Qingdao in East China's Shandong province and Beijing welcomed over 200 young people from 14 countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), including heads and representatives of the national affiliates of the SCO Youth Council and other youth organizations in the SCO membership, as they arrived to take part in the 4th SCO Youth Camp held under the slogan "New Opportunities, New Future" from April 25 to May 2.

The event was organized by the China International Youth Exchange Center (CIYEC) and the Qingdao Youth Federation and supported by the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF).

The camp featured innovative technological and cultural projects, visits to industrial parks and a demo area of regional trade and economic cooperation in Beijing and Qingdao. Themed discussions and seminars were also held on the issues of economic cooperation and youth entrepreneurship in the SCO region.

As part of the SCO Youth Camp, Qingdao hosted the International Youth Entrepreneurship Forum on April 29. Wang Hongyan, President of the ACYF, put forth jointly solving worldwide problems by upholding the Silk Road Spirit of "peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit".

"The youth are the future of the SCO region and the driver of its development and progress. The SCO member states prioritize youth development," she said, adding that national youth organizations and business agencies have garnered extensive experience in promoting innovative youth entrepreneurship.

Noting that young people from all over the world should work together to pursue their start-up dreams and share development opportunities, Wang said she hoped the SCO youth will deepen the cooperation and exchanges in innovation and entrepreneurship to promote their common development.

The opening ceremony of the SCO Youth Exchange Space for Business Incubation (Qingdao) will write a new chapter of practical cooperation on innovation and business among the SCO youth, and the two sides will jointly launch a series of projects.

Wang and Himadrish Suwan, President of the Confederation of Young Leaders (CYL) of India, on behalf of the ACYF and the CYL, signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation.

The SCO Entrepreneurship Education and Business Incubation Exchange Meeting, the SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Promotion Conference, the SCO Youth Partnership Fair, and the China-Russia Youth Business Incubator Project Coordinators' Meeting were all held during the forum.

The forum participants shared their views on promoting international youth entrepreneurship, especially incubator development and entrepreneurship education. Proposals were made on establishing a platform for business leaders and young specialists to exchange experience and ideas in a powerful way, and on how to find new trends and possibilities for entrepreneurship and innovations in the development of economic and humanitarian cooperation within the SCO.

Young delegates of the SCO member states conducted multi-level and wide-ranging investigations into the development of high-end manufacturing, culture and tourism, filmmaking, green ports, marine development and oceans, the Internet of Things, high-tech industries and cross-border cooperation in the two cities.

They also had an immersive experience of the extensive and profound Chinese culture through ancient rituals and early music, which enhanced their friendship and guided them to learn more about the unparalleled charm of Chinese culture.

The SCO Youth Camp is an initiative voiced by President Xi Jinping at the SCO Summit in Ufa, Russia, in June 2015. The initiative spans five years and is aimed at enhancing youth interaction and encouraging the principles of the "Shanghai Spirit", which has inspired solidarity and will continue enlightening member states to pursue a community of a shared future.

The first SCO Youth Camp convened in August 2016 and the third one was held on 15-22 July 2018 also in Qingdao and Beijing.

To respond to the outcomes of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, this year's event was designed to explore new opportunities for cooperation and development in the SCO region, promote friendship and cooperation among youth of SCO members, and build a platform for entrepreneurial institutions and business youth of various countries so they can better participate in the Belt and Road Initiative.