Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the World Youth Development Forum on Thursday.

The youth represent hope and are the architects of the future, Xi said in the letter, noting that China always regards young people as the driving force of social development and encourages them to unleash their youthful vitality when participating in and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. 

Xi expressed his hope that the forum will become an important platform where young people worldwide can contribute to global development. He also called for global efforts to promote youth development. 

Young people across the world should advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity, Xi said. 

He also called on the youth to promote the Global Development Initiative with concrete actions and facilitate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The forum is being held online and offline from July 21 to 23, with nearly 2,000 youth representatives from over 100 countries in attendance, according to the event organizer.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: Chinese youth participate in a running activity at the Beijing Winter Olympics Youth Oath-taking Rally at Big Air Shougang in Beijing, China, April 27, 2021. /VCG)