CESI Youth at Euronews debate on China-Europe Youth Exchange and Dialogue

Organised in collaboration with the China Intercontinental Communication Center (CICC), the event focused on development, innovation and cooperation between Europe and China, with a strong emphasis on the role of younger generations in shaping a shared and sustainable future.

CESI contributed to the discussion through its Youth Representative, Antonello Pietrangeli, who delivered a clear message on the future of work: Innovation and technological progress must always serve people. Quality work, workers’ rights and human dignity must remain central to economic development, in line with the EU’s ambition to promote quality jobs and fair working conditions.

Antonello stressed that innovation is too often discussed only in terms of technology, speed or global competition, and that such an approach is incomplete: Sustainable, innovation-driven growth depends on how young people are empowered to use technology to build inclusive, socially responsible and resilient economic models.

In this context, he highlighted the strategic importance of reskilling and continuous upskilling, echoing the objectives of the EU Skills Agenda and the forthcoming EU Talent Pool. Investing in skills is essential to ensure that workers can accompany technological change rather than suffer its consequences, and to allow young people to fully participate in labour market transitions, he said. Governing change means investing in people and enabling them to actively shape Europe’s economic and social future.

The value of international exchange was also emphasised as a concrete driver of shared growth. CESI's Workers' Exchange Programme (WEP) project was presented as a positive example of youth exchange, fostering dialogue, mutual learning and cooperation across borders, while contributing to a common vision for the future of work grounded in skills development, quality employment and social cohesion.

For CESI, guiding innovation means placing people at the heart of economic and productive transformations, fully aligned with the EU’s Quality Jobs Roadmap / Act. International dialogue among young leaders represents a strategic lever to promote development that combines competitiveness with social progress, ensuring that rights and dignity at work remain fundamental pillars of truly sustainable growth.

The discussion explored how technology and innovation can support inclusive and sustainable development, with a particular focus on the role of young entrepreneurs in creating high-quality and productive sectors. Speakers reflected on opportunities for China-Europe youth cooperation in launching cross-border initiatives, identified key challenges limiting youth entrepreneurship, and discussed practical ways to overcome them. The exchange underlined the importance of inclusive globalisation, with young people acting as bridges between regions and co-creating solutions to shared global challenges.

The event was moderated by Euronews journalist Stefan Grobe and featured contributions from Zhang Min (Unitree Robotics), Liang Linlin (China Chamber of Commerce to the EU), Nicole Rita (Young European Leadership), and Antonello Pietrangeli for CESI, fostering an open and constructive dialogue on common challenges and shared ambitions.

**Euronews pictures to be used from this link, with @euronews for credit: Building the Future Together: China-Europe Youth Exchange and Dialogue by Christophe Licoppe Photographer**

Picture: @euronews ‐ Building the Future Together: China-Europe Youth Exchange and Dialogue by Christophe Licoppe Photographer