The 2025 China-Arab Youth Development Forum opened in Baghdad, Iraq on November 21. Themed "Enhancing China-Arab Youth Cooperation in Green Economy Through Innovation and Entrepreneurship," the forum was co-hosted by the All-China Youth Federation, the Department of Youth and Sports of the Arab League, and the Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sports. Nearly 70 youth representatives from China, the Arab League, and nine Arab countries participated in the event.

 

In her opening remarks, Dong Xia, Deputy Secretary-General of the All-China Youth Federation, emphasized that young people are both the beneficiaries and drivers of common development for China and Arab states. Youth organizations from both sides should jointly lead the development agenda and expand the space for green entrepreneurship, build exchange platforms to enhance green innovation capacity, and strengthen multilateral cooperation to contribute to global sustainable development.

 

Lina Aziz Al-Sinabi, Advisor of the Department of Youth and Sports of the Arab League, noted that the world is accelerating its green transformation, and the development of a green economy depends on the innovation and creativity of young people. The Arab League is willing to actively cooperate with China to jointly build the China-Arab Youth Development Forum into a platform for promoting the exchange of ideas between Chinese and Arab youth and empowering their innovation and entrepreneurship.

 

Ahmed Saad, Director General of the Department of Regional Affairs of the Iraqi Ministry of Youth and Sports, stressed that Iraq has a large youth population, and young people are transforming from participants in development into a major force for innovation and change. He expressed his hope that Chinese and Arab youth would actively plan for green economy cooperation during the forum, providing more examples for Iraq’s economic revival.

 

The China-Arab Youth Development Forum was proposed by President Xi Jinping at the first China-Arab Summit in 2022 and has since been held three times. This year marks the first time the forum has been held in an Arab country.