(Xinhua/Shi Yifei)
Young Chinese and Europeans met in Beijing on Monday to discuss their essential roles in strengthening future relations between China and Europe, following half a century of bilateral diplomatic relations.
“Young people, through their open-mindedness and inclusiveness, are the best ambassadors for breaking cognitive barriers,” said Zhao Rui, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, at the opening ceremony of the China-Europe Youth Dialogue 2025.
Organized by the academy’s Institute of European Studies, this conference brought together 61 representatives of Generation Z from 30 European countries and around 60 students and young researchers from China. They explore together the theme “China-Europe relations in the next 50 years”.
“Relations between China and Europe will be crucial for the future, and it is good that they belong to the next generation,” said Grzegorz Kolodko, former Polish deputy prime minister, stressing that there is more trust between younger generations and therefore greater hope of making changes for the better.
Highlighting the significant role of young people as builders of a bright future, Jonathan Schwestka, European Director of the Europe-Asia Center, proposed that young people from the two regions should become promoters of better Europe-China relations, characterized by deep mutual understanding and trust, stronger people-to-people exchanges, academic cooperation, business partnerships and common innovation.
During the event organized in the Chinese capital, young Chinese and Europeans will engage in dialogues on specific themes, such as exchanges of cultures and civilizations, and scientific, technological and economic cooperation.
China established diplomatic relations with the European Economic Community (EEC), the predecessor of the European Union (EU), in 1975. In 2003, the two parties established a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Over the past half century, China-Europe relations have stood the test of international turbulence, Zhao said. “As global challenges persist, young people embody the future and hope for bilateral ties, and bear the historic responsibility to promote their healthy and stable development in the future.”
