The EU-China Youth Leaders Summit was held from Thursday, Oct. 20 to Monday, Oct. 24 in Beijing.

The EU-China Youth Leaders Summit was held from Thursday, Oct. 20 to Monday, Oct. 24 in Beijing.

At the EU-China Youth Leaders Summit in Beijing, entrepreneurs from Europe and China discussed young people in an aging society, world multi-polarity and the role of regional organization, climate change and sustainable development, and the future for young business leaders.

The five-day event, which closes today, was the final flagship event of the 2011 EU-China Year of Youth. Other events had included government and corporate visits and youth exchanges and media initiatives.

Dong Xia, deputy secretary general of the All-China Youth Federation.

"The EU-China Year of Youth is a milestone in cross-cultural exchange between the EU and China," said Dong Xia, deputy secretary general of the All-China Youth Federation. "Two points are worth mentioning: scale and impact. More than 100 events were held and 10,000 youths joined in the events."

The main objectives of the EU-China Year of Youth are to promote intercultural dialogue and strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between European and Chinese youth; encourage young people to care about and support the development of EU-China relations; and achieve extensive and positive impact and help ensure that cooperation between policy makers as well as between youth organizations is sustainable beyond 2011.

Peter Matjasic, President of the Young European Federalists.

"Young people of Europe and China opened their minds, enhanced understanding and built friendship as well. Youth organizations in China and EU built contact and reached consensus through the platform of the EU-China Year of Youth," Dong said.

Invited by the All-China Youth Federation, 92 delegates from 27 countries of the EU participated in the summit. The average age of the delegates was 26 years old, including entrepreneurs, members of international and regional youth organizations, and people who work and study in China.

"We need each other," said Peter Matjasic, President l of the Young European Federalists . "We also need to promote the level of cooperation."