Chinese, African youth design green projects at Beijing dialogue

Young people from China and 12 African countries designed environmental projects during a dialogue in Beijing on Monday, as both sides seek to deepen cooperation on climate and sustainability issues.

The 5th China-Africa Future Leaders' Dialogue Achievements Report Meeting and China-Africa Future Leaders' Dialogue Symposium on Green Development was held at Beijing Library, where Chinese and African participants formed seven working groups to develop what organizers called "small but beautiful" green public welfare projects.

Representatives from African nations also joined faculty and students from Tsinghua University and environmental experts from the Beijing Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Center for discussions on sustainable development practices.

The initiative aims to transform young people from passive observers into active champions of environmental cooperation between China and Africa, organizers said.

Organizers said promising projects identified during the meeting would receive continued support to help convert ideas into tangible results.

African participants said Beijing's green development practices provided valuable examples for their home countries, expressing hope that the projects designed during the dialogue would lead to concrete environmental initiatives.

The event was hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and co-organized by the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Beijing Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Center, and the People's Government of Tongzhou District.