Facilitate "Beijing Consensus"; the Future of Animal Welfare Lies in Youth
On September 19-20th 2019, “3rd World Conference on Farm Animal Welfare” was held in Qingdao. The conference was jointly co-hosted by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation (CAPIAC). The conference featured “Consumer-driven Quality Improvement: Assuring Animal and Human Health”. At the opening ceremony, "Beijing Consensus" ceremony was held.
This year, in addition to the release of the first "five-year plan", the chairing of two middle school students at the ceremony was also a highlight of "Beijing Consensus". They were Kong Huixiang and Xu Kaijie from Beijing National Day School. They were much honored to have the opportunity of chairing such an important international event.
Kong Huixiang and Xu Kaijie chaired "Beijing Consensus" ceremony
In 2018, Kong Huixiang participated in the launching ceremony of "Beijing Consensus" as a volunteer. During 2nd World Conference on Farm Animal Welfare, Beijing Consensus had been jointly advocated and signed by 16 organizations. It embodied the wisdom and strength of authoritative animal welfare organizations, aiming to improve global animal welfare and human health and to promote environment-friendly development. After one year of work, "Beijing Consensus" had gradually shifted from frameworks to specific actions. Witnessing the progress of “Beijing Consensus”, Kong Huixiang was committed to making his contribution to animal welfare development.
Kong Huixiang chaired "Beijing Consensus" ceremony
Kong Huixiang said: "As a student, I am very happy that this international conference has brought me changes, so that I have an international perspective. I not only care about myself, but also care about the future of animals, the environment and the earth." As to how to support animal welfare development, Kong Huixiang said: "I was a volunteer in 'Beijing Consensus' launching ceremony last year. As a chair this year, I want to have more in-depth participation. I hope to use AI technology to help raise the welfare level of more animals.”
Xu Kaijie chaired "Beijing Consensus" ceremony
The youth is the future and hope of the country. Similarly, the future of animal welfare lies in youth. As Xu Kaijie said: “Animal welfare is not an unreachable topic, even middle school students like us can contribute to animal welfare. For example, as a member of our school’s firefly public welfare community, I can organize rescue activities for stray cats and dogs."
"Beijing Consensus" not only embodies the wisdom and strength of many animal welfare organizations around the world, but also spreads the seeds of sustainable animal husbandry development in the hearts of the next generation of the motherland. "Blue is extracted from the indigo plant but is bluer than the latter", and the progress of animal welfare is inseparable from the efforts of young people.
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that the value orientation of the youth determines the value orientation of the entire society in the future. Together with these aspiring young people, "Beijing Consensus" will facilitate the spreading of animal welfare concepts and make more contributions to animal welfare in the future.
