To fully implement the national strategic plan for cultivating talents in global governance and support high-standard opening-up, the 149th Inspirational Lecture themed Youth Global Competence was held in the lecture hall of the University Library. Co-hosted by the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, the University Youth League Committee and the School of International Relations, the lecture invited Mr. Song Yunfu as the keynote speaker. Mr. Song once served as Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Department of the former Ministry of Health (now the International Cooperation Department of the National Health Commission) and former Coordinator for Partnerships and UN Reform at the World Health Organization.
With decades of frontline experience in foreign affairs and training young international talents, Mr. Song has long been engaged in international organization practice and global governance. His sharing centered on three major dimensions: First, global governance and international organizations. He elaborated on the core functions of UN specialized agencies, and illustrated China’s fruitful engagement in global governance with landmark cases including smallpox eradication and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Second, core competencies for international civil servants. He interpreted codes of conduct and recruitment principles for international civil servants, introduced entry pathways such as internships and young officer programmes, and recommended authoritative domestic and overseas platforms for exam preparation and training. Third, integration of national identity and global vision. He expounded the profound value of Chinese youth engaging in international organizations, and encouraged students of Dalian University of Foreign Languages to consolidate their foreign language proficiency, stand firm on China’s position, take an active part in international exchanges and cooperation, and seize practical opportunities to engage in global affairs.
The lecture effectively enhanced students’ global competence and laid a solid foundation for the university’s international-oriented education. Going forward, the university will further refine its international education framework, build multi-layered platforms for international exchanges, comprehensively improve students’ overall international literacy, and strive to cultivate versatile, globally-oriented and application-oriented talents with a strong sense of patriotism, broad global vision and solid professional expertise.
