The Youth Development for a Shared Future Summer Camp 2026 draws 84 students and teachers from 16 countries to take part in exchange and sightseeing activities in Beijing and Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Youth Development for a Shared Future Summer Camp 2026 has officially started, drawing 84 students and teachers from 16 countries to take part in exchange and sightseeing activities in Beijing and East China's Fujian province.

Organized by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, the weeklong program runs from July 19 to 25 and welcomes participants primarily from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative including Armenia, Ghana, Malaysia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.

Through the tours, participants gain insights into the history and current development of the Maritime Silk Road, as well as China's economic and social landscape. They also experience the country's traditional culture and cutting-edge technologies, and visit local schools for face-to-face exchanges with their Chinese peers.

For Elena Golubovic, a student from Montenegro's capital Podgorica, the camp offers a personal window into a civilization she has long been curious about.

"I am familiar with the general idea of the ancient Silk Road which connected different countries and cultures, allowing people to exchange not only goods, but also knowledge, traditions, art, and ideas. I understand the Belt and Road Initiative as a modern idea of connection and cooperation between different countries, and I am interested in learning more about it during the program," she says.

The Youth Development for a Shared Future Summer Camp 2026 draws 84 students and teachers from 16 countries to take part in exchange and sightseeing activities in Beijing and Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

While she admits she is not familiar with every aspect of Chinese history, she is eager to learn through real experiences, conversations, visits, and cultural exchange throughout the camp.

Beyond the academic discoveries, she views the journey as personal growth: "For me, this program is not only a journey to a new country, it is an opportunity to become more open-minded, independent, curious, and connected to the world. I believe that every person we meet and every culture we discover can teach us something valuable."

The camp's vision of cross-cultural connection was echoed at the opening ceremony by Aizaz Khan, deputy head of mission at the embassy of Pakistan in China.

Addressing the young participants, he urged them to pack an open heart, make new friends, and take home what they saw with their own eyes.

Drawing a historical arc, he said: "Two thousand years ago, caravans carried silk, porcelain, and ideas across deserts and mountains; today, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor carries energy, technology and hope from Kashgar to Gwadar. The ancients have left us the Silk Road spirit: peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit."