Youth camp fosters global connections

The Youth Development for a Shared Future Summer Camp 2026 has officially started, drawing 84 students and teachers from 16 countries to take part in exchange and sightseeing activities in Beijing and East China's Fujian province.

Organized by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, the weeklong program runs from July 19 to 25 and welcomes participants primarily from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative including Armenia, Ghana, Malaysia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.

Through the tours, participants gain insights into the history and current development of the Maritime Silk Road, as well as China's economic and social landscape. They also experience the country's traditional culture and cutting-edge technologies, and visit local schools for face-to-face exchanges with their Chinese peers.

For Elena Golubovic, a student from Montenegro's capital Podgorica, the camp offers a personal window into a civilization she has long been curious about.

"I am familiar with the general idea of the ancient Silk Road which connected different countries and cultures, allowing people to exchange not only goods, but also knowledge, traditions, art and ideas. I understand the Belt and Road Initiative as a modern idea of connection and cooperation between different countries, and I am interested in learning more about it during the program," she says.