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