On July 25, young leaders from over 10 European countries, including Italy, France, and Romania, arrived in Zhongshan to continue their visit for the "Bridge to the Future European Youth Leaders Tour to the Greater Bay Area."

During the tour of Zhongshan, three young European leaders detailed their efforts to bridge friendships between the GBA and Europe through culture, children, and clean energy, respectively. Kristina Lucrezia Cornèr stands with young representatives in Zhongshan on July 25. (Photo: South)

At the evening event titled Bridge of Friendship: GBA and European Youth Leaders Co-create the Peace Vision Tree, Italian Kristina Lucrezia Cornèr, Founder of Venice Innovation Tech Hub, sang "Jasmine Flower" and "We Are The World" alongside her European peers and young representatives in Zhongshan.  

The event was hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, supported by the Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and co-organized by the Zhongshan People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

After the event, she emphasized the importance of traveling and discovering new cultures, which provides an opportunity to view the world through the eyes of others.

As a musician and dancer herself, she was immersed in traditional Chinese dance and musical instruments. She proclaimed that art, culture, language, and friendship can create peace worldwide.

"If we all tried to learn more about each other—about each other's cultures and languages—there would be no wars, only cooperation," Cornèr added. Julien Villain delivers the speech at the event of Bridge of Friendship in Zhongshan on July 25. (Photo: South)

Correspondingly, Julien Villain, a member of the national committee of Secours populaire français, a large NGO dedicated to fostering connections with China to develop international solidarity, particularly with children and youth, spoke about his organization's efforts.

To support this initiative, his organization seeks to host events such as summer camps that help connect Chinese, French, and other European children.

"The best way to maintain peace is to teach it to children," Villain stated.

He elaborated that if children learn to love each other and not hate each other from a very young age, as they grow up, they will be better equipped to combat misinformation and violent conflict.

"They will be more capable of analyzing situations and making their own choices," he concluded. Sabina Mihailescu asks the staff in Mingyang about their products in Zhongshan on July 25. (Photo: South)

Additionally, Sabina Mihailescu, Co-founder of Intre Vecini & DearNeighbour in Romania, outlined the role of clean energy in reducing greenhouse gases and emissions as a bridge between China and the EU.

After visiting Mingyang, a Zhongshan-based firm focusing on renewable energy production and transportation, she shared with South that her organization focuses on sustainable community building.

Specifically, it helps neighbors become consumers by installing PV panels on top of their buildings, thereby reducing their energy costs.

Due to a relatively underdeveloped status quo in Romania, she noted it is very interesting to see clean energy technology advancing here in China. Young European leaders observe the model of Mingyang clean energy solution in Zhongshan on July 25. (Photo: South)

As a bridge, she aims to bring the model of community building from China to help people become consumers if they aren't already. Similarly, she plans to bring back the technology to Romania to create even more communities that benefit from Chinese innovations.

Wang Yating (intern) has also contributed to the article.

Reporter: Zhang Ruijun

Poster & Video: Guo Hongda

Script: Zhang Ruijun

Photo: Guo Hongda  

Editor: Yuan Zixiang, James, Shen He