"Meeting in Wuxi, Building Dreams for the Future" - The 5th Canal Cities Model UN Conference & Global Citizen Model UN China Session 2025 Concludes Successfully in Wuxi

On the afternoon of July 27, 2025, the "Meeting in Wuxi, Building Dreams for the Future" 2025 Fifth Canal Cities Model United Nations Conference (CCMUN) and Global Citizen Model United Nations Conference China Session (GCMUN-CHINA) successfully concluded in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province.

The closing ceremony was attended by: Xu Chengjie, President of the Wuxi Education International Exchange Association; Zhang Wenlong, President of the US-China Business Travel Association, Founder of Philadelphia Window, and Jiangsu Provincial International Friendship Envoy; Yao Jiahong, President of Dnuo International Education Group; Ms. Asia Fina, Program Director Asia of the United Nations official organization United Networks of Europe (UNE); Xu Liming, Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Division of the Wuxi Municipal Education Bureau; Wu Weihong, Secretary-General of the Wuxi Education International Exchange Association; Gloria Li, General Commander of the Canal Cities MUN Conference; Liu Jian, Executive Director of Philadelphia Window; Melissa Zawlewicz, Academic Dean of Holy Cross Preparatory Academy; and Dawn Douglas, Academic Dean of Springville High School (Utah Team).

Mr. Geng Cong, Senior Officer at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), UN Secretariat Geneva Office, sent a video message for the closing ceremony. He first expressed his congratulations on the successful conclusion of the conference. He stated that youth are the future lifeblood of international organizations, and cross-border student exchanges can foster a genuine sense of global citizenship. The WMO always values youth participation and looks forward to promoting knowledge sharing and cultural mutual learning through such platforms. He encouraged the younger generation to actively participate in international affairs and contribute their wisdom and strength to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xu Chengjie, President of the Wuxi Education International Exchange Association, delivered the closing address. She stated that the successful hosting of the 5th CCMUN in Wuxi was not only a vivid practice of the living inheritance and innovative development of Grand Canal culture but also an effective exploration of Wuxi's education opening-up. During this event, young students from different cities in China, together with their peers from the United States and Europe, exchanged ideas, learned from each other, built mutual understanding and trust, and formed friendships. Chinese and foreign youth getting to know and bond with each other, walking hand in hand, will become a new generation of envoys for global friendship, injecting new momentum into the development of international relations.

Wang Bo, Secretary-General of the conference, delivered a summary speech. She stated that over the four-day conference, the delegates demonstrated impressive professionalism and international perspective. Whether in deep debates on various issues or in innovative proposals for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the young delegates perfectly interpreted the spirit of Model UN with their fluent diplomatic language, solid research data, and constructive solutions.

Xu Kaiqing, an outstanding Chinese student representative from Wuxi Hubin Middle School, and Lanaea Moore, an outstanding American student representative from Springville High School, USA, shared their experiences. They talked about their gains and challenges during the conference, their growth and joy within the MUN setting, and expressed their hope to engage and exchange with fellow delegates on broader stages in the future.

After four sessions of heated discussions, the following awards were decided: Best Delegate, Outstanding Delegate, Honorable Mention, Best Style, Best Position Paper, Best Delegation, Outstanding Delegation, Honorable Mention Delegation, MUN Star Award, among others. A special honor, the 2026 GCMUN Participation Scholarship, was also awarded to recognize the outstanding performance of delegates. The host announced the list of winners and invited the attending guests to present award certificates to the winning MUN delegates and teams for photo opportunities.

Among the many outstanding youth delegates, Wang Ziyi (Baldwin School), Zhang Yinuo (Wuxi Golden Bridge Bilingual Experimental School), Hao Junrui (Wuxi Xinwu Experimental Middle School), Shi Rui (Wuxi Foreign Language School), Wei Liyi (QSI International School of Chengdu), Ketura Imperato (UNE Italian Delegation), Jia Qining (Zhejiang Zhuji High School), Luo Weiyu (Ganzhou Middle School), Lu Shunjie (Jiangsu Hanjiang High School), Xu Kaiqing (Wuxi Hubin Middle School), Chen Siyu (Suzhou Foreign Language School Lianyungang Campus), and Hua Yue (Jiangsu Taihu Senior High School) were awarded full participation scholarships jointly sponsored by Philadelphia Window and United Networks of Europe (UNE). This honor not only recognizes their exceptional performance at the Model UN conference but also serves as encouragement and support for their future development. These students will have the opportunity to go to the United Nations Headquarters in New York to participate in the 2026 Global Citizen Model United Nations Conference (GCMUN), with their participation expenses in the US jointly covered by Philadelphia Window and UNE!

Best Delegate Award (Recipients of the 2026 GCMUN Participation Scholarship)

• UN-Habitat: Belgium - Wang Ziyi; Norway - Zhang Yinuo

• SOCHUM: USA - Hao Junrui

• IMO: USA - Shi Rui

• CSW: USA - Wei Liyi; Sweden - Ketura Imperato

• UNODC: Russian Federation - Jia Qining; Germany - Luo Weiyu

• UNHCR: Germany - Lu Shunjie

• ITU: Indonesia - Xu Kaiqing; South Korea - Chen Siyu

• WHO: Japan - Hua Yue

With the successful conclusion of the conference, we believe that through sustained international exchange and cooperation, youth will be able to play a greater role on the global stage and contribute their own strength to building a better world.

The successful hosting of the 2025 5th Canal Cities Model UN Conference & Global Citizen Model UN China Session not only recognizes the capabilities of youth but also strongly promotes international exchange and cooperation. Let us look forward together to these young delegates becoming important forces connecting different cultures and promoting world peace and development in the future.