New generation of farmers urged to spread excellence

He added that his country hoped to expand cooperation with China and draw on China's experience to benefit their youth and rural development.

Officials, corporate leaders and representatives from youth organizations offered their insights into rural vitalization at the forum.

They discussed how young people of their countries participated in agricultural and rural development.

Chinese youths are the strugglers, witnesses, beneficiaries and pioneers of rural development, said Wang Liang, deputy director of the youth development department at the CYLC Central Committee.

"They have made great contributions to poverty alleviation and rural vitalization, while gaining a lot during the process," Wang said.

Supported by the CYLC, more than 460,000 university students have joined in volunteer teaching programs over the past 20 years, according to Wang.

In 2022, the CYLC offered training courses to 60,000 young people in rural areas.

Bektur Bazakechov, founder of an agricultural enterprise in Kyrgyzstan, said there are many programs and organizations in his country that are committed to supporting rural youth and encouraging them to participate in rural development.

With favorable policies and incentives, young people in rural areas have launched some startup projects involving agricultural technology and tourism, and have made remarkable achievements, Bazakechov said.

Anuar Bokenov, director of Earth Mother, a rural cooperative in Kazakhstan, said that China has established close partnerships with Kazakhstan in agricultural technologies and equipment, leading to positive results for both countries.

"We expect to see more bilateral projects in the future to cultivate young farmers and spur the green economy," he said.

Youth representatives including Cai Ziping, a researcher from the Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Liu Yuhong, head of a Longnan-based olive oil company; and beekeeper Ma Gongzuo from Zhejiang province shared their success stories set in rural areas.

After 12 years of growth, Liu's enterprise has become one of the largest olive producers in Asia, with 30 franchise shops and 1,000 agents across China. "We will continue to foster China's olive industry and devote ourselves to the development of our hometown," she said. Besides the international youth forum, the 2023 Beautiful Countryside International Forum featured two subforums. They were focused on alpine-arid agriculture and the integrated development of agriculture and tourism.