Young people 'pivotal' in changes

Companies crave young people with deep knowledge about China to reap the benefits of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, a young business leader said on Friday.

That is due to their potential to catalyze cross-border cooperation, and ultimately bring about "impactful changes", said Wahed Ahmadzai, a China-educated entrepreneur from Afghanistan.

He was among the first foreigners to register a business in the Beijing Chaoyang Free Trade Zone, which was created in 2020.

Ahmadzai first came to China in 2014 on a Chinese government scholarship to study international economics at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

He later was enrolled in an MBA program at UIBE.

While speaking at a Vision China event in Taicang, Jiangsu province, Ahmadzai said that his experience in academia and business informed him of the "pivotal role" played by young people in bringing about "impactful changes", especially those who have studied in China.

The group can help bridge the gap between the world's second largest economy and the rest of the world, he said, adding that they also exhibit potential to spearhead influential projects and facilitate cross-border cooperation.

"Their mobility catalyzes the flow of knowledge, resources and innovation, transcending borders," he said.

Upon his arrival in 2014, the Afghanistani student got to know the Belt and Road Initiative, which had been put forward by President Xi Jinping a year earlier. The proposal was an homage to the ancient Silk Road.

He said the initiative resonated deeply with him due to his home country's historical ties to the Silk Road.

The initiative, according to Ahmadzai, "symbolizes not only economic prosperity but also global connectivity," and it has rekindled hope for Afghanistan's reemergence as a pivotal player in trade and civilizational exchanges.

In 2016, Ahmadzai was appointed vice-secretary-general of UIBE International Alumni Association.

In that position, he has noticed that the BRI is central to most discussions across the vast alumni network, which is composed of 1,000-plus graduates in about 30 countries.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI.

"As the BRI expanded to encompass economic, trade, cultural and innovation exchanges, I recognized that the youth are not only the backbone of the labor market but also ambassadors for connectivity and dialogue between diverse ecosystems and regions," he said.

Opportunities created by the BRI galvanized companies to hire youth with a background in China to help navigate their operations here and beyond, he added. "They serve as enablers, bringing unique skills and perspectives, enhancing problem-solving and propelling organizations onto the global stage."

Ahmadzai said more needs to be done to equip entrepreneurial youth with necessary resources and tools to fulfill their potential.

To that end, Ahmadzai said he and his partners have worked with industrial parks to establish incubation and support centers.

"Let's collaborate, innovate and empower the youth, for they are the architects of the world's future," he said.