Event Review | The 2023 Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Cultural Exchange Week Officially Launches
To celebrate the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong's return, and to provide a platform for exchange, integration, and fulfilling dreams for young people from Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao, the "2023 Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Cultural Exchange Week" was officially launched on July 7th in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation and Cooperation Zone. The event is co-organized by the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Shenzhen Liaison Office, the Publicity Department of the CPC Futian District Committee in Shenzhen, and the Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group, with the support of the Greater Bay Area Youth Dream Home, Shenzhen Shatou Xiasha Industrial Co., Ltd., Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Shenzhen-Hong Kong Co-Innovation Institute, the School of Humanities and Social Science of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Shenzhen Youth Federation.
Distinguished guests attending the opening ceremony include TAN Yaozong, former chairman of the Hong Kong Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) and member of the 13th National People's Congress Standing Committee, ZHANG Hairong, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Futian District Committee and Minister of the Publicity Department, NIU Hua, deputy director of the Shenzhen Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, WU Qiancheng, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in Shenzhen, TANG Wenfang, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Science of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and GAO Lingyun, executive director of the HKUST Shenzhen-Hong Kong Co-Innovation Institute. They jointly unveiled the event at the opening ceremony.
Activity Launch Ceremony
TAN Yaozong expressed that this year is particularly worth commemorating for the exchanges between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Since February 6th, the comprehensive resumption of travelling between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao has been in effect. In early March, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government launched the "Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme" to encourage more enterprises to offer positions and support Hong Kong youth to work in mainland cities within the Greater Bay Area. It is gratifying to see that Hong Kong youth are exploring new opportunities in mainland cities within the Greater Bay Area and pursuing their dreams. He hopes that the young participants in this exchange week will seize the historical opportunities, leverage their strengths, actively integrate into the overall development of the country, and contribute more positive voices and energy while telling China's story, the story of the Greater Bay Area, and the story of Hong Kong.
ZHANG Hairong pointed out that Futian is geographically close to Hong Kong and has convenient transportation, with Huanggang Port, Futian Port, and the Futian Free Trade Zone's No.1 Channel connecting to Hong Kong. From Futian Station, it takes only 14 minutes by high-speed train to reach Hong Kong's West Kowloon Station, making Futian the "first stop" for Hong Kong to enter the mainland. As an important hub connecting Shenzhen and Hong Kong, Futian plays a significant role in deepening high-level cooperation between the two places and promoting high-quality development of the Greater Bay Area. Futian is currently focusing on building "three major new engines" with an emphasis on the science and technology, financial, and fashion industries. It is accelerating the construction of the central innovation zone, central business district, and central vitality zone, providing many opportunities for cooperation in infrastructure, consumption, innovation and entrepreneurship, and people's livelihood. She hopes that the young participants in this activity will feel the pulse of the Greater Bay Area's development on the fertile soil of Futian and pursue their youthful dreams.
NIU Hua stated that the future belongs to the youth, and she hopes the youth will take on this future. She encouraged the young students participating in the exchange week to cherish this rare opportunity, engage in serious learning and exchange, seek truth and practicality, truly understand the rapid development of the motherland and the development potential of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, seize the development opportunities of the Greater Bay Area, and grow and thrive in this region. She encouraged everyone to make friends during the exchange and work together to propel Hong Kong and the motherland towards a new journey. She urged them to write a brilliant life with their passionate youth and contribute to the realization of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.
Dean TANG Wenfang (third from the left) presents the flag to the representatives of young people from Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao.
Representatives of the School of Humanities and Social Science attend the launch ceremony.
Activity Content
The "2023 Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Cultural Exchange Week" is themed "Chasing Dreams in the Bay Area, Realizing Connectivity and Integration." Over the next few days, 100 university students from Lingnan University, the Education University of Hong Kong, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, as well as young entrepreneurs from Hong Kong and Macao working in Futian, will visit Futian. They will explore the Futian Central Business District, gain a deeper understanding of Futian's culture and technological highlights, visit the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation and Cooperation Zone, conduct research at the Hetao Hong Kong university research institutions, and exchange ideas with young entrepreneurs from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao Innovation Factory. They will also experience the charm of coexistence between humans and nature by visiting the Hongshulin Mangrove Nature Reserve. Furthermore, they will visit Xiaosha Village to experience cultural heritage and the rich and diverse intangible cultural heritage. The youth will also explore the trendy cultural street area of Shuiwei to discover the unique blend of historical and modern culture in Futian from the perspective of Hong Kong and Macao youth. Additionally, the Shenzhen Concert Hall will host a special music concert for the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao youth to celebrate the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong's return and depict a bright future for the Greater Bay Area.
As the first stop, students visited the Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone. From the Exhibition and Exchange Center of Hetao Cooperation Zone, the students had a panoramic view of the cooperation zone and observed the numerous research buildings, experiencing the unique landscape of "one river, two banks." At the Blue Bay Incubation Center of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the students learned about the scientific research development of Hong Kong universities in the mainland and experienced the latest trends in Shenzhen-Hong Kong scientific research cooperation. At the Greater Bay Area Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Factory (Futian), the staff introduced the development of Hong Kong and Macao innovation and entrepreneurship teams and the platform service system. The students actively asked questions and exchanged ideas, experiencing the development of high-tech products in business research and development.
Source | Phoenix News Client