In order to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee, to carry out the spirit of the National Education Conference, to continuously enhance the international influence of Jiangxi's education, to actively participate in global education governance, to expand exchanges between Chinese and foreign youth, to broaden international horizons, and to enhance the comprehensive quality of students, the opening ceremony of the "Integrating the World, Sharing the Future"—Nanchang "Tengwang Pavilion Cup" 2024 International Model United Nations Conference was successfully held on the morning of December 14 at Nanchang Foreign Language School. The event was guided by the United Network Europe (UNE), the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education, and the Organizing Committee of the Canal Cities Model United Nations Conference, hosted by the Nanchang Municipal Education Bureau, the Nanchang Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, and the Window to Philadelphia, and organized by Nanchang Foreign Language School and Denuo International Education Group.
The ceremony was attended by Hu Xiaohai, Member of the Standing Committee of the Nanchang Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of Nanchang; Cui Chuanpeng, Deputy Secretary-General of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Full-time Deputy Chairman of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, and Vice Chairman of the Pingxiang Municipal Committee of the CPPCC; Lei Jiehua, Second-level Inspector of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education; Wu Zuowen, Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Division of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education; Huang Yan, Secretary of the Nanchang Municipal Education Working Committee and Director of the Nanchang Municipal Education Bureau; Niu Likun, Party Secretary and Director of the Nanchang Foreign Affairs Office; Riccardo Messina, President of the United Network Europe (UNE); Stacy Lyon, Deputy Superintendent of the Utah State Board of Education; Lindsay Bowman, President of Harrisburg University of Science and Technology; Susan Zhang, President of Denuo International Education Group; Yu Ting, Full-time Deputy Chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy; Huang Aibing, Deputy Director of the Jiangxi Provincial Education International Cooperation and Teacher Development Center; Yang Changxu, Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Division of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Song Xiaobing, Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Jiangxi Industry and Trade Vocational College; Cai Jiusheng, Director of the Nanchang Education Evaluation, Monitoring, and Technology Promotion Center; Xiong Qi, Party Secretary of Nanchang Foreign Language School; Li Xiaolu, Principal of Nanchang Foreign Language School; Deng Qing, Director of the International Exchange Committee of the World Canal Cities Cooperation Organization (WCCO); Liu Jian, Executive Director of the Window to Philadelphia; Xing Sanduo, Secretary-General of the National Working Research Association of Foreign Language Schools; Zha Weixu, General Manager of Jiangxi iFlytek; and leaders from 15 sister foreign language schools and participating schools across the country. More than 400 participants and instructors from around the world attended the opening ceremony.
Hu Xiaohai, Member of the Standing Committee of the Nanchang Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of Nanchang, delivered a speech. He first extended a warm welcome and sincere greetings to the leaders, guests, and participating representatives. He stated that Nanchang is an open and inclusive city, and with the deepening of international cooperation and exchanges, Sino-foreign educational and cultural exchanges have become an important engine for promoting the high-quality development of Nanchang's education. Nanchang is committed to deepening local and inter-school cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, striving to enhance teachers' understanding of international education and broaden students' international horizons. This conference is one of the series of achievements of Nanchang's active efforts to promote exchanges and visits between Chinese and foreign youth, and it is also a vivid manifestation of promoting the high-level opening up of Nanchang's education.
Lei Jiehua, Second-level Inspector of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education, delivered a speech. He hoped that the participating representatives would deeply consider global issues, respect different cultures and perspectives, and seek consensus through debate and discussion. He also hoped that the attending schools and educational colleagues would adhere to integrity and innovation, actively contribute, leverage their advantages, expand deep-level exchanges, broaden communication channels, enrich the content of exchanges, and make good use of dialogue platforms, exchange projects, and cooperation mechanisms in various fields.
Riccardo Messina, President of the United Network Europe (UNE), delivered a speech. He pointed out that the Model United Nations Conference is a platform for learning and growth, and he hoped that young talents could learn valuable experiences and knowledge from it, enhance their comprehensive quality and abilities, and expand their international vision, leadership skills, communication skills, and team spirit.
Stacy Lyon, Deputy Superintendent of the Utah State Board of Education, delivered a speech. She stated that this conference should be used as an opportunity to actively carry out Sino-US educational exchanges and cooperation, enhance mutual understanding, and develop long-lasting friendships.
The Party Secretary of Nanchang Foreign Language School delivered a speech. She expressed that the school is honored to host this conference, which is a testament to the trust and support of leaders at all levels and people from all walks of life. She briefly reviewed the 30-year history of Nanchang Foreign Language School and expressed full confidence in hosting this conference with high quality.
Subsequently, the leaders and guests took the stage to jointly launch the opening screen, announcing the official opening of the "Integrating the World, Sharing the Future"—Nanchang "Tengwang Pavilion Cup" 2024 International Model United Nations Conference.
The conference will last for three days. Nearly 400 participants from more than 30 schools around the world will strictly follow the operating mechanisms of seven committees, including the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and the Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Committee, to discuss global issues such as environmental protection and development, future urban development, technological innovation and cooperation, and the rights of different groups. The conference will award prizes for Best Delegate, Outstanding Delegate, Honorable Mention, Best Position Paper, and other awards.
