In October 2024, under the joint guidance of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, and the Dongguan Science and Technology Bureau, the "China-Latin America Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program and Innovation Tour in China for Latin American Young Scientists" was officially launched by the China-LAC Technology Transfer Center. After more than a year of meticulous preparation, the inaugural edition of this program (hereinafter referred to as the "Youth Camp"), organized by the China-LAC Technology Transfer Center, officially commenced on January 12, 2026. The closing ceremony was held on January 24 in Dongguan, Guangdong, marking the successful conclusion of this trans-Pacific sci-tech innovation journey between China and Latin America. Vice Minister Zhuang Jia of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Science and Technology delivered a video address. Leaders from relevant units, including the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, the Dongguan Science and Technology Bureau, and the Latin American Research Institute of the China-LAC Technology Transfer Center, attended the ceremony. The event was hosted by Chen Baiman, Director of the China-LAC Technology Transfer Center.
Conference Scene
Deeply implementing the arrangements of the "China-Latin America Science and Technology Partnership Plan" in the new era to strengthen sci-tech and people-to-people exchanges, this Youth Camp brought together 14 outstanding young sci-tech talents from nine Latin American countries, including Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. They embarked on a 15-day in-depth program of sci-tech innovation study, research, and exchange in Dongguan, the Hengqin-Guangdong-Macao Deep Cooperation Zone, Zhuhai, Beijing, and Chengdu. The program aimed to build a solid bridge for sci-tech innovation cooperation between the youth of China and Latin America, showcasing China's spirit of open and inclusive cooperation and the profound friendship of pursuing common progress between China and Latin America.
Rising Tide of China-Latin America Cooperation: Drawing a New Blueprint for Science and Technology Diplomacy
With science and technology as the medium and diplomacy as the wing, Vice Minister Zhuang Jia stated that China always adheres to benefiting humanity through open sci-tech cooperation and is ready to work with Latin American and Caribbean countries to continuously contribute sci-tech strength to the building of a China-Latin America community with a shared future. She also noted that this event is a commendable practice in promoting people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation between China and Latin America, providing an important bridge for enhancing mutual understanding, sharing knowledge, and fostering pragmatic collaboration.
Video Address by Deputy Director Zhuang Jia, Department of International Cooperation, MOST
As a key component of the China-LAC Technology Transfer Center's brand activity system of "One Conference, One Exhibition, One Competition," this Youth Camp actively contributed to the broader national diplomatic agenda. By addressing the needs of Latin American youth for sci-tech advancement and cooperation with precise and pragmatic measures, it created new opportunities for friendly exchanges and collaboration between China and Latin America. From theoretical study in Hengqin to cultural exploration in Beijing, from industrial research in Chengdu to results matchmaking in Dongguan, each footprint carried the shared aspirations for deepening China-Latin America cooperation. This not only allowed the young Latin American sci-tech innovators to witness firsthand the dynamism of China's sci-tech innovation landscape but also helped to widely convey China's open philosophy and cooperative sincerity within Latin American countries. It injected fresh momentum into building a new era of China-Latin America relations characterized by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness, and shared benefits.
Latin American Delegates Visit Chinese Tech Firms
Integrating Knowledge with Action: Forging Pioneers in International Sci-Tech Innovation
The program leveraged a comprehensive cultivation model of "online cloud-based training camp + offline study tours in five cities" to establish a robust and structured integrated learning system, all-round enhancing the sci-tech innovation capabilities of the Latin American participants. Before arriving in China, participants completed compulsory courses, such as Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practice, on the "China-LAC Digital Education University Alliance" platform, solidifying their foundation in cutting-edge sci-tech innovation theory. After their arrival, through courses on Artificial Intelligence Technology and its Educational Innovation Applications conducted in collaboration with Huawei, and visits to innovation entities integrating industry, academia, and research—such as the OPPO Chang'an Industrial Park, Tsinghua University, and the Chengdu Robotics Innovation Center—participants gained in-depth understanding of China's latest technological trends and application capabilities. During the closing ceremony, they systematically summarized their learning outcomes and exchanged cooperation intentions with representatives from Dongguan enterprises, promoting the translation of China-Latin America sci-tech cooperation achievements. This program, blending theory and practice, honed young talents for China-Latin America sci-tech cooperation with both global vision and research capabilities, laying a solid foundation for technology transfer and joint talent cultivation between China and Latin America.
Latin American Delegates Tour Badaling Great Wall
Mountains and Seas Intertwined: Depicting a New Landscape of Blended Cultural and Sci-Tech Exchanges
Deep cooperation in sci-tech innovation is inseparable from the warmth of people-to-people connections. This Youth Camp focused on four main areas: industrial research, platform engagement, cultural experience, and university exchange. Through diverse practical experiences spanning the north and south of China, it led the Latin American participants to gain profound insights into the new landscape of China's blended sci-tech and cultural development. Activities included researching platforms like the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Technology Exchange and Cooperation Center to explore practical pathways for cross-regional technology transfer; visiting Beijing's Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Badaling Great Wall to discover the profound heritage of Chinese history and civilization; and touring the International Cooperation Innovation Zone of Dongguan University of Technology to understand the symbiotic development between local Chinese universities and urban technological advancement. These experiences effectively broadened the space for China-Latin America sci-tech and cultural cooperation.
Latin American Delegates Pitch Projects
This event provided a stage for young Latin American sci-tech talents to realize their dreams in technology and life, and it also allowed the seeds of China-Latin America innovation cooperation to take root and sprout in the fertile ground of cultural resonance. In the future, the China-LAC Technology Transfer Center will continue to deepen the construction of its brand activity system, promote mutual engagement and in-depth cooperation between Chinese and Latin American youth in the field of sci-tech innovation, inject a dynamic source of vitality into China-Latin America sci-tech and cultural exchanges, and jointly write a new chapter in building a community with a shared future for mankind.
