Young foreigners in China, motivated by Chinese President Xi Jinping's reply letter to representatives of foreign participants in the Global Young Leaders Dialogue (GYLD), have pledged to further promote exchanges and dialogue between China and the rest of the world.
In the letter, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, hailed young foreigners for their active efforts to visit various parts of China and deepen their understanding of the country.
He encouraged them to further promote exchanges and learn from each other, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
The letter evoked a warm response among the participants of the GYLD program, who voiced their thoughts on the letter.
The viewpoint of "following a development path suited to local conditions" mentioned in the letter struck a chord with Joshua Dominick, an American representative who has lived in China for 20 years and witnessed China's rapid development.
Dominick said that the international youth have their own way of introducing China's development path to the world and expressed that he will share his experiences in China with family and friends.
Erik Nilsson, an American journalist and recipient of the Chinese government's Friendship Award, believed that the letter from President Xi is not only a tremendous honor for global youth leaders, but also a reflection of the value that the Chinese president places on international exchange, cooperation and friendship.
"Indeed, President Xi has long called for greater exchanges and communication with the international community, and I believe that the global young leaders' programs including the tours, answer this very well," Nilsson said.
"I believe that the completed trips are just starting points for even greater things to come in the future. I believe that President Xi Jinping's letter is also a recognition of this," he added.
Joseph Olivier Mendo'o from Cameroon is a researcher at the Center for African Studies at Peking University. He said that the reply reflects President Xi's care and attention to the work and life of international youth in China. Mendo'o added that participating in the China Tour activity of the program allowed him to realize the meaning of the phrase "Happiness must be achieved through hard work" in President Xi's letter.
Rafael Henrique Zerbetto from Brazil learned from the visits about the efficiency of the governance model in China. "Issues are very easily addressed and it's really amazing," he said, adding that "innovation is bringing progress to China and Chinese people always find a way to face the challenges."
Jonathan Lopez, a dual citizen of Colombia and Canada, said that the reply signaled a couple of things. "First is the recognition of the importance of the mission that we have to create more bridges between international talents and China, so we can promote China to the rest of the world," Lopez said. "Second, it serves as an encouragement - to work harder, to keep on working because this is just the beginning."
"It's clear that there are many opportunities for young people like us here in China and we need to become ambassadors, work harder to promote the development of China and explain it better to the rest of the world, becoming a bridge, so people can know the story of China and hold all the opportunities that are here for them."
Zoon Ahmed Khan, a Pakistani researcher on the Belt and Road Initiative at Tsinghua University, came to China six years ago. She said that many international young people have received education, built careers and established friendships in China and that they "felt part of this nation." The letter they received means that "this sentiment and emotion is reciprocal."
"It is a great encouragement for other young people that are consistently thinking about how China is a place that encourages talents, a place (that) knows how to help people fulfill their dreams in various different professions," Khan said.
Jointly initiated by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, the GYLD program offers a platform for the sharing of ideas and mutual learning among young achievers under the age of 45 with diverse regional, cultural, disciplinary, sectorial and professional backgrounds across the globe.
A seminar, attended by youth delegates, scholars and officials from international organizations, was held by CCG in Beijing on Aug. 12.
Speaking at the seminar, Siddharth Chatterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, noted that President Xi in his reply letter called for young people at home and abroad to contribute to building a community of share future for mankind "which is prosperous, where there is more peace, benevolence, and above all, more compassion."
On Aug. 11, a symposium on the study of Xi's letter was held at the China International Publishing Group.
Representatives of young foreign participants in the GYLD who wrote the letter, young foreigners in China, and representatives from Chinese think tanks said that President Xi's reply fully reflects the great importance that the CPC and government attach to the friendship between Chinese and foreign youths, and that they will work together to pool the strength of young people for the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
