CONTRIBUTING TO HUMANITY

As the living standards of Chinese have taken a great leap forward, overseas education has become more accessible to average young Chinese.

A period spent overseas had strengthened Qiao Lin's resolve to throw pottery. She was born into a family of ceramics workers in Shanxi Province, where Fahua artwork has been made for centuries.

"When I saw foreigners' enthusiasm for Fahua artwork in the United States, I considered passing on the skill and even invigorating the handicraft," she said.

The young woman, who had been studying at a university in the United States, decided to return to her hometown. Qiao has dedicated herself to exploring new Fahua pottery designs including innovations in color glazing, and her artworks are particularly popular among young people.

"We should combine these ancient techniques and traditions with modern life," she said.

Qiao Lin creates Fahua artwork at Shapo Village of Yangcheng County, north China's Shanxi Province, March 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)

Statistics showed that in 2019, more than 700,000 Chinese students went abroad for education, while the number of overseas returnees exceeded 580,000.

With the Belt and Road Initiative, more and more young Chinese are going abroad to start businesses or work. Hundreds of thousands of young Chinese work hard on foreign lands, contributing to local development.

Sun Xinming, an employee at the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, is one of them. He is a project manager in Kenya, leading a young team for the Mombasa Port area road development project.

"Having worked in Kenya for six years, I have had the opportunity to improve myself," Sun said, adding that being part of the efforts to contribute to local economic and social development is gratifying.

In an interconnected "global village," Chinese youth have grown more proud, confident and assured of their Chinese identity, reflecting the nation's ever-improving image on the international stage.

President Xi said today's young Chinese should not only care about their family and country but also have concern for humanity.

He called on them to promote the spirit of "a shared community for all nations" and "pursuing a just cause for the common good" as championed by the Chinese culture, strive for national rejuvenation while contributing to the Belt and Road and a community with a shared future for humanity.

"Young people are the future of every nation and of the world," Xi said.