By Gui Qian

A forum aimed at promoting practical collaboration among young people from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam has been held in Kunming, Yunnan province.

The Lancang-Mekong Young Entrepreneurs Forum was held from July 22 to 25 and attracted more than 100 representatives from youth organisations and young business people from the six Lancang-Mekong countries.

One of the forum’s other key aims was to promote growth of the Lancang-Mekong Economic Development Belt.

Wang Yi, vice president of the All-China Youth Federation, said at the opening ceremony, “Young people are the future of our countries and the hope of Lancang-Mekong cooperation. Building a better community for a shared future of peace and prosperity among Lancang-Mekong countries relies on the efforts of young people.”

The forum included roundtable meetings, dialogues and group visits for attendees to discuss topics such as modern agriculture, green development, scientific and technological innovation and regional connectivity.

Swam Saung Oo, head of a Myanmar technology company specialising in mobile games, said the forum broadened his horizons and allowed him to engage with peers. He planned to attend the China Digital Entertainment Expo and Conference, or ChinaJoy 2024, in Shanghai after the forum to meet Chinese business partners and explore China’s booming gaming industry, he said.

Another of those at the Kunming event was Lam Cam Sau from Vietnam, who runs a plastic packaging company. He studied Chinese at university and has long engaged in business with provinces such as Guangdong and Zhejiang, and at the forum he said he was seeking opportunities in Yunnan.

After visiting the China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, he said he is optimistic about the prospects.

“There are 108 service windows gathered in one hall. If a Vietnamese company wants to set up a branch in China, all the procedures can be completed here in one go, and you can quickly get a business licence, including paying taxes. It’s incredibly convenient.”

Sasis Panchakunathorn, 29, head of a retail and wholesale business network in Thailand that operates a 75,000-square-metre shopping mall and two 3,000-sqm supermarket branches in the country’s south, said he has been seeking collaborative opportunities and aiming to gain experience in retail space development from China.

“I visited many shopping malls here in China and saw many places as good models as I build my own projects,” he said.

Khoun Rachana, 23, a project assistant at the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia, aims to empower young professionals and entrepreneurs in the Lancang-Mekong region through this forum.

YEAC, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organisation focused on advancing the next-generation economy, offers training, access to finance, business matching, and international opportunities for youth. This aligns with Rachana’s role, where she facilitated the participation of Cambodian delegates in the forum and connected them with business prospects.

She also recommended her translator, Li Wankai, a young Chinese student of Cambodian at Yunnan Minzu University, for an internship in Cambodia.

“As exchanges and cooperation between China and Cambodia have increased in recent years, companies in both countries demand more bilingual individuals, which gives young students like us bright career prospects,” said Li.

Rachana is also pleased with the rising influence that China is having in Cambodia. She noted that many young Cambodians are watching Chinese TV dramas, using Taobao for online shopping, and developing an interest in the Chinese language.

“There is a lot of investment from China going to Cambodia, especially in construction. I believe this entrepreneurs’ forum will bring more prosperity and connection between Cambodia and China,” she said.

San Zaw Htet, 29, who heads an education consultancy in Myanmar, and who is looking at educational collaboration with Chinese schools, said: “The main purpose of my visit is to build connections with Chinese universities because there is a lot of interest among Myanmar students in studying in China.

“Students nowadays are good at finding the information they need. They realise that China is getting stronger. If they study in China instead of going to the West there will be more chances in the future.”— CHINA DAILY