BANGKOK, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- In early August, the World Tour event of the Youth Leaders Community for Global Development (YLCGD) was held in Bangkok, Thailand. Young representatives from across the globe engaged in in-depth, vibrant exchanges on digital development through panel discussions, field visits and public welfare initiatives.
Marking the fifth anniversary of the proposal of the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the event centered on the "Digital South" initiative under the GDI. Organized by the Global Development Promotion Center under the China International Development Cooperation Agency, it was held from Aug. 3 to 5 under the theme of "Youth Responsibilities in the Digital Era."
Representatives of young Chinese entrepreneurs and students, alongside youth delegates from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Thailand's Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) and the Mekong Institute attended the event.
Located in Bangkok's Chatuchak District, the depa building featured a minimalist design with extensive glass facades, embodying the modern vibe of a digital agency. A workshop on the "Digital South" initiative was held here on Monday afternoon.
Experts from multiple Thai government agencies outlined Thailand's priorities for digital development and engaged in in-depth exchanges with representatives from the YLCGD over concrete approaches to leveraging digital technology to empower healthcare, education and energy transition.
The "Digital South" initiative provides a valuable platform for exchanging experiences, strengthening capacities, and achieving more practical cooperation that benefits not only Thailand and China, but also the wider Global South, said Suchana Sinthavathavorn, vice president of the Quality of Life and Security Development and Promotion Department, Digital Transformation Promotion Unit, depa, at the workshop.
During a break at the workshop, Lu Guoliang, a representative from the YLCGD and director of International Affairs at China's MGI Tech, introduced a string of cooperation projects between MGI and Thailand's Chulalongkorn University in rare diseases, disease prevention and control. He noted that in the future, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data can be harnessed to analyze biological data from multiple dimensions, playing a pivotal role in enabling precision medicine for people in China and Thailand.
On Tuesday morning, representatives from the YLCGD headed to a Bangkok secondary school to attend a donation ceremony for a technology classroom. Tucked away in the city's lanes, the school was an oasis of calm amid urban bustle.
Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Zhang Jianwei said that the program serves as a vivid practice of implementing the consensus reached between the heads of state of China and Thailand and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation on AI education between the two countries.
Young representatives also visited the green technology classroom integrated with lighting, air conditioning, photovoltaic and energy storage systems, and observed a demonstration class featuring AI technology and 3D printing innovation.
The Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation, together with multiple Chinese enterprises, donated teaching resources to several Thai schools, including science and education equipment, as well as juvenile protection science popularization kits.
Zhang Xiguang, a representative from the YLCGD and founder of VAMOS Future Museum in Shenzhen, China, told Xinhua that China-Thailand cooperation in the education of science and technology boasts broad prospects.
Zhang expressed willingness to help Thai youth boost understanding and application of science and technology, laying a foundation for Thailand's digital development and future industrial cooperation between the two countries.
On Tuesday afternoon, a roundtable dialogue themed "Youth Responsibility in the Digital Era" was held at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok. Young representatives from China, the United States, Germany, Italy, Britain, the Philippines, South Korea, Türkiye and Indonesia exchanged views on topics including opportunities and risks in the digital era, enhancing youth digital literacy, and global youth partnerships, exploring pathways for leveraging digital technologies to advance sustainable development.
Oliver Fletcher-Burgess, a technical specialist with the space applications section of UNESCAP, shared an example of how technical exchanges advance equitable development. In a drought monitoring project, he collaborated with Chinese specialists to equip Tajik counterparts with new expertise and skills, helping build local monitoring capacity.
"This is a really great example of how the sharing of digital innovation and technologies between China and other parts of the Global South can really bring forward innovation and make sure that development is equal and equitable across all members of UNESCAP," he said.
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." With this ancient Chinese proverb, Zheng Huixin, consultant at UNESCAP, summed up her firsthand experience.
A China-led project she is involved in is dedicated to supporting several countries in deploying large language models in local languages. A series of workshops under the project will be held in China's Shenzhen and Shanghai this November, offering participants technical training and policy recommendations, she said.
"We hope to leverage China's cutting-edge technologies to help other nations cultivate their own talent, who will serve their domestic AI and digital sectors over the long term," she added.
During the event, YLCGD representatives visited the Chinese Academy of Sciences Innovation Cooperation Center (Bangkok) and Ayutthaya Technical College, home to the first Luban Workshop established overseas by China.
Initiated in 2023, the YLCGD aims to empower the youth and enhance their capacity to drive the implementation of the GDI and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. ■