HONG KONG – The first youth scholars' forum of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will begin on May 7 at the Shenzhen campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong as part of APEC’s China Year events.

The two-day event aims to strengthen exchanges among young scholars and nurture a new generation of APEC research talent.

Under the theme of shaping new drivers of development, the forum will feature four panel discussions focusing on the digital economy, intergenerational conflicts and education in the era of artificial intelligence, as well as the youth’s role and responsibility in regional economic integration and sustainable development.

APEC secretariat officials and young scholars from Australia, Chile, China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia and Singapore will present their academic insights and action plans, while sharing regional experiences and seeking cross-regional cooperation.

Macao Arts Festival

The 36th Macao Arts Festival will kick off on May 8 and run through June 27 under the theme “New Streams of Inspiration.”

The festival will feature 15 programs and nine extension activities, covering drama, dance, Cantonese opera, and visual arts. Tickets will be available starting May 2.

The opening performance will bring together a dance troupe from Kazakhstan and a local troupe in celebration of the 2026 China-Kazakhstan Year of Cultural Exchange.

An exhibition titled “Duet of Nature: Ming and Qing Landscape Paintings from the National Museum of China” will showcase 65 landscape paintings from the 15th to 19th centuries at the Macao Museum of Art.

The festival will also include a series of extension activities such as community flash mobs, artist talks, charity events, workshops and post-show discussions.

Coffee culture season

A series of 21 coffee-themed events will run in Guangzhou throughout the Labor Day holiday from Friday to May 5, along with the release of a white paper on the city's 2026 coffee industry development.

The events kick off a citywide coffee culture season running from May to July.

Visitors can sample coffee brands from 43 cities across 13 countries and watch international professional coffee competitions. Industry players can also access policy interpretation sessions and investment matchmaking, gaining expertise in areas ranging from roasting equipment to supply chains and store operations.

Over the next three months, thematic activities will spread to all 11 districts of the city.