Young Entrepreneurs Conference Opens in Beijing

Organized by the China International Youth Exchange Center, the International Cooperation & Development Conference for Young Entrepreneurs kicked off in Beijing on April 25. Under the theme of “Revitalizing Growth, Win-win Cooperation,” the conference has attracted 200 business leaders, heads of economic organizations, and representatives of young entrepreneurs from more than 40 countries to engage in extensive discussions on the new path of global recovery, improving the stability of industrial and supply chains, multilateral cooperation for mutual benefits and ASEAN+3 young entrepreneurs’ cooperation.

The conference has generated an overwhelming international response, with former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Montenegro’s Minister of Economic Development and Tourism Goran Đurović, Chairman of Cambodia’s Commission on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, Information and Media Suos Yara and more recording congratulatory videos for the opening ceremony, recognizing the importance of deepening dialogue and cooperation among young entrepreneurs for global economic development in the post-pandemic era.

Fu Zhenbang, secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China and vice president of the All-China Youth Federation, addressed the opening ceremony of the conference. He pointed out that young entrepreneurs are an important force driving social progress and global economic development, and they should shoulder the responsibilities for promoting the global economic recovery and improving the stability of the global industrial and supply chains. Tom Luckock, deputy chair of the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce, Abhishek Kumar, president of the Entrepreneurs Association of India, Luis Rubio, president of the Spain Chamber of Commerce in China, and Tan Chee Hiong, chairman of the Malaysia Mandarin Youth Entrepreneurs Association, also attended the event and delivered speeches.

An on-site questionnaire at the conference showed that nearly 60 percent of respondents are optimistic about the global economic recovery, and over 30 percent believe that the artificial intelligence industry has the greatest growth potential. Respondents generally recognize that technological innovation and effective new multilateral trade agreements will drive global economic growth in 2023. Most are confident that the Chinese market will generate most returns this year.

The conference also witnessed the establishment of the International Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs Associations and the release of the International Cooperation for Young Entrepreneurs Beijing Declaration.