Forum fuels youth ambitions

The Lancang-Mekong Young Entrepreneurs Forum in Kunming brought together over 100 young leaders from six countries to foster regional cooperation, innovation, and economic development.

From July 22 to 25, the Lancang-Mekong Young Entrepreneurs Forum was held in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan province. The event attracted over 100 representatives from youth organizations and young entrepreneurs from the six Lancang-Mekong countries: China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

With the theme "Deepen Cooperation, Share Prosperity", the forum aimed to enhance practical cooperation among young people from these countries and to promote the growth of the Lancang-Mekong Economic Development Belt.

Wang Yi, vice president of the All-China Youth Federation, stated at the opening ceremony, "Young people are the future of our countries and the hope of Lancang-Mekong cooperation. Building a better community for a shared future of peace and prosperity among Lancang-Mekong countries relies on the efforts of young people."

The forum organized roundtable meetings, dialogues, and group visits for young entrepreneurs to engage in in-depth exchanges on topics such as modern agriculture, green development, scientific and technological innovation, and regional connectivity.

Swam Saung Oo, head of a Myanmar technology company specializing in mobile games, said that the forum broadened his horizons and allowed him to share experiences with peers. He also planned to attend the China Digital Entertainment Expo and Conference, or ChinaJoy 2024, in Shanghai after the forum to meet with Chinese business partners and explore China's booming gaming industry.

Lam Cam Sau from Vietnam runs a plastic packaging company. Having majored in Chinese at university, he is not only fluent in spoken Chinese but also skilled in calligraphy and well-versed in China's four great classical novels. He has long engaged in business with regions like Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces, and now he is seeking opportunities in Yunnan through this forum.

After visiting the China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Lam is very optimistic about the prospects.

"There are 108 service windows gathered in one hall. If a Vietnamese company wants to set up a branch in China, all the procedures can be completed here in one go, and you can quickly get a business license, including paying taxes. It's incredibly convenient," he said.

Viengkham Thongnaly from Laos is the president of a trading company and an authorized dealer for many Chinese vehicle brands in Laos.

"China offers excellent policies for foreign businesses. We have already established our branch and are now surveying the market. We will soon be setting up in Yunnan," she said.

The forum also featured many members of Generation Z. Sasis Panchakunathorn, 29, head of a retail and wholesale business network in Thailand, operates a 75,000-sqm shopping mall and two 3,000-sqm supermarket branches in Suratthani in southern Thailand. He has been seeking cooperation opportunities and aiming to gain experience in retail space development from China.

"I visited many shopping malls here in China and take many places as good samples to build in my own projects," he said.

Khoun Rachana, 23, a project assistant at the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia (YEAC), aims to empower young professionals and entrepreneurs in the Lancang-Mekong region through this forum.

YEAC, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization focused on advancing the next-generation economy, offers training, access to finance, business matching, and international opportunities for youth. This aligns with Rachana's role, where she facilitates the participation of Cambodian delegates in the forum and connects them with business prospects.

She also recommended her translator, Li Wankai, a young Chinese student of Cambodian at Yunnan Minzu University, for an internship in Cambodia.

"As exchanges and cooperation between China and Cambodia have increased in recent years, companies in both countries demand more bilingual individuals, which gives young students like us bright career prospects," said Li.

Rachana is also pleased with the rising influence that China is having in Cambodia. She noted that many young Cambodians are watching Chinese TV dramas, using Taobao for online shopping, and developing an interest in the Chinese language.

"There is a lot of investment from China coming to Cambodia, especially in construction. I believe this entrepreneurs' forum will bring more prosperity and connection between Cambodia and China," she said.

Kaung Myat Zaw, 28, the managing director of a company specializing in real estate development, hotels, and tourism, mentioned that the ongoing conflict in Myanmar has affected other countries' perceptions of Myanmar and its companies.

He found the forum helpful for understanding the true thoughts, concerns, and intentions of entrepreneurs from other countries, and it also facilitated connections and mutual business exchanges.

San Zaw Htet, 29, who heads an education consultation group in Myanmar, is focused on the potential for educational cooperation with Chinese schools.

"The main purpose of my visit is to build connections with Chinese universities because there is a lot of interest among Myanmar students in studying in China," he said.

"Students nowadays are good at finding the information they need. They realize that China is getting stronger. If they study in China instead of going to the West, there will be more chances in the future."

San noted that they have already established relations with Xi'an Jiaotong University in Northwest China's Shaanxi province and are now looking for more options in Yunnan, as it is much closer and more convenient for students from Myanmar.

He views the forum as a key communication channel for all the countries in the Lancang-Mekong region.

"Our generation has received a lot of one-sided information from Western media, leading to miscommunication among different countries. That's why I find this event really helpful because we can communicate with each other," he said.

guiqian@i21st.cn