From April 13 to 18, 31 young leaders from 17 tropical countries gathered in Hainan for the Youth Leadership Study Camp for Tropical Universities—an immersive six-day program aimed at fostering cross-cultural dialogue, deepening youth cooperation, and understanding of China’s Free Trade Port (FTP) development.

The launch ceremony of the Youth Leadership Study Camp for Tropical Universities

Throughout the week, camp members attended the “Belt and Road” Youth Development Forum and explored educational innovation amid globalization. Through on-site visits and in-depth exchanges, they gained firsthand experience of achievements of the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) initiative. At the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo, they learned about the market opportunities unlocked by Hainan FTP policies. In Wenchang, they visited the Aerospace Science Education Center and Aerospace Supercomputing Center and witnessed China’s latest advances in space exploration and high-performance computing. In Qionghai, visits to the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea and Boao Forum for Asia venue sparked reflection on maritime heritage and global governance, with many participants voicing support for the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. The youth leaders also traveled to Xinglong Coffee Industry Park in Wanning to experience the full production chain—from planting to roasting—gaining a good knowledge of how specialty agriculture boosts rural revitalization. In Lingshui and Sanya, visits to the Lingshui Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone and HNU’s Yazhou Bay Science and Education Park offered them an up-close look at emerging models for industry-university-research (IUR) integration.

BUI HOAI THU,an international student from Vietnam, said the program gave her a deep impression of Hainan’s openness and dynamism. “I’ve made many Chinese friends here, and I’m proud to contribute to Vietnam–China friendship through youth engagement,” she said.

KASHENYE BENJAMIN NDESHIPANDA from Namibia said the program gave him a chance to observe up close life science research for the first time. “The scientific rigor and innovation have really inspired me. I believe youth collaboration in science has no borders and can accelerate progress in global health.”

ARMAN MOHAMMAD NASIM from Afghanistan, a software engineer, said he was most interested in the AI-related research. “China’s application of AI in space research was eye-opening. I hope such breakthroughs can benefit the world.”

The Youth Leadership Study Camp for Tropical Universities is hosted by Hainan University and serves as a core initiative of the League of Tropical Universities (LTU) 2025 Summit. With the theme “Adhere to Extensive Consultation, Joint Contribution, and Shared Benefits: Promoting Interconnectivity among Youth in Tropical Regions,” the Camp aims to build a high-level platform for tropical youth exchanges and inject fresh momentum into multilateral cooperation among tropical universities.

Spanish camp member sharing his experience at the Youth Public Welfare Forum of Tropical Universities

Camp members visiting the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo

Camp members visiting Wenchang Aerospace Science Education Center

Source from China Daily

Translated by Han Yunsheng

Proofread by Kuang Xiaowen, Yang Jie