PR100596

NANJING, China, Dec. 27, 2023 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--

On December 19, the "Silk Road Hearts Connect" International Voluntary Service

Seminar, organized by the International Volunteer Service Working Committee and

hosted by the International Volunteer Service Working Committee Secretariat and

Nanjing Civilization Office, took place in Nanjing. Experts, scholars, and

youth representatives from international institutions, research institutes, and

NGOs in the field of volunteer service gathered to exchange experiences and

achievements in promoting sustainable development through voluntary service.

The event also marked the release of the "Collection of Results of Gen Z

International Volunteering Practice."

Nanjing, with its rich historical and cultural heritage, has consistently

embodied traditional virtues of benevolence and solidarity, coupled with an

open and inclusive urban attitude. The International Volunteer Service Working

Committee was officially established on April 27, 2022, with its secretariat

located in Nanjing, showcasing the city's significance in the realm of

voluntary service. Addressing the gathering, Jing Disheng, Director of Nanjing

Civilization Office, expressed confidence in Nanjing's role in advancing

voluntary service globally and turning it into a vivid representation of modern

Nanjing's practices.

Duan Guiqing, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Volunteer Service

Federation, emphasized the crucial role of voluntary service in building a

community with a shared future for humanity. She highlighted the positive

impact of international volunteer service in enhancing mutual understanding and

communication between China and other nations. Over the past decade of

implementing the "Belt and Road Initiative", various volunteer service

organizations have played an active role in humanitarian rescue, poverty

alleviation, environmental protection, and international events, contributing

to cultural exchanges and mutual learning.

Young people, constituting a vital force in carrying out voluntary service and

constructing socialist spiritual civilization, played a central role in the

event. The seminar also witnessed the release of the "Collection of Gen Z

International Voluntary Service Practice Achievements", showcasing 20 cases of

international volunteer service from China Charities General Association, the

Amity Foundation, and the China Rural Development Foundation.

Concluding the event, a round-table discussion was conducted on the topic of

"The Path and Prospects of International Volunteer Service in the New Era,"

engaged in a discussion about the future of international volunteer service in

the new era.

Source: International Volunteer Service Working Committee