On July 27, on the eve of the World Youth Peace Conference, the event titled “Gathering at China Today Salon – The Bridge of Peace: Dialogue Between Greater Bay Area and European Youth Leaders” was held at China Today • Macao Salon in Hengqin, Guangdong Province. It focused on the theme “Lasting Peace by Youth, Brighter Future via Technology.”
Li Xiaohua, deputy director of the CICG Center for Europe and Africa (China Today) hosting the Dialogue Between Greater Bay Area and European Youth Leaders at China Today • Macao Salon in Hengqin, Guangdong Province on July 27, 2025.
Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) delivered a video message to the Chinese and European youth leaders. In his speech, he emphasized that young people are the most dynamic force in society and shared three insights with the audience, citing a piece of ancient Chinese poetry: One must have the broad vision to see beyond temporary obstacles; One must possess the courage to reshape the world; One must embrace the wisdom of harmonious coexistence with all beings on earth.
According to Yang’s speech, young people are the best messengers for intercultural exchange, and he encouraged young people from both China and Europe to cherish their own civilizations while doing their best to learn about those of others with humility and respecting cultural differences. He called on the younger generation of both regions to promote dialogue through openness and inclusiveness in order to foster mutual prosperity of their civilizations.
Yang Wanming, CPAFFC president, delivering a video message at the Dialogue Between Greater Bay Area and European Youth Leaders at China Today • Macao Salon in Hengqin, Guangdong Province on July 27, 2025.
President of China International Communications Group (CICG) Du Zhanyuan, in his video address, said that this event aims to create opportunities for mutual learning and business collaboration through dialogue among young entrepreneurs from China and Europe. The event is playing an important role in exploring the driving forces of the Greater Bay Area’s development and the future of China-Europe cooperation. He encouraged young entrepreneurs to focus on improving human well-being, exploring the unknown, and advancing human progress. He also called on them to become innovators in business, pioneers in science and technology, and promoters of cross-cultural communication, contributing youthful strength to address global challenges such as peace and security, sustainable development, and environmental protection.
Du Zhanyuan, CICG president, making a speech via video links at China Today • Macao Salon in Hengqin, Guangdong Province on July 27, 2025.
Jacobo García, president of Global Youth Leadership Forum, said that his trip to the Greater Bay Area and this dialogue event offered him and other young European leaders a new perspective on China-Europe relations. He believes the Greater Bay Area is a place of transformation and innovation. To effectively tackle shared challenges, he stressed the importance of recognizing the pivotal role of technological revolution, economic development, and global cooperation. He emphasized the need for promoting deeper exchanges in talent training, in science and technology, and among young people. Garcia concluded that global collaboration is unequivocally indispensable to the efforts of addressing humanity’s common challenges.
Jacobo García, president of Global Youth Leadership Forum, presenting a speech at China Today • Macao Salon in Hengqin, Guangdong Province on July 27, 2025.
Li Chong , deputy director of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, pointed out that China is continuously empowering Hengqin with strategic and policy support and promoting the “Macao + Hengqin” model to form it into a new platform for China’s high-standard opening-up. He introduced the development priorities of Hengqin and warmly welcomed young people from across Europe to make Hengqin a must-visit destination during their trip to China, for it is a place where they can experience a confident, friendly, open, and inclusive China in the new era.
Li Chong is delivering a speech.
Liu Yiliang, member of the Executive Council of Macao, pointed out that more and more Macao residents are coming to Hengqin for employment, entrepreneurship, and business development, and the number of international enterprises with presence both in Macao and Hengqin is increasing as well. He noted that young European leaders and entrepreneurs can fully leverage the advantages of China’s “Macao + Hengqin” model and Portuguese (and Spanish)-speaking countries’ trade and commerce platforms to explore the Chinese market.
Liu Yiliang is delivering a speech.
During the dialogue and exchange session, young participants from the Greater Bay Area and Europe actively shared their insights and discussed topics such as the current state and future trends of sci-tech innovation enterprises and the responsibilities of businesses in promoting social progress. Speakers during this section of the event included Liu Zhilong, a young entrepreneur from the Macao SAR, Jesús Caicedo, CEO of Spain-based Airtrace Technologies, Huang Jinda, executive director of Hong Kong-based Hong Thai Enterprises Company Limited, Stephan Katzgraber, an Austrian entrepreneur and investor, Qiao Liang, chairman of Jingzhaoren Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., Benedek Szilágyi, co-founder of Hungary-based Voovo, Wang Zhaomin, founder of Zhuhai-based Mojie Technology, Matías Acosta, CEO of Italy-based Cosysense Cleantech, Lan Guang, a young entrepreneur from the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, and Xiao Qidong, a young entrepreneur from Macao and founder & CEO of Shengwu Technology.
Speeches being given by Chinese and European youth representatives.
At the event, the China Today Salon in Macao also featured a small exhibition of intangible cultural heritage. Several guests were invited to share stories about the preservation, development, and international exchange of the intangible cultural heritage. They include Zhong Zhiwei, the fourth-generation inheritor of Zhong’s Kiln and blue-and-white porcelain with floral and bird pattern, Wang Jiping, deputy general manager of Jingdezhen Yuanyuan Ceramics Co., Ltd., Gong Yuhui, doctoral advisor at the School of Art and Design of Wuhan University of Technology and a master of ceramic art design, Dai Jinhai, representative inheritor of Puchou Silk, Li Weiping, master of cloisonné painting, and Yang Yuan, CEO of Forbidden City Cultural Technology Co., Ltd. (UAE).
An intangible cultural heritage exhibition during the event.
This event was co-hosted by the CPAFFC and CICG, organized by the CICG Center for Europe and Africa (China Today magazine), and co-organized by the Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Over 80 youth representatives and representatives of various sectors from China and Europe attended the event.
