China’s tech-savvy youth play a key role in driving innovation, positioning China as a digital economy leader in the world, the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) told an event on Sept 26.
“China’s youth have been instrumental in driving digital innovation, leveraging their tech-savvy skills and entrepreneurial spirit,” Kao Kim Hourn said at the China-ASEAN Young Leaders’ Roundtable Dialogue in Nanning, Southwest China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
Noting that the vibrant tech culture has propelled China to the forefront of technological advancement in the world, Kao said ASEAN also emphasizes the role of youth in the digital era. He added that the two sides should foster an environment to help boost the career prospects of the youth and strengthen their economies in the digital age.
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Themed “New Youth, New Era, New Future”, the dialogue was part of the inaugural China-ASEAN Young Leaders' Growth Program during the 21st China-ASEAN Expo, or CAEXPO, which is being held from Sept 24 to 28.
A total of 30 representatives from China, including the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, the ten member states of ASEAN, and Timor-Leste were given certificates recognizing them as China-ASEAN young leaders.
The program will also include study tours, project visits, and industry salons for young leaders from different sectors in China and ASEAN.
Noting that this year, marks the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Liu Ning, secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China, said the program aims to provide a platform for regional youth to communicate and cooperation because the development of China-ASEAN relations relies heavily on the collective efforts of the youth.
“I hope our young friends can establish a global perspective, enhance their awareness of collaboration, and leverage platforms like the CAEXPO and the China-ASEAN Young Leaders Growth Program to … jointly build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home, and make contributions to the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future,” said Liu.
In a discussion session among the selected young leaders, Nurhidayah Binti Roslan, managing director of cosmetics company DASC International in Malaysia, said collaboration between ASEAN and China is vital for economic development and cultural understanding.
“In ASEAN and China, there is a growing focus on digitalization and green energy. … As young leaders, it is our duty to embrace this transformation and turn potential to progress,” said Narhidayah.
Nguyen Tuan Duong, chairman of the Vietnam Trading Investment Promotion Group, told China Daily that he is happy to have the opportunity to visit different places in Guangxi to learn from successful projects such as the Qinzhou port and the China-ASEAN Information Harbor.
Duong, who also spoke at the discussion session, said his company is working to build an exchange platform for agricultural products in Vietnam and that he looks forward to cooperating with partners from China and ASEAN countries.
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Khamsen Sisavong, vice-president of the Laos National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told China Daily that the China-ASEAN Young Leaders Growth Program is important for regional young leaders to enhance exchanges.
“I think it is important that the young people should not only think about the economy, but also need to think about how (to contribute to) regional peace,” said Khamsen.
