Zhijiang Village, situated on the Huangrao Peninsula in Xiayatang Town of Jiande City, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, is named for its location along a riverbank shaped like the character '之'. In May 2023, at the Zhejiang Province Symposium on Modernizing Units for Common Prosperity, Zhijiang Village was honored as one of the 'First Batch of Future Villages in Zhejiang Province'. To further elevate Jiande's international profile and integrate global elements into rural innovation, a Global Youth Dialogue for the Creative Rural Revitalization was held in Zhijiang Village, Xiayatang Town, Jiande City, on November 16. International students from our university were invited to participate, immersing themselves in the rustic charm of village life and discussing pressing issues in rural development.
On the day of the event, international student representatives from countries along the 'Belt and Road' initiative converged in Zhijiang Village, Jiande, to experience the allure of rural areas under the new era's 'Millions Project' through a 'Country Walk'. Later, at the International Youth Rural Innovation Salon, professors from foreign universities and well-known bloggers delivered engaging talks on the theme of 'Youth Rural Construction Action'.
Professor Wu Yanxiong, Executive Dean of the Rural Revitalization Research Institute at Zhejiang A&F University's Ji Yang College, shared insights on 'The Intrinsic Logic and Implementation Pathways of Village Prosperity Empowered by Live Streaming and Short Videos.' He proposed a three-pronged strategy to enhance rural media literacy and self-media management for shared prosperity: 'Planning as the Forefront,' 'Branding as the Framework,' and 'Culture as the Soul.'
Katherine Olson, an American currently serving as the Green Zhejiang Project Manager and a video blogger with about 1 million followers across platforms, now resides in the Baizhang rural area of Hangzhou. She shared her cycling experiences across Zhejiang and the environmental changes and developments in the Beautiful Village Project she captured.
Andrew, an international student from Ghana, initially thought to partake in a conventional rural experience. Upon his actual visit, he found the village far removed from the traditional image of poverty and backwardness. Abdullojon, the other international student from Tajikistan, noted that, after hearing the experts' presentations, he believed that Zhijiang Village's development experience could be a valuable model for other countries. He was also profoundly moved by Katherine Olson's rural living experiences.
Through this event, our international students were able to immerse themselves in the construction of beautiful Zhejiang and the development of its villages, deepening their understanding of Zhejiang and China.
