Yang Mei

yangmei_szdaily@163.com

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

The event brings together 70 young delegates from over 30 countries to engage in vital discussions on civilizational innovation, development, and dialogue.

The 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 June 29 to tomorrow, delegates will stay in Shenzhen visiting key labs and high-tech firms 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 and sustainable development.

For Nadhira Salsabila, sustainability manager at the ASEAN Youth Organization and a postgraduate student at the University of Malaya, this marks her first visit to both Shenzhen and the TGYD. 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 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.

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

He 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 hopes to apply the lessons learned from Shenzhen’s rapid development to policy debates and youth initiatives back in South Africa.

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 global ecosystem.