The Global Youth Conference kicked off in Jinan, East China's Shandong province on May 13, and representatives from Yantai and its sister cities took part in the event online, in a bid to expand cooperation and deepen relationships.

The two-day conference covered a wide range of topics, including innovation and entrepreneurship, ecological preservation, green finance and green technology, and international cooperation for a sustainable future. Attendees included young people from more than 40 countries and regions who gathered together online to share their views.

At the global event, Yantai's foreign affairs office invited its sister cities such as Japan's Beppu and Miyako, Padawan in Malaysia, and Gunsan, Ansan, Ulsan and Pyeongtaek in South Korea to attend the event via online platforms to discuss the friendship and cooperation between Yantai and its sister cities, as well as their future growth patterns. 

Student representatives also participated in the event online, sharing their perspectives on the role of young people around the world in addressing a slew of new challenges confronting humanity in order to form a worldwide community of development with a shared future.

Yantai has been focusing on strengthening people-to-people friendships with its sister cities in recent years, particularly among young people. This year, the city will host a variety of colorful activities for teenagers from its sister cities in order to promote mutual understanding and enrich young people's perspectives.

The Global Youth Conference kicks off in Jinan in East China's Shandong province on May 13. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]