Forum lauds youth as future of NE Asia

Entrepreneurs from China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, Russia attend event

Young entrepreneurs in Northeast Asia are being encouraged to forge stronger ties in economic and trade cooperation, industry experts and leaders said.

Liu Xifeng, born and raised in Changchun, Jilin province, told China Daily he was honored to be invited to attend the Northeast Asia Young Entrepreneurs Development and Cooperation Forum in his hometown on Aug 24.

Liu emphasized its role in fostering regional collaboration and economic growth and the importance of young entrepreneurs like himself in driving innovation and forging strategic partnerships.

He serves as director of the overseas business department of Socol Corp Ltd, one of the largest State-owned enterprises in Jilin.

Over the years, Jilin has leveraged its advantages in revitalizing its traditional heavy industry base in Northeast China, with support from the provincial government, Liu added.

The joint efforts of State-owned and private enterprises have led to steady economic development and improvement in infrastructure construction, he said.

As a subsidiary of Power Construction Corp of China — or PowerChina — the enterprise specializes in traditional water and hydropower engineering and has been expanding into new energy and power infrastructure construction.

With an eye on overseas markets, the SOE's international department has been engaging in infrastructure projects, including construction of power facilities, hydroelectric stations and roads on a global scale, aligning with the Belt and Road Initiative, Liu said.

At the forum, his department sought international opportunities, as the presence of young entrepreneurs and influential leaders from countries in the region offered invaluable chances to explore potential prospects abroad, he added.

Such willingness demonstrated by local enterprises strongly resonated with the theme of the forum.

The forum, held as a special event during the 14th China-Northeast Asia Expo, was centered around the theme of "Innovation and Development, Win-Win Cooperation".

The gathering brought over 200 young entrepreneurs and representatives of collaborative institutions from China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, Russia and other nations.

Industry experts and leaders urged young entrepreneurs from the region to strengthen their economic and trade cooperation ties, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in driving regional development.

Young entrepreneurs from multiple countries were encouraged to uphold openness and integration, consolidate the foundation of regional cooperation and prioritize innovation to ignite regional innovative vitality, said Vice-President of the All-China Youth Federation Xu Xiao at the forum.

Young entrepreneurs across Northeast Asia, sharing common interests and a forward-thinking approach, have the potential to drive regional development, Xu said.

By engaging in initiatives, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor and the Greater Tumen Initiative, they can help expand opportunities for cooperation and foster economic growth in the region, further benefiting both people and businesses, Xu added.

Jilin Vice-Governor Liang Renzhe said at the forum that young entrepreneurs in Northeast Asia are expected to advance regional and multilateral cooperation in hopes of injecting positive energy into the building of an open world economy.

It is a rare opportunity that over 200 outstanding young entrepreneurs from the region are all gathered together, with hopes that they can collaborate for mutual benefit and win-win partnerships, Liang said.

With a well-established industrial system and abundant natural resources, the province has gained a competitive edge in certain industries, including automobiles, agricultural processing, eco-tourism, healthcare, petrochemicals, manufacturing and electronics.

Today, Jilin is a key gateway for China's northern opening-up and a central hub for Northeast Asia cooperation.

He hopes that the young entrepreneurs can use these advantages to focus on Jilin's revitalization and growth by establishing high-quality projects and bringing in advanced technology.

President of the Mongolian Youth Federation Sergelenbaatar Batsambuu said the federation is eager to strengthen collaboration with other youth organizations in multiple fields, including education, healthcare, business management and culture.

He called for young entrepreneurs to maintain close connections, innovate collaboratively and strive for mutually beneficial cooperation.

He added that young people, as the primary drivers of the economy, are likely to come together at the peak of success to achieve mutual learning and collective development.

The event also featured a range of activities, including project presentations for economic cooperation, specialized dialogues for young entrepreneurs and visits to local industries in Changchun.

Entrepreneurs from the region engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanged ideas covering modern equipment, new energy, modern services, modern agriculture and the digital economy.

Agreements for 29 cooperative initiatives, collectively valued at 1.41 billion yuan ($193.4 million), were reached during the forum, organized by the China International Youth Exchange Center and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Jilin Provincial Committee among others.

The delivery of the Northeast Asia Economic Cooperation Changchun Declaration for Young Entrepreneurs in six languages marked a highlight during the forum, which emphasized the historical and practical importance of a united and stable Northeast Asia.

The declaration helped reach a consensus on establishing a mechanism for exchange and cooperation among young entrepreneurs in Northeast Asia.

It called on young entrepreneurs from the region to leverage abundant resources and create new market opportunities, fostering inclusive, balanced and cooperative regional development.

Young generations are encouraged to take concrete actions to promote the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, in a bid to contribute wisdom and strength to the healthy development of the regional and global economy, according to the declaration.

Forum attendees expressed their determination to contribute to regional prosperity and stability, in line with global trends favoring peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit.

Park Jae-keun, executive vice-chairperson of the National Youth Committee of the Together Democratic Party of Korea, expressed his appreciation for his first participation in the youth entrepreneurs forum.

The geographical proximity and economic integration between South Korea and China should be the basis for a long-lasting and close cooperative relationship.

It is hoped that the young generations of both countries can promote economic development between South Korea and China, Park said at the forum.

During an exclusive interview with China Daily, Park emphasized Jilin province's inherent advantages within the Northeast Asian region, both in terms of geography and regular interactions.

These factors, he said, have significantly impressed him and fueled his optimism regarding the prospects of development in the region. With a resolute commitment, he pledged to seek novel avenues for mutual growth.

He also lauded the warmth of the local community in Jilin, as well as the favorable investment environment he found in the province.