SZ's Gen Z to take the mic at APEC 2026

Video by Zhen Jianhong

The narrative of next year’s APEC summit will be shaped not only by seasoned journalists but also by a new generation of storytellers. 

On Dec. 12, at the lively HiShenzhen & HiQianhai International Community Carnival and the “Amazing Shenzhen” Global Gen Z Creative Story Contest Awards Ceremony, the International Communication Center of Shenzhen News Group unveiled its latest venture: the Z10 Global Action Plan for 2026.

International visitors designated as “Shenzhen Global Communication Ambassadors” receive certificates during the HiShenzhen & HiQianhai International Community Carnival and the “Amazing Shenzhen” Global Gen Z Creative Story Contest Awards Ceremony in Qianhai on Friday. Photos by Lin Songtao unless otherwise stated

One highlight of the action plan is the APEC Z-Lens, an initiative designed to put university students at the forefront of international reporting as the 2026 APEC summit is set to take place in Shenzhen.

Central to this new media movement is the Z10 Club, a youth collective that began as a campus talent search across 10 Shenzhen universities in early 2025. What started as a small task force has since grown into what members fondly call a “mini-United Nations,” comprising about 80 students from 24 countries and regions. 

Members of the Z10 Club pose for a photo during the club’s launch ceremony in Shenzhen on March 5.  Liu Xudong

In just one year, they have organized nearly 20 events — from a sustainability-focused road trip across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to hosting international influencers and showcasing Shenzhen’s innovative spirit at expos abroad. Their fresh approach recently earned them recognition as one of Shenzhen’s “Top 10 Outstanding International Communication Projects.”

Now, the club is setting its sights on 2026 with a three-part action plan. The cornerstone is the APEC Z-Lens. Members will serve as on-the-ground correspondents, producing vlogs, social media content, and multilingual reports that connect APEC’s global themes with life in Shenzhen — from its tech hubs and green initiatives to its cultural spaces. 

Alongside this flagship program, the Z10 Club will launch a Z10 Pickleball Youth League aimed at building community through sport and cross-cultural exchange, as well as a Global Gen Z Tech Workshop offering hands-on sessions with tech firms. Recruitment for all initiatives is open now.

Hungarian student Weszely Bence Tamás of the Peking University HSBC Business School (2nd L) receives an award certificate alongside other winners and presenters during the “Amazing Shenzhen” Global Gen Z Creative Story Contest award ceremony in Qianhai on Friday.

A video work titled “Shenzhen’s Driverless Future” by Weszely Bence Tamás, a Hungarian student at the Peking University HSBC Business School, won the third prize in the “Amazing Shenzhen” Global Gen Z Creative Story Contest.

Weszely commented, “Shenzhen is a fantastic city. Beyond technology, I hope to showcase more of its entrepreneurial ecosystem and natural environment in my future works.”

As a member of Generation Z, he added, “Gen Z grew up in the digital age and is highly active on various social platforms. They are accustomed to using a common language of expression, which allows information to spread faster and more widely.”

Behind the scenes, the Shenzhen News Group provides a robust support system through its three specialized platforms: UGC Creators for global content co-creation, Shenzhen Next for telling the stories of local enterprises expanding worldwide, and IP Shenzhen, a digital repository of high-quality visual assets. Together, they equip the young broadcasters with professional tools, training, and distribution channels, integrating their output into the Shenzhen News Group’s wider international strategy, which includes partnerships with foreign media.

Participants record moments during the event in Qianhai on Friday. 

The carnival also celebrated winners of the “Amazing Shenzhen” Global Gen Z Creative Story Contest, where young creators from around the world shared their personal, diverse impressions of Shenzhen through short films and digital art.

Meanwhile, the event also honored several “Shenzhen Global Communication Ambassadors” — international advocates who have long helped share the city’s story with the world.