to keep up with the pace of knowledge renewal to enrich their thoughts. They are much more creative and are bursting with innovative ideas. Many young people have shouldered important responsibilities in implementing the country's major programs. In some emerging areas defined by innovation, such as the information technology service, cultural and sports entertainment, and sci-tech application services, more than half of the workforce is young people, exemplifying the innovative spirit and intellectual foundation of the youth.
Third, they are confident and optimistic. Frustrations and pressures surely make them dismayed or confused for a short time, yet overcoming all the difficulties only leaves them even more resilient, more candid, more self-assured, and more socially adaptive.
A questionnaire we launched on the emotions of China's young people showed that more than 80% of the respondents believed that they were capable of managing their emotions, which is very gratifying.
Fourth, they are very responsible. People used to think the youth of the 1990s and the 2000s lived an easy life and may not be able to take on heavy tasks. However, the major tests posed by the poverty alleviation campaign, COVID-19 response, as well as flood relief testified that they are responsible enough. In daily life, many youth who work hard at their posts, be it border guards, ordinary laborers, deliverymen, or ride-hailing drivers, are fulfilling their responsibilities to families and society through solid and industrious efforts.
Our work involves a fairly large number of volunteers. For 18 consecutive years, we organized volunteers to support education in remote and underdeveloped regions through the Go West program, engaging more than 400,000 virtuous, capable youth. Such experiences enabled them to develop in an all-around way. We have established a national database for youth volunteers, and so far, over 90 million are in the pool. Each year, many volunteers provide services to society through very good performance. As we have mentioned, most of the volunteers systematically mobilized to serve national games or exhibitions are college students who demonstrate a very good image of the youth.
Fifth, they have a broader vision. Nowadays, the post-figurative, co-figurative, and pre-figurative culture has become a topic. The youth today know much more than their elders. Every year, hundreds of thousands of youth study abroad, which might affected slightly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And we also see roughly the same number of overseas returnees start their careers in China. Also, the youth get to know the world better and develop a broader vision through surfing the internet and making acquaintances with some of the hundreds of thousands of foreigners studying in China. They can value the relations between China and the world in a more objective and comprehensive way. To sum it up, we need to carefully protect and respect the youth of the new era and tap into their full potential. Thank you.
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