In recent years, Shandong has continued to expand its "circle of friends", insisted on innovation and leadership and held a series of activities to create a renowned youth brand for foreign exchanges and cooperation.

Li Yanfeng, director of the Eurasian Division of the Foreign Affairs Office of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee, said Shandong strives to implement the national strategy on the Yellow River and to foster the "Yellow River Bay" brand for youth exchanges. 

It held the Yellow River Bay International Youth Economic Forum during the Global Youth Conference last year, inviting well-known experts and scholars to share ideas with Chinese and foreign youths on such topics as the Yellow River national strategy, green development, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Since 2022, the province has hosted or participated in a total of more than 10 international youth events, including the second China-Africa Future Leaders Dialogue, the Second China-South Korea University Student Speech Contest and online activities for youths from China-Japan sister cities.

Shandong has launched the Global Youth Partnership Program to strengthen friendly ties with cities and organizations around the world. As of 2022, the province had formed 2,065 pairs of youths from 34 countries and regions.

"This year, Shandong will anchor the goal of leading international youth exchanges, improve innovation, leadership and planning capabilities, and focus on brands, platforms and projects," Li said, adding that the province will hold the second Global Youth Conference and invite representatives from more than 50 countries and regions.

Li said the province will continue to enhance its leadership, build foreign exchange brands and launch a number of key projects in China and abroad. Those initiatives include the Youth Climate Action division of the Global Youth Partnership Program and arranging a trip for international youths along the nine provinces (districts) along the Yellow River.

To further promote exchanges and tell good stories of Shandong, the province will give full play to the role of the demonstration bases such as the Shandong-ASEAN Vocational Education Industry-College-Research Base, the Chinese and Foreign Youth Exchange Base and the International Youth Yellow River Culture Exchange Camp.