Photo: Deng Xiaoci/GT

"The Belt and Road Teenagers Makers Camp and Teacher Workshop provides young science and technology enthusiasts with an invaluable opportunity to learn, share, improve, and promote," Hatem Slimame, president of the Tunisian Association for the Future of Sciences and Technology (ATST), told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Wednesday. 

Slimame, who has been participating in the event since its inception in 2017, is leading a delegation of four young Tunisian students to join this year's international gathering in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province. 

"They are middle and high school students who have won many medals and awards at other international events and engineering fairs. However, they are eager to come to China for this experience, which focuses more on sharing knowledge and making new connections rather than competition," Slimame said. 

"I fell in love with China during my first visit and now proudly consider myself half-Chinese," he added. "In China, people are very professional in their work and pay great attention to every detail. There is nothing impossible here," he remarked, commenting on China's recent advances in science and technology. "China is on the right path to leading everything related to science and technology."

He shared his positive experience of purchasing a Chinese brand vehicle in Tunisia, expressing his satisfaction with the ride quality. "More and more brands are entering the market with very good quality and excellent after-sales service. Chinese automobiles no longer represent low quality for a low budget; they are quite competitive in every sense. I think China is moving at maximum speed to capture the global market," he said.

Looking forward, Slimame shared his vision that for the next edition of the camp in 2025, they plan to invite experts from China to Tunisia to deliver keynote speeches. He said they aim to cover topics such as space, new technology and architecture, areas where Chinese expertise is well-known, particularly in bridge construction. Our goal is to successfully attract these speakers, showcasing Chinese proficiency in these fields and promoting further collaboration, he said.

The mindset at the teenager camp offers a different perspective, as it is not about doing something extremely challenging, but about bringing together individuals with varying skill levels and fostering a collective effort, he said.

"During the camp, you can feel the sharing of information and the support from the China Association of Science and Technology directors and deputy directors, who personally come to communicate and demonstrate unity. They encourage everyone to come together, share meals, and participate in activities. Experts are invited to host these events at universities, not necessarily to conduct high-level scientific work, but to create an inclusive environment where everyone collaborates and learns from one another."

In my opinion, this collective spirit is the essence of the Belt and Road Initiative. While building achievements is important, the most significant aspect is the people involved, Slimame noted. 

The impact of such efforts will be evident in the next generation, who, in 20 years, will have grown from 10-year-old children to engineers, doctors, and other professionals.

Essentially, we are investing in the future, and while it might take 20 or 30 years to see the full results, it will be worth it, Slimame said. People are aware of our activities and eager to join. Many express interest in going to China, recognizing these opportunities as chances to learn and share, not just to compete. This aligns with my vision: learn, share, improve, and promote, he pointed out. 

This year's Belt and Road Teenagers Makers Camp and Teacher Workshop, the eighth edition since it started in 2017, is organized by the China Association of Science and Technology, China's Ministry of Science and Technology, Yunnan provincial government. Near 300 educational professionals and students from over 30 countries, a record high, are participating in the event running from July 23 to 28.