MINSK, 24 June (BelTA) - Minsk is currently hosting the Belarus-China youth forum. The official opening ceremony was held at the National Children's Technopark, BelTA has learned.
The forum was initiated in June 2024 by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko during a meeting with then-Party Secretary of Peking University (PKU) Hao Ping.
“A year ago, around the same time, a forum of university rectors from Belarus and China was held, organized by Belarusian State University (BSU) and PKU,” BSU Rector Andrei Korol said. “More than 40 universities took part. Many important decisions were made there, including the establishment of Days of Friendship and Unity between BSU and PKU. A memorable meeting also took place between the heads of Chinese and Belarusian universities, during which the [Belarusian] president proposed holding a youth forum between our countries. A full year of preparation followed, and today we have the opportunity to enrich the Days of Friendship and Unity with such a meaningful, in-depth, and successful event.”
Participating in the youth forum are over 200 talented students, recognized for their achievements in science, arts, or sports, 36 Belarusian universities and 11 leading Chinese universities.
“We are looking forward to a rich and dynamic program that includes some unique elements. For example, we will hold an unusual class where students will design a logo ‘The Bridge of Friendship between Belarus and China’. The forum will also feature a roundtable discussion on the future of student science and strengthening scientific cooperation between our countries. Chinese education policy documents emphasize the importance of nurturing morally grounded individuals, and we hold the same position. We are not just talking about preserving historical memory, which is essential for understanding our identity and building a future based on it, but also about upholding timeless human values that have stood the test of time. This is why we are following in a creative, constructive direction, because true values lie in building, not destroying. This applies to both science and education. This applies to both science and education. At its core, the main message is about shaping mature, patriotic individuals who will not get lost in the flood of information or become victims of the many forms of mind manipulation that surround us,” Andrei Korol emphasized.
According to him, Chinese universities are key strategic partners for BSU. “We currently have around 600 cooperation agreements, and 20% of them are with Chinese universities. Of the 5,500 international students enrolled at BSU, about 4,000 are from China - that’s over 75%. In our cooperation with Chinese institutions, we are highly selective, matching the strengths of each partner university with the strengths of our own,” the BSU rector added.
At the forum, Belarus is represented by 36 universities, including BSU, Minsk State Linguistic University, Belarusian State Economic University, Belarusian State Medical University, Belarusian-Russian University, Francysk Skaryna Gomel State University, Masherov Vitebsk State University, and Pushkin Brest State University, and others. The Chinese side is represented by 11 universities, including Peking University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Beijing Normal University, Sun Yat-sen University, Southeast University, and others. Forum participants laid flowers at the Minsk Hero City monument. The event will continue with roundtable discussions, dialogue sessions, and interactive seminars.
Photos by Vitaly Pivovarchik
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