The 2021 China-Japan-ROK Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum was held in Qingdao, Shandong province on Dec 8 and 9 via online and offline channels.

The 2021 China-Japan-ROK Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum is held in Qingdao, Shandong province on Dec 8 and 9. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, the event was designed to enhance cooperation, innovation and entrepreneurship among the youth of China, Japan and South Korea, and connect governments, businesses and social resources between the three countries.

Close to 150 participants including young scientists and innovators and representatives of well-known enterprises in China, Japan and South Korea attended the forum.

Zhang Guangjun, vice-minister of Science and Technology of China, said in a video speech that China, Japan and South Korea are all major innovators with their respective strengths and advantages in the field of scientific and technological innovation.

"Deepening trilateral cooperation in scientific and technological innovation is a powerful measure to promote regional innovation and development," Zhang stressed.

Zhang Guangjun, vice-minister of Science and Technology of China, delivers a speech at the forum. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The economies of China, Japan and South Korea are highly complementary, Zhang noted. He also expressed hope that the three countries will take a long-term and future-oriented view, strengthen all-round exchanges, promote cooperation, and help the youths of the three countries deepen innovation and entrepreneurship, so as to contribute to the high-level development of regional innovation cooperation.

Innovation is the primary driving force for development. In today's world, scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation are flourishing. The new generation of information technology, represented by the internet, big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, is developing rapidly and spreading to all fields at a faster pace, and is promoting the in-depth development of economic globalization.

Scientific and technological progress and industrial transformation and upgrading have provided important opportunities for young people in China, Japan and South Korea to innovate and start businesses.

At the forum, representatives of enterprises from China, Japan and South Korea such as the CRRC Corporation of China, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Japan and Hyundai Motor Group of South Korea delivered keynote speeches, respectively, and discussed the development of intelligent transportation, intelligent manufacturing, new energy technology and other hot tech issues.