As China and the world confront demographic shifts and rising development challenges, experts from domestic and international organizations have called for stronger global cooperation to invest in children and strengthen long-term social resilience.

Their remarks came at the 20th CCG VIP Luncheon, a high-level forum co-hosted by the Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based think tank, and UNICEF China on Thursday in Beijing. Policymakers, scholars, and development practitioners met and discussed the strategic importance of investing in early childhood and adolescent development.

Wang Huiyao, founder and president of the CCG and former counselor to the State Council, said that China has achieved historic progress in reducing child mortality and expanding access to preschool education.

As the country enters a period of rapid demographic transition, he said the focus is shifting from expanding coverage to improving quality, ensuring every child has a fair start in life. "Investing in children is our most effective strategy to build long-term societal resilience," Wang said.

Wang added that investing in children aligns with both the UN 2030 Agenda and China's long-term development plans, noting that strengthening human capital is essential to building a more resilient and sustainable future.

Amakobe Sande, UNICEF representative to China, stressed that investing in the next generation is "not just a matter of sentiment, but a matter of strategy". She highlighted evidence showing that the first 1,000 days of life have a decisive impact on cognitive development, emotional resilience, and future productivity, delivering returns that far exceed investments made later in life.

Sande commended China's long-term commitment to human capital development and said UNICEF will continue working with China to share experience through South-South and triangular cooperation.

Tang Min, former counselor of the State Council, said that China's declining birthrates make it urgent to improve the quality and equity of early childhood development.

The government has begun responding through childcare incentives, expanded investment in preschool and rural education, and stronger basic public services, Tang said, adding that social organizations and foundations continue to play a critical role in delivering services at the community level and reaching vulnerable families.

Liu Guoen, dean of Institute for Global Health and Development at Peking University, said investing in future generations is both a moral responsibility and a necessity as humanity faces challenges such as climate change and resource depletion. He called for rethinking development models, enhancing protection of non-renewable resources, and using data-driven tools to better track progress toward sustainable development.

yinmingyue@chinadaily.com.cn