Chongqing - The Chongqing Tour of the Belt and Road Partnership Plan for Teenager Science and Technology Innovation & the 7th Belt and Road Teenager Maker Camp and Teacher Workshop officially launched on Monday.

The inaugural performance (Photo/The organizer of the event)

As a sub-event of the inaugural Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange, which was held in Chongqing from November 6 to 7, this event embodies the ethos of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. 

The theme “Dream of Future Science, Dedication to a Better World” drew approximately 200 young maker elites and technology educators from 26 countries and regions spanning Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.

About 200 young maker elites and technology educators from 26 countries and regions participated in the event. (Photo/The organizer of the event)

Li Leiting, Vice Chairman of the Chongqing Association for Science and Technology, highlighted that Chongqing, as the sole municipality in western China under the Central Government, stands at the crossroads of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. In recent years, taking full advantage of national strategic opportunities like the formation of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and the development of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, Chongqing has merged into the BRI’s open innovation collaboration network. This has allowed the city to forge scientific and technological partnerships with over 60 countries and regions, culminating in more than 80 joint international projects. The implementation to host the inaugural Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange, alongside the Belt and Road Teenager Maker Camp and Teacher Workshop, is a testament to Chongqing’s significant efforts in this arena. 

Li said, “I am confident that Chongqing will play a pivotal role in advancing international collaborations in science and technology, as well as opening new avenues for youth science, technology, and cultural exchanges.”

All student representatives during the shout-out session (Photo/Li Xinyi)

The launching ceremony featured insights from four esteemed experts: Engr Mustafa B. Shehu, President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO); Ling Wen, Chairman of the Shandong Provincial Association for Science and Technology and Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Deng Wenzhong, Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; and Goi Bok Min, Vice President and Senior Professor at the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Malaysia. These experts shared their scientific research experiences and engaged in discussions with global educators and students. 

Additionally, announcements were made regarding the Release Ceremony of 2023-2024, the Belt and Road Overseas Engineering Science Popularization Camp, the shout-out session for student representatives from participating countries and regions, and the launching ceremony of the event.

The launching ceremony (Photo/The organizer of the event)

This sub-event showcased a blend of online and offline elements, merging science, technology, and humanities and bridging domestic and international perspectives. Participants, including students and teachers, were grouped into four thematic maker camps: “Space Exploration,” Colorful Creatures,” “Artificial Intelligence,” and “Creative Bridges.” They had the privilege to explore four institutions: Chongqing University, Southwest University, Chongqing Normal University, and Chongqing Jiaotong University. Direct interactions with university mentors and hands-on technological activities provided international youth with a glimpse into the wonders of technology.

The student representative from Uzbekistan participated in the Q&A Session. (Photo/The organizer of the event)

Additionally, they toured the Chang’an Global R&D Center and the Second Assembly Workshop. A journey on China’s high-speed rail took them to Yongchuan District, where they delved into the modern sericulture industry at the Xianlong Base in Xianlong Town and experienced the Shengshui Lake Modern Vegetable Industry Demonstration Park in Wujian Town. 

These visits showcased China’s at the forefront in intelligent manufacturing and smart agriculture. Alongside these academic and technological explorations, participants participated in cultural activities like intangible cultural heritage fairs, nighttime city tours, and interactive exchanges with International students in Chongqing.

The tour to the Chang’an Global R&D Center and the Second Assembly Workshop (Photo/The organizer of the event)