On July 27, over 30 young entrepreneurial elites and representatives from more than 10 European countries, including Spain, France, Italy, and Sweden, arrived in Zhuhai and Hengqin for an exchange visit. The trip formed part of the "Bridge to the Future·European Youth Leaders Tour of the Greater Bay Area" series of events organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and co-organized by municipal People's Associations for Friendship with Foreign Countries in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Zhongshan and Jiangmen.
Group Photo of "Bridge of Peace: Dialogue Between GBA and European Youth Leaders" in Hengqin
In the morning, the "Bridge of Peace: Dialogue Between GBA and European Youth Leaders" event was held in Hengqin. The event aimed to explore win-win business opportunities through dialogue and exchanges between young entrepreneurs from China and Europe. Attendees included: Lyu Hongwei, Deputy Director of the European and Asian Affairs Department of CPAFFC; Li Chong, Member of the Hengqin Working Committee of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and Deputy Director of the Executive Committee of the Hengqin Cooperation Zone; Liu Yiliang, Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and Member of the 6th Executive Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region; Feng Shengsheng, Director of Zhuhai Foreign Affairs Office.
The opening segment featured a promotional video of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), showcasing its social, cultural and technological achievements. A "digital dove of peace" then took flight from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and traveled north to the Forbidden City in Beijing. In following video messages, Yang Wanming, President of the CPAFFC, and Du Zhanyuan, Director of the China International Communications Group, encouraged young Chinese and European leaders to promote civilizational dialogue with an inclusive mindset. They emphasized the importance of contributing youthful energy to addressing global challenges such as peace, security, sustainable development and environmental protection.
Jacobo García, Chairman of the World Youth Leadership Forum, stated that the event provided a valuable opportunity for participants to engage with Chinese entrepreneurs. Like many places in the GBA, Zhuhai and Hengqin offer rich opportunities, and there is potential for greater resource sharing between EU countries and these regions.
Li Chong highlighted Hengqin's development. Emphasizing that Hengqin's growth offers vast opportunities and boundless possibilities, he sincerely invited friends from around the world to work and live here.
Liu Yiliang expressed hope that young European representatives and entrepreneurs would leverage the "Macao+Hengqin" platform for trade between China and Portuguese- (and Spanish-) speaking countries to expand their markets.
During the dialogue session, young representatives from the GBA and Europe shared insights and discussed the current state and future trends of tech start-ups. Wang Zhaomin, founder of Zhuhai Meta-Bounds Inc.; Lan Guang, a young entrepreneur from the Hengqin Cooperation Zone; and Xiao Qidong, a Macao-based young entrepreneur, showcased the vibrant innovation scenes in Zhuhai, Hengqin, and Macao. The event also featured a small-scale exhibition of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), where several ICH inheritors shared stories of preservation and international exchange.
In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. At the Blue Dolphin Island, the guide provided a detailed introduction to the bridge's construction process and eco-friendly initiatives. When the guide explained the protective measures for Chinese white dolphins during the construction period, delegation members showed keen interest. Standing in front of an adorable children's painting of the dolphins, the guide vividly described the fascinating color changes of the dolphins from infancy to adulthood, captivating the foreign guests and eliciting spontaneous laughter. Against the backdrop of a vast blue sky, delegation members lingered on the observation deck, capturing the bridge's majestic structure and the breathtaking seascape with their cameras. Before departing, they gathered for a group photo on the island.
Foreign Guests listen intently to the guide's explanation
Alessandro Waltritsch, Co-founder of the EU Chamber of Commerce, remarked that the platform here in Zhuhai and Hengqin had helped them better understand the development of Chinese and European enterprises. He was particularly impressed by Zhuhai Meta-Bounds Inc., noting that many European companies were interested in its AR glasses. He also highlighted that the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge has significantly reduced travel times within the GBA, making it more convenient for tourists and foreign business visitors.
Group photo at the Blue Dolphin Island
Source | Zhuhai Foreign Affairs Office
