Upcoming conference to focus on youngsters

With a focus on providing services for young people, countries and international organizations gathered at the ongoing 2019 China International Fair for Trade in Services for exchanges in culture, education and tourism.

With the theme of connecting the world with culture and building the future through cooperation, the international cities' cultural dialogue is expected to attract more than 10 countries and regions, including Italy, Ukraine, the United States and Japan, on Thursday.

The participants will also take part in other activities including themed exhibitions, and cultural salons and forums during the 2019 CIFTIS.

Among these, Italy and Ukraine will launch specific exhibitions to show fields such as landscapes of cities, traditional craftsmanship, culture, medical care and tourism, organizers said.

"Culture is part of trade in services; students and young people should gain support from trade to have better cultural exchanges," said Yuan Aijun, a senior expert on world heritage education to youth.

The sector aims to help Chinese cities establish partnerships with their overseas peers, and also to promote the development of trade in services with the support of social organizations and cultural exchanges, Yuan said.

During the event, Florence, Italy will set up an exhibition area, showing its program of an innovation laboratory featuring cross-cultural exchanges and a new tourism project.

With the laboratory program, the Italian city will provide students from around the world with opportunities to travel in Italy, organizers said.

Italy is one of the popular tourism destinations rich in UNESCO world heritage sites, said Mi Rui, director of the foreign direct investment department at Italian Trade Commission in Beijing. The country has a solid economic foundation with advantages in innovation, design and digital development, Mi said.

"We hope to attract more people to experience Italy's culture and welcome more investment to the country through exchanges among cities," she said.

At another exhibition area, the capital of Ukraine, Kiev, is demonstrating its achievements in medical care, culture and education.

Ukraine is a country that combines Eastern and Western cultures. It shares some similar cultural routes with China, said Vitalii Samsonov, director of the Ukrainian Student and Youth Talent Development Center.

Young people are the best to promote cultural development because of their active participation in society, he said. "We hope to aid in their growth and personal development through more cultural cooperation and provide them with better services."

(China Daily 05/29/2019 page7)