China continues effort to encourage international youth exchange

China has channeled continuous efforts of encouraging its youths to better communication on culture, innovations, working skills and entrepreneurship with young people from countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The All-China Youth Federation, the State Council — China's Cabinet and the China State Railway Group, jointly launched a State-level campaign in March 2022, focusing on the world's youth development.

Under the campaign, 12 State-owned companies have released about 30 projects, which have so far benefited about 90,000 youths from 19 BRI countries and regions including Laos, Vietnam, Uganda and Portugal.

For example, the China Energy International Engineering Co launched a project in Uzbekistan in 2022, with its aim of offering Uzbekistan's outstanding college graduates internship opportunities and jobs at Chinese mainland, also helping the country to produce talent with sound technology and management skills.

According to the company, over 500 local youths got access to training courses and lectures on energy and infrastructure construction organized by the company by the end of last year. About 20 local youths were hired by the company and around 60 youths were invited to the Chinese mainland to visit some major infrastructure projects.

Wang Min, deputy Party secretary of the CHN Energy Investment Group, said at a meeting in Beijing on Friday, that the State-level campaign offers an important platform to let youths engaged in the world's development and let State-owned companies perform their social responsibilities.

"It (the campaign) has stimulated passions of the young generation and promoted international communication, which has also invigorated the Silk Road with a long history," he said.

Xu Xiao, president of the All-China Youth Federation, said at the meeting that the campaign has brought more youths from the world a new and better recognition of China, which has also helped the State-owned companies to shape their young staffs with a better view of the world.

He urged the departments and companies involved in the campaign to enhance the evaluation of the ongoing projects to deliver more progressive results. He said that another 32 overseas projects will be included in the campaign in the future with its coverage extending to 34 countries and regions, and he hoped more State-owned companies could join in, to promote the world youth's development.