By Li Mengjia, Han Rui
The 2025 "Understanding Chinese-Style Modernization" International Workshop kicked off at the Academic Center of Communication University of China (CUC) on September 26. This grand event, bringing together 13 youth representatives from ASEAN countries and CUC faculty and students under the theme of "Gen Z Dialogues on Modernization", opens a new chapter of mutual understanding and future collaboration among Chinese and foreign youth through dialogue, experience and co-creation.
I. Opening Remarks: A Date for Ideas in the Name of "Gen Z"
Zhang Genxing (Executive Director of CUC University Council) delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the 2025 International Workshop
At the opening ceremony, Zhang Genxing, Executive Director of the University Council of CUC, reviewed the achievements of the previous two workshops and highlighted three key words: "Gen Z", "Experience" and "Co-creation". He put forward three sincere expectations for the participating youth: "I hope you will think critically and spark ideological inspiration through the collision of ideas; experience deeply and measure the land with your feet; and open your hearts to gain precious friendship across national borders."
Hou Jun, Secretary of the Party Committee of the State Key Laboratory of Media Convergence and Communication
Li Hongru, Deputy Director of the Cultural Communication Center of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, illustrated the close bond between Chinese and ASEAN youth with the ancient Chinese saying: "A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near." She encouraged the youth to "speak freely, communicate sincerely, and become translators and co-creators of culture", and promised to continue building high-quality international exchange platforms.
Li Hongru , Deputy Director of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration's Cultural Communication Center
Handy Yunia, an Indonesian language and culture expert from Beijing Foreign Studies University, shared the historical and cultural ties between China and ASEAN through the pronunciation of the word "durian" in fluent Chinese. He firmly believes that Gen Z is a key force in international exchanges and expressed his expectation for broader cooperation between China and ASEAN in areas such as energy cooperation, rural revitalization and cultural preservation. His sincere speech resonated with the audience.
Handy Yunia (BFSU Indonesian Language Expert) spoke on behalf of youth
II. Keynote Speeches: Decoding Chinese-Style Modernization from Academia to Practice
In the keynote speech session, experts and scholars interpreted Chinese-style modernization from different perspectives, providing profound inspiration for the youth.
Ji Deqiang, Vice Dean of the Joint Research Institute for International Communication of the Ministry of Education at CUC, delivered a speech titled "Rethinking the Paradigm of Modernization in the Digital Age". Starting from the origin and development of the concept of modernization, he systematically expounded the connotation of Chinese-style modernization from the perspectives of digital economy, digital governance and digital culture. He emphasized that understanding China's modernization in the digital and intelligent era requires considering multiple dimensions, including the growth of the local market, the positioning of the government's role, the promotion of regional balance, independent technological innovation and the improvement of common well-being, providing a theoretical framework for the youth's thinking.
Ji Deqiang, Vice Dean of CUC Joint Inst. of Int'l Communication
Bi Jianlu, Editor-in-Chief, Producer and Commentator of the Commentary Department of CGTN, focused on media practice. In his speech "When Media Meets Modernization: How to Break the 'Western Narrative Framework' with Stories", he compared the differences in modernization paths and value orientations between China and the West. Taking CGTN programs such as "Incredible Odyssey" as examples, he vividly explained how Chinese media put the "people-centered" discourse system into practice and used true and touching stories to resonate with overseas audiences, providing practical references for the youth to "tell good stories about modernization".
Bi Jianlu, Editor-in-Chief, Producer and Commentator of the Commentary Department of CGTN
Zhou Ting, Founder of the Workshop and Executive Dean of the Institute of Regional and Country-specific Communication at CUC, who hosted this session, stated that exploring Chinese-style modernization requires "close integration of academic research and industry practice", and expressed her expectation that the youth would draw insights from the guests' sharing and form their own unique perspectives.
Zhou Ting, Founder of the Workshop and Executive Dean of the Institute of Regional and Country-specific Communication at CUC
III. Seminar and Experience: Gen Z Joins Hands to Paint a Vision of Modernization
ASEAN youth and CUC students engage in in-depth exchanges
The seminar session became a platform for exchanges of ideas between Chinese and foreign youth. Focusing on core topics such as "How Gen Z Youth Participate in Modernization Practice" and "Telling True and Vivid Stories about Modernization", ASEAN youth and CUC students expressed their opinions freely and communicated openly.
Zhang Xiaoyu (Director of CUC South Asia Communication Research Center) hosts the seminar session
The on-site experience in the afternoon turned theoretical knowledge into concrete perception. Gen Z youth visited Baidu Yizhuang Apollo Park, the world's largest testing base for autonomous driving and vehicle-road coordination applications. They took rides on "萝卜快跑 (Radish Run)" self-driving cars, personally experiencing the speed and warmth of China's technological innovation. Later, they will also conduct field research in Quzhou to experience the vivid practice of Chinese-style modernization at the local level and measure the achievements of development with their feet.
Gen Z youth visit Baidu Yizhuang Apollo Park
IV. Passing the Torch: The Workshop Builds a Long-Term Platform for Sino-Foreign Exchange
Since 2023, the "Understanding Chinese-Style Modernization" Workshop has been held for three consecutive years. Relying on CUC's university platform and think tank resources, and through diverse forms, it has become an important bridge for dialogue and exchange between Chinese and foreign youth. This event attracted nearly 80 participants. In addition to ASEAN youth and CUC faculty and students, journalists from media outlets such as People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency and Huanqiu.com also attended, helping the voices of Gen Z on modernization spread wider and farther.
When the passion and wisdom of Gen Z meet the magnificent practice of Chinese-style modernization, and cross-border friendship takes root and germinates in communication, this workshop is not only a gathering of ideas, but also a starting point for Chinese and foreign youth to work together and co-create the future. It is believed that in the future, more youth will take over the baton of exchange, and through understanding and action, let the story of Chinese-style modernization be more vividly and authentically seen by the world.
Editor: Fang Yiran
Responsible Editor: Shao Jianyu
Managing Editors: Song Qing, Chen Yiwen
