A group of young professionals and entrepreneurs from European countries expressed their hope for China and Europe to deepen ties in multiple fields, highlighting the significant role of cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
The young Europeans were recently on a visit to south China's Guangdong Province just ahead of the 25th China-EU Summit. They shared their fresh perspectives and new hopes for strengthening China-EU cooperation in the new era.
"I'm just 23 years old and I'm already an entrepreneur. And I do really think that it's an amazing partnership, so I think many new things can come out of this. For example, social and cultural works together can lead to a better future in terms of collaboration also in Europe and China so that we can be more informed in both countries," said Benedek Szilagyi, and entrepreneur from Hungary.
"I believe and I expect more cooperation between both continents, and especially when we are trying to cooperate and to build bridges between China and the rest of the world, in cultural, political, economic, commercial and all aspects, because both [sides] have lots of opportunities and they are trying to do best to improve all the talents to build this kind of cooperation between all the world," said Giorgiana Karenina, a doctor from Spain.
Michele Orzan is an Italian eco-social entrepreneur and President of EuCham – European Chamber – an institution representing international businesses and their ethical side. He said the cooperation between China and Europe should go beyond businesses and benefit future generations.
"[We are] promoting business which is not only making money, sometimes we can say P-P-P, people, planet and prosperity should go at the same level. So there should be harmony, so the prosperity, the business should be good for people, the society, and the planet, the environment. It's all very important, we have to take care of it for the future generations," he said.
European youths express hope for deepening ties with China
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
