International youths from around 10 countries came to East China's coastal city of Xiamen, Fujian province, to explore the charm of their first stop on the China Tours of the 2023 Global Young Leaders Dialogue (GYLD) program from Feb 25 to 27.
During the three-day tour jointly organized by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies and the information office of the Xiamen government, they witnessed the city's important role as a window for China's opening-up and the new opportunities brought to the world by its Chinese-style modernization.
Xiamen was the host of the ninth BRICS Summit in September 2017 and launched the innovation center of the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) in 2020.
The visiting youths appreciated Xiamen's achievements in environmental governance at Yundang Lake, experienced the Chinese tea culture at Huaxiang garden and learned about the BRICS demonstration projects at the innovation center of PartNIR.
A teacher from the School of African Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University said the governance of Yundang Lake reflects China's emphasis on environmental protection while developing its economy.
Ehsan Doostmohammad, a researcher at the Center for Iranian Studies at Southwest University, said China is the birthplace of tea culture and he was deeply impressed by it in Xiamen, as it artistically transforms the process of making and drinking tea.
The international youths also visited Gulangyu Island, known as the "museum of global architecture", where they wandered among distinctive buildings and learned about the innovative inheritance of the world cultural heritage.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
