Documentary Post-80s in the UN premieres at UN headquarters

China's envoy to the United Nations on Tuesday said that the UN has remained the core of the international system over the past eight decades, and young people play an indispensable role in carrying forward its mission.

Geng Shuang, charge d'affaires of China's Permanent Mission to the UN, made the remarks at the global premiere of the bilingual documentary Post-80s in the UN at UN headquarters in New York. The event, held as part of the UN's 80th anniversary commemorations, drew more than 200 participants, including senior UN officials, permanent representatives, diplomats and media representatives.

"The term 'post-80s' in the documentary's title refers to a generation born in the 1980s — now in their mid-30s and 40s," said Geng. "In this documentary, through the moving stories of ordinary people, we see the extraordinary achievements of the UN.

"We follow the stories of several post-80s young people: from a refugee camp in Kenya to a peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste, from the front line of humanitarian relief in Gaza to the fight against maritime crime in the Indian Ocean. We witness their smiles and hopes, but also their hardships and pressure, even pains and tears," he said.

Geng said he was proud to see Chinese faces featured in the film, noting that many Chinese staff members are serving at the UN with professionalism and dedication. "Your presence is a living testament to China's broad engagement in global affairs, as well as China's wholehearted contribution to the United Nations," he said.

Geng said he hopes that more young Chinese professionals would join the organization in the future, bringing expertise, cultural confidence and global vision to the work of the UN.

Produced jointly by the UN Department of Global Communications and Shanghai Media Group International, the documentary was filmed across four continents and follows UN staff working on the frontlines of peacekeeping, humanitarian relief, development and climate action.

It highlights stories such as a Sudanese refugee who became a UN High Commissioner for Refugees officer, a Chinese peacekeeper with years of mission experience, a Korean legal expert combating maritime crime, a Chinese climate specialist in the Pacific, and a Palestinian humanitarian doctor in Gaza.

Senior UN officials including Felipe Paullier, assistant secretary-general for youth affairs, and Ian Phillips, officer-in-charge of the Department of Global Communications, attended the premiere. Paullier said the film shows how a new generation of international civil servants is carrying forward the ideals of the UN despite global challenges.

The documentary will be broadcast through the UN's official platforms to audiences in more than 190 countries and regions, and will premiere on China's Dragon TV and online platforms later this month.

minluzhang@chinadailyusa.com