Students take part in the recent Youth Innovation Competition on the Lancang-Mekong Region's Governance and Development in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Based on stringent screening criteria, a total of 20 teams excelled and entered the final round of the competition, where finalists ran for four grand awards - Most Valuable Issue, Most Innovative Team, Best International Team and Best Project for Incubation - through group presentations, debates and ad hoc team tasks.

The Mekong River, known as the Lancang in China, is the world's ninth longest waterway. It's one of the most important water systems in Asia. It originates in, and runs through China, and also traverses Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam before finally joining the South China Sea.

In the past few years, much attention has been attached to the joint protection, governance and development of this subregion, and to the economic cooperation and cultural exchange among the six countries.

Experts believe that building relationships across cultures is vital to creating a more peaceful and just world. When people from diverse cultures and backgrounds know and understand one another - and gain the skills they need to contribute as citizens and leaders - they form the global partnerships that underpin global security, economic stability and tolerance.

"It's a very important occasion for students to build competence, learn to work with each other and gain insights from experts," says Sethik Rath, dean of faculty of development studies at Royal University of Phnom Penh, who is on the expert committee guiding students through the preparations for their projects.