International youth delegates visit tech titan Tencent's headquarters in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province during the launch of the 2026 Future Close-Up program on June 8 (ZHANG WEI)  

On June 8, the 2026 Future Close-Up global youth exchange and visit program kicked off in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. Themed “AI for a Shared Future,” the event brings together 21 young delegates from 15 countries and regions, including the United States, Brazil, Peru, Russia and Germany. 

Future Close-Up is a high-level youth exchange program jointly launched in 2023 by the China International Communications Group (CICG) Center for the Americas and Tencent’s Marketing and Public Relations Department.  

Through visits centered on China’s cutting-edge technologies and intangible cultural heritage, this year’s participants will get a closer look at the country’s innovation capacities and rich cultural traditions, and help share with the world the story of how China is integrating technology and culture in the AI era. 

On June 8-12, the group will travel across Shenzhen and Chengdu, Sichuan Province, where they will tour hi-tech companies including Tencent and automaker BYD, visit the Chengdu Field Research Center for Giant Pandas, try their hand at intangible cultural heritage crafts and participate in activities including a robot flash mob.  

Many of this year’s delegates are influential figures in their respective fields, including entrepreneurs, tech professionals, government officials and scholars. 

International youth delegates visit automaker BYD's headquarters in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, on June 8 (ZHANG WEI) 

During the opening ceremony on June 8, they shared their excitement about gaining firsthand insight into China’s AI development. 

Oliver Pang, founder and CEO of Australian eco-tech company GreenCoat, said he has been closely following technological advances around the world and is especially interested in the intersection of climate change, AI and sustainable urban development. 

“What stands out to me most is China’s rapid progress in AI and industrial technology,” he said. “I believe this program will allow me to really see the future of AI and industrial technology ‘close-up.’” 

Lucas Campos de Almeida, a Brazilian media professional, said he looks forward to seeing China’s advancements in AI and connecting with participants from around the world during the program. “I am eager to explore how these advancements can create shared opportunities across cultures and societies,” he said.  

Jerry Chong, a Malaysian cloud specialist in the logistics industry, said taking part in the program would allow him to bring an ASEAN perspective to global conversations on AI. 

“I hope to leave Shenzhen and Chengdu not only with new insights, but also with genuine global connections that help us build a more inclusive, shared AI future together,” he said. 

Guillermo Palacios, a Peruvian lecturer, said China’s technological advancement is one of the key forces driving the global economy. 

“I joined this program to move beyond secondhand analysis and engage directly with the people driving this transformation,” he said, adding that he hopes to build lasting academic and professional ties with China’s innovation community. 

Sorrel Salb, founder of German technology and humanities consultancy Our Future, hopes to gain a broader view of China’s tech innovation landscape, learn from those at the forefront of developing advanced products and services, and build long-term partnerships.  

This year marks the fourth edition of the Future Close-Up program. By bringing together diverse voices from around the world, Future Close-Up helps turn the abstract concept of a “shared future” into tangible connections and shared insights. 

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

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