Lessons beyond diplomacy

International outlook

Li Shenrui from Heilongjiang University has been active in the MUN since 2013.

"At first, I saw it as a chance to improve my English," says the 21-year-old. "But now I think it gives me an insight into the world."

For Li, the MUN offers him a platform to communicate with delegates from different committees or diverse cultural backgrounds and learn more about the social realities of other countries.

"If all of us could take part in these kinds of activities, provocative comments on global issues might reduce," says Li.

Meanwhile, about two thirds of the student delegates at the International Monetary Fund were from courses other than economics or finance, according to Zhang Qian, the director of the committee and an English major at the CFAU.

"But the conference discussed topics, such as virtual currency and financial security, which concern all of us," says Zhang.

"I hope the delegates learned about global economic development and have their own views on related issues."

Wu Yihan, a Dannish major sophomore at Beijng Foreign Studies University, was chosen as the best delegate at UNESCO this year.

"I had to learn about Danish society and culture, for which I needed to analyze the country's domestic situation and international relations." says Wu, who traveled to the Harvard National Model United Nations at her own expense in February.

"The performances of my foreign counterparts spurred me on to narrow the gap between us," she says.

Youth responsibility

Speaking about the BIMUN 2018 theme "youth responsibility for a shared future", Wang Xiaohua, a 16-year-old delegate from Hefei No 8 Senior High School says the event highlighted the problem of global sustainable development, which reminds young people about the problems facing humanity and the planet. And influenced by the MUN, Wu plans to study public policy or international affairs in the US two years from now before working for an NGO.

Outlining how the event helps young people, look at the world and future problems, she says: "About 30 Chinese delegates discussed artificial intelligence and its potential impact on society. This will surely now be discussed by them with their friends and schoolmates. As a result, many more young people will now have a better idea about AI, and the potential problems it may bring."