Nation's volunteers impress in roles around the globe

"Being a volunteer at the UN allows me to experience and explore a bigger world, which has broadened my perspective and increased my determination to work for the public good and social development," she said.

Guo said her role is to convey UN action on global youth development to young people around the world including in China while bringing their stories to the international arena.

Last year, when the pandemic was raging worldwide, she was responsible for updating the envoy's blog every week to highlight the work of young people fighting COVID-19 in their communities.

She gathered information and published the stories of nine young Chinese. They included a volunteer providing mental help and online tutoring for children of frontline medical workers, a deliveryman offering a vital lifeline to countless people forced to remain at home, and a girl who cooked for medical workers.

"I'm happy and proud that the stories of these exemplary young Chinese can be viewed around the world, as the details have been posted on Western-dominated social media platforms," Guo said.

She added that if more young Chinese joined the international body in contributing to global governance, this would give China a stronger voice.

Ma Zhenhua, from Qingdao, Shandong, a volunteer with the International Organization for Migration in Uzbekistan, said China is closely connected with other countries through various cooperation channels, especially the Belt and Road Initiative.

In addition to focusing on domestic development, Ma said young Chinese volunteers with the spirit of internationalism need to communicate with other countries to show them that China's rise is not a threat.

"I hope I can show that as a young Chinese, I can accept diverse cultures and am willing to sincerely help the country I serve in better understand China and view its young people objectively," she said.

Ma added that her office is looking for opportunities to work with China as part of the Belt and Road Initiative. She is studying a program to better protect the interests and safety of Chinese workers in Uzbekistan, and will apply this experience to protecting all migrants in that country.

"I hope I can make a small contribution, not only in the interests of Chinese compatriots, but also to improving migration governance and migrant protection at a higher level," she said.

All things and people, even if they are far apart, are interconnected to a certain degree, Ma said, adding that she is committed to lending a helping hand and working for a harmonious and sustainable world.