Sino-US youth explore rural vitalization in Yunnan

A group of young people from China and the United States recently visited Kunming and Dali in Yunnan province to gain insights into China's rural vitalization efforts.

As part of the "Across the Pacific: China-US Youth Dialogue for a Shared Future" exchange program, this visit aimed to build bridges of communication, bring youth from both nations closer, and foster enduring friendships. From July 3 to 23, 22 university students embarked on a journey to Washington DC and Montana in the US before crossing the Pacific Ocean for stops in Yunnan and Beijing in China.

On Thursday, Zhou Guanqi, deputy dean of the School of Economics at Yunnan University, shared insights on China's rural development with the youth, including coffee production, organic farming, and other industries tailored to Yunnan's local conditions.

Zhou expressed hope that during this visit, the youth from both nations would collaborate to find solutions for sustainable rural development, as it is not only a key component of China's growth strategy but also a global challenge faced by countries worldwide, including the US.

Erik Larson, from the US, noted that the exchange program provided local insights into rural vitalization and modern agricultural development in Montana. "Through this exchange, the youth from China and the US gained a deeper understanding of each other's rural development," he said.

Zhou Chenggong, a master's student at Yunnan University, said that China's development philosophy of treating mountains and bodies of water as invaluable assets has many similarities with the US concept of emphasizing the moral responsibility humans have toward the natural world.

He noted that this event offers a profound reflection on the symbiotic relationship between humans and the land, while also fostering an intellectual connection between Chinese and US youth as they contemplate future lifestyles.

"I've really enjoyed exploring so many types of agricultural development and experiencing so much natural beauty that I'm not really used to," said Evelyn Zhang Neff, a student at Bates College in the US.

Jin Zhaoxiang contributed to the video.