Global youth leaders convene for Tsinghua Dialogue

The 3rd Tsinghua Global Youth Dialogue (TGYD) kicked off at the Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS) yesterday morning, marking the beginning of a transformative program set to run from yesterday to July 10. 

This year's dialogue, themed "Illuminating the Unreached," brings together 70 young delegates from over 30 countries to engage in vital discussions on Civilization Innovation, Civilization Development, and Civilization Dialogue. The initiative also aims to offer participants an immersive experience of China's modernization efforts.

Hugo Fontanel (C) from France speaks while his teammate, Iuliia Bautdinova of Russia, looks on during their presentation at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) City Innovation Demo Day event. Photos by Lin Songtao

Among the diverse group of global youth leaders are representatives from prominent organizations such as Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries Youth Platform, ASEAN Youth Organization, and Arab Youth Center, as well as students from prestigious universities worldwide. 

The comprehensive program includes field trips to Shenzhen, Guizhou Province, and Beijing, offering participants a firsthand look at China's advancements and an opportunity to discuss global challenges like sustainable development, technological innovation, and cultural exchange.

From yesterday to Tuesday, delegates will stay in Shenzhen visiting key labs, high-tech companies such as DeepRoute.ai and Insta360 to have a glimpse into the city’s technological innovation. They’ll also engage in dialogues and Q&A sessions to exchange thoughts and spark new ideas on globalization, sustainable development and other topics.

Nadhira Salsabila, sustainability manager at the ASEAN Youth Organization and a postgraduate student at the University of Malaya, expressed her excitement and awe at the sheer scale of the TGYD. “Bringing 70 people from all around the world, it's not something that you get to see a lot,” she remarked.

For Salsabila, this marks her first visit to both Shenzhen and the TGYD. Her initial impressions of Shenzhen were particularly striking. “When I came out of the airport, it was very foreign to me, foreign in a good way,” she explained. “When I came out of the airport, there were lanes that are color- and number-coded for taxis, highlighting the city's advanced infrastructure and disciplined environment," she said. Having grown up in Abu Dhabi with technology all around, she still found Shenzhen to be on “a whole different level of technology.”

Salsabila’s work focuses on sustainable development and youth empowerment. A native of Indonesia, the 23-year-old hopes to learn how to incorporate Shenzhen's advancements into her own developing country, specifically by finding ways to engage youth and ensure that indigenous communities are not left behind in the pursuit of globalization and sustainable development. Salsabila looks forward to discussions on “how culture inclusion can be also on board and sustainable development.”

Salsabila shared with Shenzhen Daily that she particularly anticipates the Beijing leg of the trip, eager to experience its blend of future technology and deeply embedded culture.

Salsabila also stressed the profound impact of international exchange among youth. Drawing from her experience with the ASEAN Youth Organization, she has witnessed how delegates return to their countries and establish organizations that contribute to national development. Salsabila called on young people worldwide to take action to tackle global challenges: “If you're not gonna start, then no one is gonna start for you. You don't have to be great to start. You just need to grow along the way.”

Wandile Mhlengi Ngcaweni, a research fellow at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection in Johannesburg and a recent master's graduate from Peking University's Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development, echoed Salsabila's enthusiasm for the TGYD. Having previously visited Shenzhen, Ngcaweni is keen to revisit the city from a “youth development perspective.”

His primary interest lies in youth issues, particularly youth unemployment, political participation, access to resources, and economic inclusion, and other global challenges. Ngcaweni views the TGYD as a crucial platform to broaden his understanding of these issues on a global scale. 

“Shenzhen, in fact, is one of the premier platforms to learn and discuss about youth issues,” he stated, referring to Shenzhen as a “young and growing city, full of innovations.” He sees the city as a testament to the power of dreaming big: “If you dream big, it's possible here.”

Ngcaweni is eager to immerse himself in aspects beyond his usual humanities and political economy focus, seeking to learn more about technology, innovation, engineering, and environmental perspectives. He believes that the trans-disciplinary nature of the program will allow him to “draw as much knowledge as possible.” He hopes to apply the lessons learned from Shenzhen's rapid development to policy debates and youth initiatives back in South Africa.

Delegates gather for a group photo during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Tsinghua Global Youth Dialogue at Tsinghua SIGS in Shenzhen yesterday.

The TGYD is a global platform for youth leaders and international programs of Tsinghua University. It aims to establish an exchange network between Tsinghua and global youth leaders, empowering youth through practical experiences, and fostering mutual understanding and cooperation for a global ecosystem. 

Supervised by the Center for Global Competence Development at Tsinghua and coordinated by the TGYD Secretariat, it has launched a series of successful branded innovation events, summer exchange dialogues and overseas practical activities, and more.