Dear guests,

Teachers and students,

Good afternoon! It is a great pleasure to be here today at the Holy Cross of Davao College to celebrate the traditional Chinese Lunar New Year—Spring Festival with all of you. I’m also delighted to have this opportunity to introduce you to a real, youthful China and share the stories of what is happening among Chinese young people. My speech today is “How China’s Youth Can Build Our Shared Future Together”. I will discuss how young people can become bridges connecting the world from the perspectives of economy, technology, education and culture, and why you are crucial to your common future.

First, regarding economy: in 2024, China's GDP exceeded 134 trillion yuan, around 19 trillion US dollars, growing at an average annual rate of 5.5%. China's economy has maintained an annual average contribution rate of around 30% to global economic growth, and serves as the most stable and reliable engine of the world economy. But what's even more compelling is that these figures represent not just economic expansion, but the opportunities and possibilities they offer to ordinary young people each year. China's economic narrative has taken on a new diversion—it's no longer just about factories and exports, it's about young people daring to ask “why not?” and turning these ideas into reality.

Take “live-streaming e-commerce” as an example: in China, many young people have transformed from ordinary graduates into entrepreneurs influencing millions of consumers through a small smartphone screen. Through e-commerce platforms, they sell their hometown specialty products, intangible cultural heritage crafts, and even ethnic cultural goods to the world. This story of “from small screen to big market” unfolds daily, with each economic figure representing a vibrant, dream-chasing young face.

This spirit of vitality and innovation extends here as well. PCMI's e-commerce database reveals that by 2024, the Philippine e-commerce market had surged to 28 billion US dollars. TikTok Shop has seen an increase by more than 120% in Filipino sellers, while Lazada continues to ramp up investment in the Philippines. Platforms may be technological, but the shared aspiration among Chinese and the Philippine youth—to create, connect and improve lives runs deep. Economic development is becoming a shared language and opportunity for youth across our region, a story of growth co-authored by the younger generation.

If the economy reflects the spirit of youth, then technology demonstrates their strength. Chinese youth are not merely users of technology but leaders in this technological revolution. Let's first discuss human mobility: high-speed rail. China boasts the world's longest and most developed high-speed rail network. The 50,000-kilometer network is an engineering marvel that has transformed young people's living radius and lifestyle. A student in Beijing can take a high-speed train to Xi'an, 1,216 kilometers away, to visit the Terracotta Warriors on weekends. A worker in Shanghai can commute back to his home in Suzhou, 130 kilometers distant, every evening. This mobility physically broadens their horizons while shrinking the barriers of distance. Remarkably, the engineers designing these trains are themselves young, tackling problems once deemed insurmountable.

You've probably used TikTok, right? Its algorithmic recommendations have captivated young people worldwide, powered by Chinese artificial intelligence technology. You may have tried Chat GPT, but have you encountered DeepSeek? This large language model was independently developed by a team of young Chinese AI scientists, with over 75% of the team members born in the 1990s. Its open-source release is making AI as accessible as water, electricity, or the internet—empowering everyone with a free, more powerful creative tools.

Technology is no longer confined to labs, it has become an integral part of daily life. At this point, I have to mention China's new energy vehicles. On the streets of Davao, I increasingly see BYD electric vehicles from China. Its flash charging technology enables a 5-minute charge to deliver 400 kilometers of range. Moreover, it is redefining the driving experience, transforming cars from mere transportation into mobile smart moving spaces. The intelligent driving R&D teams behind this innovation consists primarily of young people aged 20 to 40. Here, technology is not a distant concept—it's the everyday reality young people are actively creating.

Finally, let's discuss education and culture. Today, China has built the world's largest education system, with a gross enrollment rate in higher education reaching 60.8%. Simultaneously, education is becoming more open and international. China is the world's largest source of international students and a major study destination in Asia. We have established deep educational partnership globally particularly with Southeast Asian nations. For instance, the “ASEAN-China Young Leaders Scholarship”, established by the Chinese government, annually supports young Southeast Asians to pursue studies in China, cultivating young experts across various fields for their home regions. At this moment, scholars from Davao are studying in China through this scholarship. Upon completing their studies, these young people will bring back not only knowledge, but also the friendship between our two nations.

In the cultural sphere, Chinese youth are no longer merely consumers of global culture, they are actively becoming creators of culture. Increasing numbers are engaging in e-sports, traditional Chinese-style music and Hanfu culture. The online game “Genshin Impact” blends Chinese landscape painting and philosophical concepts with fantasy narratives, captivating audiences worldwide. Short-video creator Li Ziqi has captivated millions of foreigners with her poetic rural lifestyle videos, sparking a global fascination with traditional Chinese culture. Others are reimagining Chinese heritage through contemporary lenses: composing pop songs inspired by ancient poetry, designing fashion with historical motifs, and reinterpreting traditional myths through cinematic storytelling. Chinese youth are reinterpreting ancient civilization through modern language, creating the globally appealing cultural products that offer new narratives and aesthetics for the global civilization dialogue. Much like the Philippines’ “Tinikling” dance, which seamlessly blends ancient agricultural tradition with contemporary fashion through its unique rhythm and profound cultural depth—young people in both nations are merging their traditional essence with a global perspective to forge distinctive and powerful new expressions.

Dear friends, looking back at all this—from e-commerce startups to new energy vehicles, from DeepSeek code to scholarships crossing borders—you will find that young people are the protagonists of all these stories. They embody the spirit of striving, boundless hope and tangible strength. They believe that problems are meant to be solved, distances are meant to be bridged, and cultures are meant to be shared. As you can see, China's progress is a story written by generations of young people through their hard work, ingenuity, and creativity.

Yet this is not solely our story. We inhabit a world more interconnected than ever before, where a single TikTok video can resonate across continents, and a simple technological innovation can transform the lives of millions worldwide. In this interconnected world, we need to be not passive observers, but active co-creators. This is the invitation I extend to you: become the young bridges of friendship between China and the Philippines. This bridge is built through countless small concrete actions: when you try learning Chinese, when you collaborate on projects with Chinese classmates, when you objectively share each other's cultures—you're breaking down misunderstandings and creating understanding.

The power of youth lies in appreciating each other’s uniqueness and in working together to solve shared regional challenges. The bridges we build today will shape tomorrow's world. You are not only the future of the Philippines, but also the future of the planet we call home. Let us, the youth of China and the Philippines, remain curious, remain kind, and remain collaborative. With your youthful energy, build a sturdy and beautiful bridge toward shared prosperity. Together, let us forge a brighter future.

Thank you all.