Dialogue with Youth, Progress with China

On August 21, under the guidance of the Beijing Municipal Talent Work Bureau, and the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission, Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park, the "Dialogue with Youth, Progress with China" Foreign Expert Roundtable Dialogue, hosted by the Beijing Overseas Talents Center, was held at the National Torch Academy of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NTAIE).

As a key event of the 2025 Beijing International Talents Carnival, this roundtable invited five recipients of the Chinese Government Friendship Award as keynote speakers. They shared their vivid stories of progress with the country, and offered suggestions for the future development of international youth based on their respective professional fields.

Representatives from the Foreign Experts Service Department of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Foreign Talent Research Center of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Beijing Municipal Talent Work Bureau, the Beijing Science and Technology Talents Development Center, and other relevant units attended the event. More than 60 international youth representatives from universities, including Minzu University of China, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing Institute of Technology, and Beijing University of Technology, participated.

Party Secretary and Director of the Beijing Overseas Talents Center, stated in the opening remarks that Beijing, as China's capital, possesses distinct advantages in education, science and technology, as well as exceptional resources for innovation, making it a long-standing hub for international talents and foreign experts. The foreign experts participating in this event have achieved outstanding results in their professional fields and have made remarkable contributions to building bridges between China and the world. It is hoped that through the roundtable dialogue, young talents, especially foreign youth, can better find their direction and stage to showcase their capacities in Beijing and in China.

During the sharing session, five foreign experts sincerely shared their working and living experiences, as well as their feelings in China.

Mark Levine, Professor of the Minzu University of China, builds bridges of communication with moving music and words for twenty years, helping the world understand a more authentic and multi-dimensional China.

Francesco Faiola, a researcher at the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, integrated traditional Chinese culture with cutting-edge technology to establish an internationally leading stem cell toxicology platform, nurturing world-class scientific achievements in the vibrant hutongs of Beijing.

David Evans, Professor of the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, turned chemistry into tangible joy for children through fun popular science experiments, igniting the scientific dreams of countless Chinese youth.

Alberto Conejo, Professor of the University of Science and Technology Beijing, made outstanding contributions to green metallurgy. He not only supports China's dual-carbon goals, but also deepens scientific and technological cooperation between China and Mexico.

Erik Nilsson, senior journalist at China Daily, documented China's development miracles through his lens and words. He conveys stories of resilience and warmth, helping the world better understand the achievements of China.

In the session introducing Beijing's opportunities, representatives introduced a series of policies and service measures implemented by Beijing to continuously optimize the innovation and entrepreneurship environment and expand development opportunities for international youth.

A representative from the Beijing Overseas Talents Center introduced integrated services for foreign talents, and the support for government affairs, career development, and social integration.

A representative from the Beijing Overseas Talents Association highlighted the HICOOL Global Entrepreneur Summit and Entrepreneurship Competition, along with comprehensive support for its implementation.

A representative from Deloitte China analyzed, from a global city comparison perspective, the internationalized services Beijing offers to global talents as a center for international exchanges.

During the discussion session, international youth representatives actively put questions to the foreign experts. Topics ranged from industry trends to growth challenges, cross-cultural collaboration to innovative practices, sparking intellectual exchange during the interactions.

Perez Coca Erik Edilson, a master's student from Beijing Institute of Technology, posed questions about adapting to cultural differences in work and life settings. Professor David Evans enthusiastically responded, sharing experiences and insights from his career.

From simple greetings like "hello" and "thank you" that quickly bridge distances to in-depth career development advice, the roundtable dialogue was not only an exchange of ideas, but also generated an emotional resonance and the beginning of friendships. The wisdom accumulated by the foreign experts over time provided a valuable guidance for the young people, and will play an important role in future cross-cultural cooperation.

During the exchange session, representatives from relevant units spoke about further optimizing services for foreign experts, building platforms to maximize their contributions, and providing broad opportunities for international youth talents to develop in Beijing.

Moving forward, the Beijing Overseas Talents Center will enhance its services to build a welcoming and attractive environment for international talents. The goal is to ensure young talents can work with peace of mind, live comfortably, and thrive in Beijing.