北京时间18日晚，“Z世代”中美青少年交流对话会在云南省麻栗坡县举办。本次活动由中国公共外交协会主办，环球网承办，中国驻美国大使馆、云南省人民对外友好协会、麻栗坡县人民政府为活动提供支持，旨在以线上和线下相结合的形式发起两国“Z世代”青少年间的对话，交流文化、增进友谊，让中美青少年的互联互通为中美关系健康稳定发展保驾护航。
The Dialogue between Chinese and American Gen Zers, hosted by the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA) and organized by Global Times Online, was held both online and offline in Malipo County, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, on the evening of Oct. 18.
The event, supported by the Chinese embassy in the United States, the Yunnan Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the People’s Government of Malipo County, aims to promote exchanges and enhance friendship between Chinese and American Gen Zers, so that they will contribute to the sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations.
中国公共外交协会会长吴海龙在致辞中称，保持中美关系健康稳定发展，符合两国人民的根本利益，也符合国际社会的普遍期待。只有中美好，世界才会更美好。
Chairman of CPDA Wu Hailong said in his speech that the sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations serves the shared interests of the two peoples and meets the expectation of the international community. The world will be a better place only when China and the U.S. enjoy friendly relations, he noted.
吴海龙表示，青少年交流是两国人民交流的重要组成部分，中美青年掌握着未来中美关系发展的前途命运，中美青年也承载着中美友好未来的使命。希望你们能够以更加广阔的视野和胸怀，更加开放包容的心态，客观理性的看待对方国家。在交流中增进相互了解，增进相互理解，增进相互信任，携手筑牢中美友好关系的基础。中国公共外交协会将为中美青少年搭建沟通和交流的平台，为促进中美两国人民的友谊和世代友好做出不懈的努力。
Calling youth exchanges an important part of people-to-people exchanges between China and the U.S., Wu added that young people from the two countries represent the future of bilateral relations and friendship.
He hopes that young people from China and the U.S. will have an open and tolerant attitude and view each other’s country in an objective and rational manner. He also hopes that they will enhance mutual understanding and trust through communication and lay a solid foundation for China-U.S. friendly relations.
The CPDA will build platforms for communication and exchanges between Chinese and American youngsters, and make unremitting efforts to promote the long-standing friendship between Chinese and American people, Wu said.
“有朋自‘云’上来，不亦乐乎！”中国驻美国大使秦刚线上出席此次活动，他在致辞中称，“‘Z世代’代表着未来和希望。十年、二十年后，世界将属于‘Z世代’，你们的未来无限可期。不管你们将来做什么，我希望你们都能为中美两国和世界的美好未来贡献力量”。
Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Qin Gang attended the event and delivered a speech via video link. “Gen Z represents the future and hope. The world will belong to Gen Z and your future is infinite,” Qin said.
“No matter what you do in the future, I hope you can contribute to the bright future of China, the U.S. and the world,” he said.
对于如何开创美好未来，秦刚提出四个“需要”：美好未来需要我们开放包容。对彼此间的差异，我们也应该本着尊重、包容的态度进行沟通，倾听彼此。“Z世代”作为未来的主人，可以为中美两国的友好交往搭建更好的桥梁。美好未来需要我们善用科技。中美两国都在研究如何让科技更好造福人类，趋利避害。大数据、人工智能是一把双刃剑，用好了可以让人变身“钢铁侠”，匡扶正义，用不好也可以让人成为“灭霸”，给人类带来灾难。“Z世代”作为数字时代的“原住民”应该思考这一重大课题。
“A bright future requires our understanding and tolerance,” the ambassador said, adding that China and the U.S. should communicate and listen to each other’s differences in a respectful and tolerant attitude. Gen Z should build a better bridge for friendly exchanges between China and the U.S., he noted.
“A bright future requires us to make good use of technology,” Qin said. Big data and artificial intelligence are double-edged swords. “If we use well, it transforms ourselves into ‘Iron Man’ and helps justice. On the contrary, it can become ‘Thanos’ and bring disasters to mankind,” the ambassador said, adding that both China and the U.S. are studying how to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages so that technology can better benefit mankind.
As the “indigenous people” in the digital age, Gen Z should think about this important issue, he said.
秦刚表示，美好未来需要我们奉献爱心。今天对话会的中国举办地麻栗坡县是中国快速发展变迁为民造福的一个缩影。希望中美两国“Z世代”把爱更多奉献给世界。同时，美好未来更需要我们永葆青春之心。“Z世代”不仅代表年龄，更代表着富有朝气、积极向上、勇于进取的心态，从这个角度讲，我也有一颗年轻的心，和你们一样同属“Z世代”！让我们一起永葆青春!追逐梦想，一直酷下去！Let us stay young, stay dreaming, stay cool!
“A better future requires our dedication and love,” the ambassador said. Malipo County, where the dialogue was held in China, is a microcosm of China’s rapid development and its efforts to deliver benefits to the people. Qin said he hopes that Gen Z in China and the U.S. will dedicate more love to the world.
“A better future requires us to keep our youthful heart forever,” he said, adding that Gen Z not only represents age, but also a vigorous, positive and enterprising mentality.
“From this perspective, I also have a young heart and belong to Gen Z just like you. Let us stay young, stay dreaming, stay cool,” the ambassador said.
云南省人民政府外事办公室一级巡视员程云川在致辞中称，今天举办对话会现场的麻栗坡县是一个风光秀丽、人杰地灵的地方，这里的学生也有和世界各国青少年开展友好交流互动的良好愿望。热切期待各位青年朋友能够有机会相聚在中国的七彩云南，衷心期待你们为增进中美两国人民之间的相互了解和友谊，为建设一个充满尊重和友爱的美好世界贡献智慧和力量。
Cheng Yunchuan, Counsel at Level 1 of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, said at the dialogue that Malipo County is known for its picturesque landscape and talented people, and students in the county have the good wishes for conducting friendly exchanges with young people from all over the world.
“I am looking forward to seeing that young people have the opportunity to meet in colorful Yunnan and that you will contribute wisdom and strength to enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and the American people and to building a better world that is filled with respect and love,” Cheng said.
美国罗阿诺克市议员乔·科布（Joe Cobb）在线上致辞中回顾了2018年难忘的云南之旅，称希望在不久的将来可以邀请来自云南的艺术家赴该市参观，扩大当地对云南艺术和文化的了解。科布表示，即使在全球和政治上的困难时期，对民间友谊的坚定信念可以克服任何障碍，这也是一种增进彼此关系的方式。
Joe Cobb, a member of the Roanoke City Council in the U.S. state of Virginia, recalled his visit to Yunnan in 2018 via video link, saying that he hopes to invite artists from Yunnan to visit Roanoke so that people in the city can better understand Yunnan’s culture and art. He also believes that the Chinese and U.S. people will uphold their firm faith in bilateral friendship and overcome any obstacles to enhance friendly relations.
本次对话会共设置“‘Z世代’视角下的中美新兴产业”“中美‘Z世代’体育文化的交流”“中美‘Z世代’的互联网偏好”“‘Z世代’视角见证中美发展&变迁”四个议题，邀请12位中美青年嘉宾通过线上线下相结合的方式进行讨论。
Twelve young Chinese and American guests had discussions on four topics both online and offline, namely, Emerging Industry in China and the US from the perspective of Gen Zers, Sports Culture in China and the US Shared by Gen Zers, Internet Preferences of Chinese and the US Gen Zers, and Development and Social Changes in China and US Witnessed by Gen Zers.
中国篮球运动员杨舒予在对话会上发言称，“Z世代”的重要特征就是勇于尝试、重在体验。就像我如果没有尝试篮球，也不会发现对篮球的热情，就不会有如今的我。正是勇于去尝试，大胆去体验，让我们发掘出自己身上秘密隐藏的潜力，让我们发现生活中全新的可能性，甚至在社会掀起全新的“Z世代”潮流。
Yang Shuyu, a famous Chinese basketball player, said at the dialogue that Gen Zers have the courage to try and experience, which are a major feature of the group.
“Take me as an example. If I hadn’t tried basketball, I wouldn’t have discovered my passion for it. I wouldn’t be where I am today. It is the courage to try and experience that allows us to discover our hidden potential, to discover new possibilities in life, and even to start a new ‘Gen Z’ trend,” Yang said.
歪果仁研究协会副会长星悦在对话会上谈到，“Z世代”愿意了解他国事情，但仍会产生不少误读，这种情况在中美之间依然存在，真正原因在于缺乏相应的知识。要想避免被一些新闻报道误导，应该抱有一种“空杯”的心态，这样才更容易接纳彼此的新知识和新想法。她还提到，在面对略难以开口的话题时，幽默可以轻松开启一段对话。
Xingyue, an American social media influencer with YChina, a cross-border video channel network featuring Chinese culture, entertainment and technology through the eyes of foreigners living in China, said at the dialogue that Gen Zers are willing to learn about other countries, but they may have some misunderstandings. This issue still exists between China and the U.S. because of the lack of appropriate knowledge.
“To avoid being misled by some news reports, we need to have an open-minded attitude so that it’s easier for us to accept new concepts and ideas from each other,” Xingyue said, noting that humor can help people easily start a conversation when they feel embarrassed to talk about a particular topic.
B站知名游戏区UP主逍遥散人认为，新产业在发展过程中取得的一个个微小的变化也许会创造差异、创造不理解，但它最终会将人类社会推向更高一层的理解和融合。而要想克服初期的阻力，有激情有热情、不受惯性束缚的年轻人是最好的动力。让我们摒弃对抗思维，用欣赏而非敌视的目光看待我们的不同，让大洋两岸的思想碰撞擦亮点燃太阳的初火。
Xiaoyao Sanren, an opinion leader on game on Bilibili, a popular Chinese video-sharing platform, believed that even minor changes during the development process of a new industry may lead to differences and misunderstandings, but these changes will eventually help promote understanding and social cohesion. Young people, passionate and unshackled as they are, represent the best hope for overcoming the initial resistance.
“Let’s reject the confrontation mentality, view our differences with some appreciation rather than hostility, and contribute our thoughts to a sound China-U.S. relationship,” the opinion leader said.
美国知名教育博主Andrew Cap在社交媒体上制作短视频，他在活动发言中称“希望与世界各地的人建立联系”。Andrew Cap称，对话是改善关系的关键，当我们真正听到彼此心声时就会意识到，无论来自哪个国家，我们都是人，虽然存在分歧，但大多数人都是真诚的，都拥有同样的希望和梦想。因此，像今天这样的对话会尤为重要，这有助于弥合中美双方的文化鸿沟。
Andrew Cap, an American opinion leader who makes short videos on social media in China, said at the dialogue that he hopes to connect with people all over the world.
“Conversations are the key to better relations because when we really hear each other talk from the heart, we realize no matter what country you come from, we are all human. You realize that although we have differences, most people are genuine and we have the same hopes and dreams,” Cap said, noting that the dialogue is of great significance, as it helps narrow cultural divides between China and the U.S.
青年琵琶艺术家柳青瑶现场进行了表演，她在随后的讨论环节称自己是“‘Z世代’来临的受益者”，因为可以将她所热爱的国风音乐足不出户就能传递到世界每个角落。
After staging a performance for the event, young pipa artist Liu Qingyao said she enjoys benefits as a Gen Zer because she can spread traditional Chinese music she loves to every corner of the world through the internet.
外交部新闻司副司长蒋小燕、中国公共外交协会秘书长霍颖、中宣部国际传播局综合和地方处二级巡视员高桦、云南省人民政府外事办公室一级巡视员程云川等各部门领导出席活动。
The event was also attended by Jiang Xiaoyan, Deputy Director-General of the Information Department of China’s Foreign Ministry, CPDA Secretary-General Huo Ying, and Gao Hua, an official with the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, among other government officials.
“云南独腿篮球斗士”骆祥健、美国摄影师欧阳凯、职业街球运动员赵强、中国青年商业挑战赛（CYBL）联合创始人Jeff Niu、燕京学堂硕士研究生Sarah Brooker、燕京学堂学生Julia Cai以及美国汉语桥参赛学生Warner Hartnett等中美嘉宾均在对话会上分享精彩观点。
Chinese and American guests shared their views at the dialogue, including Luo Xiangjian, who pursues his basketball dream despite losing his right leg, American photographer Obermann (or Ouyang Kai in Chinese), professional streetball player Zhao Qiang, China Youth Business League (CYBL) co-founder Jeff Niu, Sarah Brooke, a master degree candidate of Yenching Academy at Peking University, Julia Cai, another student from Yenching Academy, and Warner Hartnett, who participated in Chinese Bridge contest.
此外，麻栗坡的线下主会场还邀请了麻栗坡县在校学生线下参与对话，并与美国会场远程连线进行互动，以“云”互动形式缩短中外“Z世代”距离，还通过一系列游戏主题设置和才艺表演增进相互了解，展现开放交流的姿态和增进友谊的诚意。
Meanwhile, some students in Malipo County, the main venue of the dialogue, were invited to the event offline. These students also interacted with their counterparts at the event’s offline venue in the U.S. via video link. Together, they enhanced mutual understanding through various games and talent shows, showing their open attitude and sincerity to enhance friendship.
