On September 5, 2020, the "Belt and Road" International Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum, co-sponsored by the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Beijing Bureau of Commerce, the Beijing Science and Technology Association and the Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges, was held at the main venue of the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services. With the theme of promoting international youth cooperation as well as international youth innovation and development, the Forum invited domestic and foreign scholars and industry experts to exchange views on international youth innovation and entrepreneurship, launched the Initiative for International Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and actively promoted international youth innovation and entrepreneurship cooperation using the platform of CIFTIS.
Zhang Qian, Executive Vice Chairman of the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said in a speech at the forum that on international youth cooperation, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that "Nowadays, the fate of the peoples of the world is more closely linked, and young people of all countries should set up a world vision through education, enhance their sense of cooperation, and jointly create a better future for human society, which is the common goal of all of us." Zhang Qian pointed out that due to the current impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economies of all countries have been hit hard, economic development and employment are facing greater difficulties. We hope to actively promote the International Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cooperation Program on the platform of the China International Fair for Trade in Services by strengthening youth cooperation in international innovation and entrepreneurship.
Vice Chairman of the Beijing Association of Friendship with Foreign Countries and President of the China World Peace Foundation.
Dr. Li Ruhong, Board Director, the Beijing International Peace and Culture Foundation.
Dr. Li Ruhong, Vice Chairman of the Beijing Association of Friendship with Foreign Countries, Chairman of the China World Peace Foundation and Board Director of the Beijing International Peace and Culture Foundation, proposed that international exchanges and cultural science and technology are two sides of a coin, and the functional construction of the four centers in Beijing also embodies two cycles, both international and domestic. In the pandemic and the obstruction of international economic and social development, the Belt and Road Initiative provides an orientation for young people from all countries to unite, innovate and start their own businesses.
Facing the changes and challenges of the world situation and the rapidly changing tide of science and technology, Dr. Li Ruhong co-sponsored the "Belt and Road" International Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cooperation Initiative on behalf of the organizers of the Forum in order to create a "Belt and Road" international youth cooperation future and promote the development of international youth innovation and entrepreneurship. The initiative proposes:
First, young people should aim high and strive to be participants, practitioners and carriers of the Belt and Road Initiative with their own actions. With the wisdom and courage of young people, they will explore new areas and paths of international youth innovation and cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Second, scientific and technological innovation enterprises should become incubator and supporters of the "Belt and Road" international youth cooperation. To provide aspiring young people in all countries with practical internships, resources matching, business negotiations and other opportunities for international youth cooperation, to inject creative services into the core strength of the "Belt and Road" development.
Third, international youth organizations and cooperative institutions should play the role of adhesive and bridge to provide a platform of exchange for Chinese youth to go out, and provide opportunities and stages for foreign outstanding young people to learn about China, settle in and realize their dream China. We should continue to promote the integration of international innovation and entrepreneurship, and actively promote international exchanges and innovation and entrepreneurship cooperation among young people in all countries in the context of the "Belt and Road" construction.
It is reported that this forum is the 15th round of the Capital's people-to-people friendly exchanges and cooperation cloud dialogue, and also parallel forum activities of the 2020 Beijing International Civil Friendship Forum. Zhongguancun Belt and Road Industry Promotion Association, Beijing International Peace Culture Foundation, Beijing International Economic and Technical Cooperation Association, Beijing Chaoyang District Overseas High-level Talent Association have acted as a co-sponsoring organizations.
The International Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Projects were also promoted during the Forum. Zhang Xiaodong, Chairman of Zhongguancun's "Belt and Road" Industry Promotion Association, and other Chinese and foreign youth representatives respectively introduced the relevant situation of the International Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program (Cirrus Program). Three other project results were also released on the occasion, including the signing of the Agreement between the "Belt and Road" Industry Promotion Association in Zhongguancun and the Beijing International Economic Cooperation Association, the road show of the African Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project and the release of the results of the sharing of advanced and applicable technologies, and the results of the "Silk Road Family Pro" project.
16 friendly organizations and youth representatives from Japan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, South Africa, Tunisia, Mauritius, the United States, Colombia, Peru, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, New Zealand, Australia have attended the meeting online, and said that the Youth Forum provided information of great reference value, they have learned the important role of young people can play under the "Belt and Road" initiative in international exchanges and cooperation. The forum introduced many practical and highly feasible cooperation projects, and friendly organizations will continue to pay attention to and seek opportunities for cooperation.
