The APEC Research Center Joint Conference Youth Scholars Forum Grand Opening

Opening Ceremony

Time: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 8:30 AM

Location: Liwen Hall, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen)

Host Remarks

Host Zhong Haonan (Student at the School of Data Science, CUHK(SZ), and Yifu College) and Xue Run (Graduate Student at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Huhan College) opened the forum in both Chinese and English. Zhong Haonan stated: “Pengcheng in May, blooming flowers everywhere; the Bay Area surges with waves, gathering wisdom for the future.” As part of the “APEC China Year” series of events, this forum is co-hosted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen) and Nankai University APEC Research Center, with the Qianhai International Affairs Research Institute as a co-organizer. It gathered young scholar representatives from 13 APEC economies to conduct in-depth discussions around the theme “Shaping New Drivers of Development: Youth, Innovation, and a Sustainable Future.”

Important Guests

The forum invited distinguished guests from national ministries and commissions, the APEC Secretariat, Guangdong Province and Shenzhen City governments, universities, enterprises, and various sectors of society, including:

Chairman of the Forum Organizing Committee, President of CUHK(SZ), Xu Yangsheng

Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Eduardo Pedrosa

Professor at the University of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, former Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council, and Director of the National Data Expert Advisory Committee, Jiang Xiaojian

Secretary-General of the World Internet Conference and former Deputy Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, Ren Xianliang

Standing Committee Member of Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee and Member of the Municipal Government Party Group, Chen Qing

Counselor of the International Economic Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xu Zhongsheng

Vice Chairman of the China Education Development Foundation, Ge Zhenjiang

And over 800 young scholar representatives from 13 APEC economies including Australia, Chile, China, Hong Kong (China), South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, as well as specially invited Macau scholars.

Speeches at the Podium

Wang Cong, Associate Vice President of CUHK(SZ), delivered the opening speech

Professor Wang Cong announced: “The Youth Scholar Forum of the APEC Research Center Joint Conference is officially open!” He emphasized that 2026 is the “China Year” of APEC, and Shenzhen, as the host of the APEC Leaders’ Informal Meeting, will showcase to the world the vivid practice of Chinese-style modernization and reform and opening-up with the city’s image as an innovation hub and an open window.

President Xu Yangsheng: Practice is Key for Young Scholars

In his speech, President Xu Yangsheng said that Shenzhen is one of the youngest major cities globally, with an average age of 32. He encouraged young scholars to focus on three types of practice:

Internationalization Practice - Participate in international cooperation projects, collaborate with young scholars from different economies, and solve problems from multiple perspectives

Deep Connection with Society Practice - Interact with industry, communities, and public institutions to understand the complexity of real-world issues, especially integrating humanistic understanding into AI

First-Hand Practice Experience - Visit factories, hospitals, and communities to face real human lives that data cannot capture

President Xu stated: “When we can learn and work with people from different backgrounds, we deepen mutual understanding and promote innovation.”

Eduardo Pedrosa: Youth Are the Future of APEC

In his speech, Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, pointed out that since APEC’s founding, membership has grown from 12 to 21, accounting for 37% of the world’s population and 61% of global GDP. The average income in the Asia-Pacific region has nearly doubled, from $12,000 to $31,000. He emphasized: “The future belongs to young people; your work will play a key role in the ongoing progress.”

Jiang Xiaojian: AI Promotes International Exchange, Youth Must Lead

Professor Jiang Xiaojian delivered a speech titled “AI Promotes International Exchange, Youth Must Lead.” She pointed out that AI is a native globalization technology. China’s well-known large model Qwen has reached 50% overseas users, and ChatGPT has 1 billion monthly active users, with over 85% overseas. Jiang cited the Orange Cloud Design Platform, which gathers over 300,000 designers from 17 countries, providing R&D and design services for about 40 countries’ enterprises, demonstrating the broad scope of technological globalization. She called on: “Young people are the future of this world. We are native AI humans. I hope everyone works together to promote AI for good, creating a better, united, and shared world.”

Ren Xianliang: Youth Should Be Pioneers of Technological Breakthroughs

Ren Xianliang, Secretary-General of the World Internet Conference, expressed three expectations:

Use innovative development as the engine, be pioneers of technological breakthroughs - Promote technological exchange and cooperation, engage in R&D of AI, big data, 6G, and other new technologies

Use open exchange as a bridge, be practitioners of mutual learning and mutual benefit - Actively step onto the global stage, collide ideas, and inspire innovation through exchanges

Use responsibility as a mission, be guardians of the digital future - Participate in international rule-making and digital governance practices to promote sustainable development

He also introduced the “Global Youth Leaders Program” of the World Internet Conference, which has selected 56 youth leaders from 38 countries and regions, encouraging young scholars to participate actively.

Video Speech by Vice Minister of Education, Ren Youqun

In his video speech, Vice Minister Ren Youqun expressed three hopes:

Be explorers of cutting-edge technology, bravely venture into academic “no-man’s land,” and let original breakthroughs benefit the people of Asia-Pacific

Be practitioners of green development, promote low-carbon technologies from laboratories to production lines

Be promoters of cultural mutual learning, use youth to promote mutual understanding among peoples, and inject warmth into building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future

Video Speech by President Chen Yulu of Nankai University

President Chen Yulu, representing Nankai University, stated that the Nankai University APEC Research Center was established in 1995 and has played an advanced role in China’s APEC-related theory and policy research for over 30 years. He looks forward to using this forum as an opportunity to deepen exchanges and cooperation with APEC member colleagues and jointly address global challenges.

Introduction to APEC “China Year” Progress by Counselor Xu Zhongsheng, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Counselor Xu Zhongsheng detailed the theme and three major priority areas of APEC “China Year”:

Theme: “Building an Asia-Pacific Community of Shared Future and Promoting Common Prosperity”

Three Priority Areas:

Build an open and interconnected Asia-Pacific - Marking the 20th anniversary of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area vision, exploring RCEP and CPTPP alignment, and advancing the construction of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Area

Build an innovation-driven Asia-Pacific - Hosting the APEC Digital Week series, deepening cooperation in digital empowerment, AI infrastructure, inclusive and universal development

Build a cooperative and win-win Asia-Pacific - Deepening cooperation in green low-carbon development, clean energy, finance, transportation, and other fields

He revealed that the second APEC summit will be held in Shanghai from May 11 to 19, and the APEC Trade Ministers’ Meeting will be held in Suzhou from May 20 to 23.

Speech by Vice Director of Guangdong Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, Chen Guangjun

Vice Director Chen Guangjun introduced that in 2025, Guangdong’s GDP will surpass 14.58 trillion yuan, ranking first in the country for 37 consecutive years, with regional innovation capacity ranking first nationwide for nine years in a row. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster has ranked first globally in the Innovation Index for the first time. He stated that the 33rd APEC Leaders’ Informal Meeting will be held in Shenzhen this November, and Guangdong will take this opportunity to further promote pragmatic cooperation with APEC economies in trade, investment, science and technology, and talent development.

Significance of the Forum

This forum is the first youth scholar forum held by APEC and has been included as one of the official activities of “APEC China Year.” It features four sub-forums focusing on “Innovative Technology Empowerment: Opportunities in AI and Digital Economy,” “Regional Economic Integration: Youth Roles and Actions,” “Breaking Barriers: Education Reforms and Intergenerational Conflicts in the AI Era,” and “Towards a Green and Sustainable Future: Youth Perspectives and Initiatives.”

Professor Wang Cong, hosting, stated: “We look forward to scholars actively sharing and engaging deeply in the sub-forums, sparking more ideas and producing valuable academic insights and cooperation initiatives.”

The opening ceremony concluded successfully after a group photo of all guests, and the forum immediately entered the sub-forum discussion sessions.