The 2023 "Bridge of the Future" China-Central Asia Youth Leader Training and Exchange Campus dialogue was held in Lanzhou, Northwest China's Gansu Province, on July 28.

A total of 85 participants, including over 20 young representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, as well as representatives of the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF) and young representatives from Lanzhou, attended the dialogue. The event focused on youth cultural exchanges and development.

Zhang Hua, Director of the China International Youth Exchange Center (CIYEC), addressed the conference, noting that peace, development, and win-win cooperation are the prevailing trends of human society and the common direction for all countries' joint efforts.

China and Central Asia share many similarities and are closely linked in the development of the Belt and Road, Zhang said, adding that all parties should implement the consensus reached by the heads of state at the China-Central Asia summit, bolster mutually beneficial cooperation, uphold security, consolidate the foundation of public opinion, and build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future to create a brighter future for China and Central Asian countries.

Hu Junfeng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Lanzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and Vice-Mayor of Lanzhou, extended a warm welcome to the foreign guests.

He said that the training and exchange campus held in Lanzhou has built a bridge for enhancing mutual understanding, exchanges and cooperation between youth from Lanzhou and other countries. He said he hopes that the young participants from the five Central Asian countries can further strengthen exchanges with local Lanzhou youth in culture, tourism, economy, trade, technological innovation, and youth development, and carry out practical, open and dynamic exchanges.

During the event, representatives from the international department of the ACYF introduced the World Youth Development Forum and the 2023 Action Plan for Global Youth Development. Five young representatives from Central Asian countries and two Chinese youth representatives shared their work and growth experiences, focusing on the creative transformation and innovative development of traditional culture, youth cultural concepts, and work experiences. The young participants held discussions on trade, investment, transportation, logistics, culture, and security.

The event was hosted by the ACYF, and co-organized by the CIYEC and the Gansu provincial youth federation with help from the Lanzhou youth federation. After the conference, participants from Central Asia will have a tour in Lanzhou, including visits to Gansu Provincial Museum, Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Lanzhou LS Group Co., Ltd..