XJTLU to Diaoyutai Guesthouse: IR Students' Model UN Journey

Two students from HSS, XJTLU recently stood out at the 2025 Beijing International Model United Nations Conference (BIMUN), held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. The event was guided by China¡¯s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, and hosted by China Foreign Affairs University.

This high-level conference received remarks from Ant¨®nio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; the Embassy of Switzerland in China; and other international institutions. Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Weidong Sun attended and made the speech at the opening ceremony. The event also drew wide media attention from national outlets such as China Media Group, People¡¯s Daily Online and Beijing Daily.

Over three days, delegates engaged in a high-intensity simulation of global diplomacy¡ªnegotiating positions, drafting resolutions, and forging alliances. The experience offered not only rigorous intellectual training but also a realistic glimpse into the intricacies of multilateral diplomacy.

Among the standout participants were Boyuan Min, a Year 4 student, and Zhenhe Li, a Year 2 student, both majoring in BA International Relations at XJTLU¡¯s School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Recognised for their excellent performance, they were both awarded the ¡°Best Delegate¡± certificate. Their journey through this demanding yet transformative event offers a compelling narrative of growth, diplomacy, and cross-cultural understanding.

Q1. What was your most lasting impression of this BIMUN conference?

Boyuan Min:

This was by far the most high-profile conference I¡¯ve ever attended. It adopted the ¡°Beijing Rules of Procedure,¡± which greatly improved efficiency compared to traditional formats¡ªless late-night drafting, more time for in-depth consultation. The entire three days were packed with high-frequency negotiations, making it an intense but incredibly rewarding experience.

Although we were all representing different countries with different standpoints, the atmosphere outside the formal sessions was friendly. I made a lot of good friends among the delegates after the event.

Zhenhe Li£º

What struck me the most was the sheer passion of the delegates and the academic impact of the experience. Even before the conference officially started, many were already negotiating and unpacking the topics with incredible enthusiasm. During the sessions, debates were sharp¡ªeven a minor change in wording could trigger heated discussions, as every word in a diplomatic document carries weight and consequences. That level of precision and rigour is what I enjoy most. It has benefited my academic development.

Q2. As a national delegate, how did you deal with challenges when facing issues that were unfavourable to your country's position?

Boyuan Min:

We were well aware that our assigned country had a weaker position on the issue. So we placed a strong emphasis on strategic flexibility. We worked not only with like-minded delegations but also reached out to those on the periphery or with opposing views. Listening to their concerns was key¡ªevery vote counts within the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Third Committeeited Nations Conference. We focused on securing support from neutral parties, which often became decisive in passing motions. Our guiding principle was: don¡¯t aim for a perfect resolution¡ªjust one that the majority can accept.

Zhenhe Li:

Our country¡¯s stance was relatively disadvantaged. The challenge was how to navigate diplomatically, achieve our national goals within the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee, and withstand pressure to reach consensus. We did extensive research beforehand, including reading up on the country¡¯s position and on media freedom and journalist safety and completing academic testing and draft proposals.

Once onsite, we realised that most of the proposed drafts lacked broad support. In the UN framework, you need a significant majority. So, my partner and I decided to prioritise national interests while uniting as many delegations as possible. We kept revising motions, actively incorporating feedback, and in the end, Russia¡ªour assigned country¡ªbecame the delegation with the most motions passed. That validated our strategy.

Q3. What do you think are the differences between Model UN and traditional debate competitions?

Boyuan Bai:

In traditional debate, the goal is to win, and judges decide the outcome. But in MUN, outcomes are determined by consensus, voting, and negotiation among the delegates, not by the chair.

This made me realise how much more MUN mirrors real-world politics. You can¡¯t accomplish anything alone¡ªyou need others to support you. Real communication isn¡¯t about defeating others; it¡¯s about being understood and supported. I started to pay more attention to the ¡°silent majority.¡± It¡¯s not enough to speak up¡ªyou also need to make people want to listen.

Zhenhe Li:

One key takeaway from MUN is that in international politics, there is no absolute right or wrong. Diplomacy is the art of compromise. That¡¯s the fundamental difference between MUN and traditional debate formats.

Q4. Has your Model UN experience brought about personal change and growth?

Boyuan Min:

When I first joined MUN, I was shy and hesitant to speak up. But the environment pushes you out of your comfort zone¡ªif you stay silent, it¡¯s as if your country has no voice.

So I began to participate in group discussions and initiate conversations. At first, it felt awkward, but over time, I learned that I could express myself clearly. Winning ¡°Best Delegate¡± was a huge confidence boost, which affirmed that I am capable.

Zhenhe Li:
When I first saw our committee¡¯s topic¡ª ¡°Enhancing Media Freedom and Journalist Safety in Conflict Zones¡±¡ªI felt both excited and anxious. It¡¯s a topic I care deeply about, but the use of the Beijing Rules, which are motion-driven, was a challenge for someone more used to the Robert¡¯s Rules system. Receiving the ¡°Best Delegate¡± award was a breakthrough for me. I stepped out of my comfort zone and succeeded in an entirely new setting. That means a lot.

Q5. The conference preparation coincided with final exam week. How did you balance your studies and preparing for the competition?

Boyuan Min:

It was definitely a stressful time. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that the conference topic¡ªmedia freedom and journalist safety¡ªwas closely related to what I was studying at XJTLU. Concepts and materials from courses like International Law and Introduction to International Organisations were directly applicable.

In a way, preparing for the conference became a revision and real-world application of classroom knowledge. What used to feel abstract now came alive through the simulation. I came to better appreciate the practical significance of the theories we study.

Zhenhe Li:
Balancing MUN prep with finals was tough. I prioritised my key assignments and revision tasks first to make sure my academic standing was secure. Then, I used evenings and spare moments to prepare, doing background research, drafting position papers, or coordinating with my partner.

I tried not to put too much pressure on myself. Sometimes when I got tired of studying, I¡¯d switch to MUN tasks as a mental break. By managing my time well and setting priorities, I was able to make progress on both fronts.

Reporter: Ruoling Li

Editor: Yiyi Gu

Translator: Ruoling Li