Eleven-year-old Liao Mingyu came out of a lift in Johannesburg's Sandton Square and was immediately recognized by a passer-by.
"Aren't you the girl who did the presentation?" asked the man.
The thin, sports-loving girl from Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province became a celebrity overnight.
Together with two other children - from Canada and Ecuador - Liao raised a number of challenges to the leaders attending the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa on Monday.
The challenges were inspired, written and voted on by some 400 children from 80 countries, representing their hopes and fears for the future of the planet.
This brainchild of the world's environment-conscious younger generation urged governments worldwide to ensure free access to clean drinking water for all people from developing countries; to sign and act on the Kyoto Protocol and to provide free primary health care for all children.
"I was impressed by observations in the speech such as that too many adults are too interested in money and wealth to notice of the serious problems that affect our future," Liao told China Daily.
The presentation is applauded by the world leaders but Liao is not yet content.
"I do not know if they will listen and take action," said Liao. After a second thought, she added hopefully: "They probably will."
For her part, Liao has already started to take action.
Liao's mother Zeng Sihong said: "She often scolds her dad for his environmentally unfriendly habits." Liao interrupted to explain that she merely "reminded" her dad.
Liao's enlightened attitude toward environmental protection started when she became a pupil at Shenzhen Experimental Primary School five years ago.
The school, like many others in the pioneering city, has made environmental protection a part of the curriculum.
Liao was chosen two months ago to do the presentation on behalf of the world's children, thanks to her knowledge of environmental protection and her fluency in English.
"When I get back, I am going to tell my classmates of ways to protect the environment," said Liao.
"One thing I have learned from this experience is that environmental protection is really important."
(China Daily September 5, 2002)
