The 2025 International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage Along the Silk Road kicks off on Nov. 19 in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. [Photo/ciste.org.cn]
The 2025 International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage Along the Silk Road opened on Nov. 19 in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. Co-hosted by UNESCO, the China National Commission for UNESCO, the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations, as well as the Nanjing municipal government. This year's forum is themed "Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Youth Advancing Heritage Protection and Transmission."
The event brought together 76 young representatives from 45 countries, along with officials from international organizations, cultural heritage specialists, and government delegates. They explored new digital pathways for safeguarding heritage in the digital era.
In a video address, China's Vice Minister of Education Ren Youqun emphasized the government's longstanding commitment to youth development. Since 2017, China has hosted eight editions of the forum, providing a platform that empowers young people to promote heritage protection through innovation and creativity. He encouraged young people to uphold the spirit of the Silk Road and contribute fresh ideas to digital heritage preservation.
Lidia Brito, the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, highlighted the forum as a demonstration of UNESCO's commitment to supporting youth as key drivers of the UN 2030 Agenda. She noted the Silk Road has long served as a channel for cultural exchange, and the UNESCO programs such as the Silk Roads Youth Research Grant continue to strengthen youth participation in cultural connectivity.
Ji Tiejun, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Nanjing Municipal Committee, described the city as an increasingly important hub for Belt and Road exchanges and also called for deeper youth cooperation to help build a shared future for humanity.
The keynote session, focusing on the power of youth in cultural-tech innovation, featured five experts who presented frontier case studies. Speakers emphasized that while technology continues to advance rapidly, culture remains a guiding "compass," with young people acting as essential bridges between tradition and innovation.
The forum also hosted an awards ceremony for the "Beauty of My Hometown" global youth creativity competition. Initiated by Nanjing and now in its third year, the 2025 edition received video, visual art, and literary submissions from young creators across 29 countries under the theme "Folk Stories from My Hometown."
Young representatives pose for a group photo at the forum. [Photo/ciste.org.cn]
Following the forum, youth delegates visited Nanjing University, Alibaba's Jiangsu headquarters and the Nanjing City Wall Museum. They took part in hands-on "digital creation" activities with the experiences aiming to shift youth from passive learners to active contributors. They were offered a variety of practical and sustainable solutions for heritage conservation along the Belt and Road.
Since its launch in 2017, the International Youth Forum on Creativity and Heritage Along the Silk Road has welcomed more than 700 young participants from 138 countries. It has fast become a key cultural platform supporting both the Belt and Road Initiative and the UN 2030 Agenda.
Source: VOC
