More than 500 young participants from 113 institutions in roughly 20 countries and regions attend the Beijing International Model United Nations over June 8-11 at China Foreign Affairs University to learn how to manage the world as adult leaders. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Developing interests

Fang Jun, deputy director of the department of international cooperation and exchange at the Ministry of Education, says the MUN enhances students' abilities, including writing, independent thinking and cross-cultural communication.

Qin Qian says participating in the MUN as a high schooler in 2011 changed his future.

"I'd planned to study at the Communication University of China," the 21-year-old says.

He instead enrolled in China Foreign Affairs University, majoring in Japanese and diplomacy.

Qin has attended various MUN events, including the London International Model United Nations, one of Europe's largest.

He recently handled discussions around vector-borne diseases at a MUN in Tokyo as an exchange student of Japan's Waseda University.

"The topic is beyond my understanding since it's related to medicine," Qin says. "But new experiences are what make the MUN fun."

He points out the MUN's primary function was initially to train top diplomats.

"Today, it offers students opportunities to learn different things that can help them discover their true interests."