Youth Development Summit · Hong Kong Connects the World into the Future (with photos)
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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, officiated at the Summit. In his opening remarks, he said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government attaches great importance to youth. Our Youth Development Blueprint, released in late 2022, outlines our guiding principles for advancing youth development, as well as charting a clear pathway for stakeholders everywhere. Our vision is to nurture a new generation of youth equipped with a global perspective, a positive thinking mindset, and an affection for our city and our country. Since the release of the Blueprint, more than 250 concrete actions and measures have been put forward to providing young people with wide-ranging opportunities and support."
Mr Chan thanked all the speakers who shared their experiences and visionary ideas, inspiring the participants from around the world to think about how they can foster stronger connections across boundaries and cultures to help and learn from each other to build a better future together. He also encouraged young participants to make good use of the Summit as a platform to exchange ideas with young people from different regions to develop innovative solutions, and to turn bold ideas into tangible impact.
At the morning's keynote session on "Youth Creativity Energy", key officials responsible for youth development policies from various regions were invited to share insights on the importance of connecting young people around the world in driving social development, as well as policies and initiatives in different regions that aim at nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and encouraging active youth engagement. Keynote speakers included the President of All-China Youth Federation, Mr Xu Xiao; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Minister of Youth and Sports, Malaysia, Ms Hannah Yeoh; the Deputy Minister of Society Development at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Ahmed Saleh AlMajed; the Deputy Secretary General of the Central Committee, Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union, Mr Souliya Keophilavong; the Vice Minister of Culture and Information, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Yevgeniy Kochetov; and the Deputy Director-General, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Dr Qu Xing.
Miss Mak delivered a keynote speech at the Summit and shared the vision of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region Government in deepening international exchanges and co-operation, and highlighted key Government measures and initiatives on youth development which broaden local young people's horizon and encourage them to share the good stories of Hong Kong youth.
Miss Mak said, the Government has been taking forward measures in the Youth Development Blueprint at full steam to provide more Chinese Mainland and overseas exchange opportunities for Hong Kong young people to strengthen their global perspective. She wished that young people would work together to unlock endless possibilities for a brighter future of Hong Kong, the country and the world.
The afternoon featured three thematic sessions. The first session, chaired by the Vice-President of All-China Youth Federation and the Vice-Chairman of Youth Development Commission, Mr Kenneth Leung, was themed "Digital Reform · InnoTech of the Future". The panelists, including the Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong, Ms Alpha Lau; the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Vidi Labs Ltd, Ms Lamia Sreya Rahman; the Director of the State Key Laboratory of Management and Control for Complex Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Wang Fei-Yue; and the Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Terry Wong, explored how technological innovation can drive economic growth and sustainable development in the digital era, aiming to inspire young people to embrace innovation and harness technology.
The Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho, was the moderator of the next session titled "Cross Cultural Creativity". Leaders from different sectors, including the Global Operations Director of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, Mr Edwin Kibuthu Kimani; the Founder of Bakehouse, Mr Grégoire Michaud; and the Chairman of the Board of Ocean Park Corporation, Mr Paulo Pong, explored development trends in integrating traditional culture with the creative industry, aiming to inspire creative thinking among youth and create new opportunities for the younger generation.
The final thematic session "Unleash Potential and Positivity" was hosted by the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung. He was joined by former Captain of China Women's National Volleyball Team and Associate Professor of the School of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nanjing Normal University, Professor Hui Ruoqi; former F1 Racer and Director, Head of Private Office of Knight Frank Greater China, Mr Tung Ho-Pin; the Gold Medalist of 1 000m Speed Skating at Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 and the Head of the Olympic Studies Centre, Harbin Institute of Technology, Professor Zhang Hong. They delved into the importance of positive thinking and a proactive mindset, inspiring young people to cultivate a positive attitude towards life and fully realise their potential.
In addition to the above sessions, starting yesterday (September 26), the HYAB has arranged a three-day thematic visit programme and exchange activities to enhance the participants from the Chinese Mainland and overseas in understanding Hong Kong's latest development in technological innovation, culture and arts, and to provide them with an opportunity to exchange and interact with the local youth. The YDC Youth Ambassadors and the Youth Link Committee members served as the ambassadors of the programme, alongside over 400 Summit participants in exploring Hong Kong. The activities will foster cross-regional interaction and collaboration among young people, showcase the charm and vibrancy of the city, and tell the world the good stories of Hong Kong Youth.
Prior to the opening of the Summit, Mr Chan hosted a welcome dinner yesterday for officials, guests and speakers from the Chinese Mainland and overseas who came to Hong Kong to participate in the event.
For the highlights of the Summit, please visit the thematic webpage, www.youthfest.hk/en/summit.
Ends/Saturday, September 27, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:50
Issued at HKT 17:50
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