Youth wisdom sets sail in China

Young people from different countries and regions attend a roundtable discussion at the Global Gen Zer Dialogue with Shandong to share their impressions of the province. CHINA DAILY

At the Global Gen Zer Dialogue with Shandong, young people from around the world share their impressions after a weeklong journey across the province, Wang Xiaoying reports.

The Global Gen Zer Dialogue with Shandong, co-hosted by China Daily and the Information Office of Shandong Provincial People's Government, concluded successfully on July 7 in Jinan, the capital city of Shandong province. The forum, with a theme of "Wisdom of Youth Sets Sail", aimed to promote mutual learning and understanding among global Gen Zers through cultural experiences and in-depth communication.

In her opening remarks, Xi Yanchun, the head of the Information Office of the Shandong Provincial People's Government, invited young people from around the world to visit Shandong and immerse themselves in its splendid culture, breathtaking landscapes, rich selection of products and the warm hospitality of its local people.

Wang Hao, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily, delivered a speech at the forum, stressing the important role of young people in deepening exchanges and mutual learning between different societies and cultures. He encouraged them to share their experiences in China and their impressions of the country with the world. By doing so, they can help the world understand the unique charm of Chinese culture and the value of the Chinese path, which holds global relevance. Wang also emphasized that young people have the power to contribute to building an authentic, nuanced and respectable image of China.

Wang Guan, a news anchor and host of CGTN, shared his insights on how Gen Zers can become better global communicators. He urged young people to maintain a sense of curiosity about other cultures, religions, ethnic groups, and societies. He stressed the importance of appreciating the nuances of our differences within the world and embracing the ideal of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

During the event, nine young people from China and abroad took to the stage to share their impressions of Shandong after a weeklong journey across different cities in the province. They also discussed strategies for effectively sharing Shandong's stories with the world.

Temelidi Yulia, a Russian student currently studying economics at Tsinghua University, expressed her amazement at how well Shandong, the birthplace of the ancient philosopher Confucius, has preserved the values of Confucianism. She highlighted how children in the province are taught the importance of humility from a young age through Confucius' quotes like "two heads are always better than one".

"Shandong is a place where new areas are constantly being developed, all the while preserving the original cultural characteristics so that the new and the old can blend together more harmoniously," she said.

Sherif Abdelsamie, an Egyptian entrepreneur and MBA graduate, shared his observations on the remarkable technological advancements he witnessed in Shandong, particularly in transportation and agriculture. He commended the province for its highly developed infrastructure, including one of the most advanced high-speed rail networks. Moreover, he highlighted Shandong's adoption of precision farming techniques, such as smart irrigation, crop monitoring, smart greenhouses and agricultural data analytics, which have contributed to enhanced efficiency and sustainability in agriculture.

"I believe that Egypt should learn from China and have better cooperation in promoting and building smart agriculture. This would be a win-win situation for both Egypt and China," he said.