On January 29, 2026, a dialogue between UN Secretary-General Annalena Berbok and civil society representatives was held at the United Nations Headquarters. Co-organized by the Office of the UN Secretary-General and the Department of Global Communications, the event was chaired by UN Deputy Secretary-General Melissa Fleming. The meeting focused on the priorities of the 80th UN General Assembly, under the theme "United in Purpose: The Role of Civil Society in Strengthening the United Nations in a Divided Era." Qingyi Future was the sole Chinese civil society organization represented at the event.

Mr. Tang from Qingyi Future, as the first speaker, raised core questions against the backdrop of the 2026 International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. Addressing current issues such as geopolitical tensions and escalating climate risks, he asked: In light of the sustained support from civil society and volunteers for the Sustainable Development Goals, how can the conference and member states integrate volunteerism and civic participation systems into the evaluation of SDGs, national strategies, and decision-making processes? How can governance be strengthened through scientific data, accountability mechanisms, and frontline evidence to uphold the commitment of "leaving no one behind."

UN President Annalena responded that all parties have strongly called for systematic research on national indicator strategies and review mechanisms, and to promote their integration into New York level work, optimize the national strategy and presentation of volunteer services, and allocate resources to enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of work. At the same time, she emphasized that volunteer service is an important carrier for civil society to participate in the work of the United Nations. The United Nations Volunteer Organization (UNV) is celebrating its international volunteer birthday. The organization is close to the grassroots, collaborates with young people, and has accumulated rich experience in grassroots services and people's livelihood assistance. Its work mode and concept are worth widely learning from and promoting.

The purpose of this symposium is to build an inclusive dialogue platform, promote open communication between the United Nations General Assembly and representatives of civil society, and assist in advancing the priority issues of the 80th Congress.