BEIJING: At the age of 21, Liu Jishen established his company focusing on technological solutions to encourage people to save food and protect the environment. That very same year, his company launched a WeChat applet called Clear Plate to reward those who don’t waste food. By taking pictures of their empty plates after a meal, users can earn credits and exchange these for gifts or meals for the elderly at nursing homes or children in poor countries. Currently the applet has more than 8 million users nationwide.
In 2020, Liu was recognized by the United Nations as one of the 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), who are described as “changemakers who are leading efforts to combat the world’s most pressing issues and whose leadership is catalyzing the achievement of the SDGs,” according to the UN official website. Liu, 23 at the time, was the first young Chinese entrepreneur to receive the accolade.
Liu said that his initiative was inspired by a scene at a restaurant where he saw a customer leave with a stack of food still sitting on the plate. “Sometimes the trigger for an idea to make the world a better place can be very small, but the change can be big,” Liu said.
On July 29, Liu attended the Global Young Leaders Dialogue (GYLD) 2021 Annual Forum in Beijing, where around 140 international young representatives from various fields exchanged their views on topics of sustainable development such as climate change, environmental protection, public health, the joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific innovation and an open world economy.
“Young people shoulder the responsibilities of creating a better world and building a community with a shared future for humanity,” Du Zhanyuan, President of China International Publishing Group (CIPG), told attendees during his address at the forum’s opening ceremony.
“Bringing the young generation together is an indispensable part of global dialogue,” Boris Ruge, Vice Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, said.
The 2021 GYLD Annual Forum is one of the key events of the GYLD program, jointly initiated by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), a leading non-governmental think tank in China, and the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies under CIPG.
The program aims to create a unique communication, education and professional development platform for international young achievers under the age of 45 from diverse regional, cultural, sectorial and professional backgrounds.
During the forum, participants shared their China experiences and exchanged opinions on the strengths and responsibilities of young people in various fields.
Liu said during the event that he believed the young generation is more willing to choose career in social enterprises in line with their ambition and potential, so as to achieve global goals.
– The Daily Mail-Beijing Review News exchange item
