Page 11 - 2020世界青年科学家峰会总结册

UN SUPPORT

In December 2020, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to all participants
of World Young Scientist Summit 2020, pointing out that “the declaration adopted by the
World Young Scientist Summit is an important expression of support for the role of science
in advancing human well-being and overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic” and thank all
participants for their support and contributions.

In the past two summits, the Summit has carried out good exchanges and interactions with
relevant United Nations agencies. Especially in 2020, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of
the founding of the United Nations, the Summit Secretariat has maintained close contact with
the 75th Anniversary Office of the United Nations. Six key activities, such as the Global Youth
Scientist Scholar Roundtable, the International Symposium of Resilient City and University
Startup World Cup 2020, are included in the series of activities to commemorate the 75th
anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

Jayathma Wickramanayake, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Youth, participated
in the Global Youth Scientist Scholar Roundtable and the deliberation process of the Summit
Declaration, and delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Summit. She said,
“As we look ahead to the next 75 years, young people’s contributions to scientific progress will
be the key to ensuring a better future for all in a world marked by ever increasing complexity and
interconnection.”

As one of the activities to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, University
Startup World Cup 2020 set up a Special Award, with representatives of the Office of the
Special Adviser on the Preparations of the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations (“the Office”)
serving as judges. Three projects, “HurRain” in Tsinghua University, China, “Safewheel-Rural
Mobile Rescue Solution” in Bangladesh Vocational University, and “FarmHut-Smart Agricultural
Technology Service Platform” in Zimbabwe National University of Science and Technology,
won the special award, and officials appointed by the United Nations presented the awards.
At the Global Finals and Awards Ceremony of University Startup World Cup 2020, led by
representatives of the Office, representatives of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, UNICEF,
UNDP, etc. jointly launched brainstorming on the theme of “Innovative, Sustainable Business
and the Future We Want”, offering suggestions for global youth innovation and startup and the
establishment of a sustainable development environment.

Nikil Seth, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the
United Nations Institute for Training and Research, Victor Kisob, Assistant Secretary-General of
the United Nations and Executive Deputy Director of UN-Habitat, Hillel Lowe, Special Assistant
to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and other senior United Nations officials were
invited to participate in the Summit activities. In 2020, Wang Meng, Executive Secretary of the
Summit Secretariat, was employed as a 15-member UNESCO Global Youth Climate Action
Network (YoU-CAN).

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