The future Asia-Pacific should not just be a collective of economies, but a community where young people grow and create the future together, Ni Haidong, Party secretary of Beijing Language and Culture University, said on Friday.

He noted that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation has long been a model of regional collaboration, extending beyond shared markets and resources to include shared ideals and responsibilities.

"Education should not merely serve economic growth; it must lead sustainable social development and the common progress of humanity," Ni said.

He emphasized the pivotal role of education in shaping regional cooperation and global progress during his address at the APEC Education Forum held in Beijing on Friday.

The future of APEC education development hinges on how to ensure equitable access to education for all young people, how to better harness technology for societal advancement, and how to foster consensus amid cultural diversity, he said.

Highlighting the foundational role of language and culture, Ni, whose university has trained over 300,000 international students from 189 countries and regions, described language as a key to communication and a gateway to civilizational understanding.

He noted that combining language education with a humanistic spirit and technological innovation creates a new educational paradigm, enabling more open learning, equitable exchange, and sustainable cooperation.

Ni identified the younger generation as the main force driving global peace and development. "The youth, with their creativity, global awareness, and social responsibility, are the best answer to future challenges," he said.

He stressed the need for education to equip young people with cross-cultural understanding, digital literacy, and a sense of shared humanity to help them navigate globalization and digitalization.