Written by via scmp.com
China, as the world’s second-largest economy populated by almost one-fifth of the global population, is a driving force in international affairs and human development. The technological advances the country has made in recent decades are also attracting attention and curiosity worldwide.
To boost inbound tourism and people-to-people exchanges, China began to grant 15-day visa-free entries to passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia from last December as part of a policy trial that will run until the end of this November.
Nationals from Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg have since been added to the list. The international business community has welcomed the move as it makes business travel easier and will encourage more delegates to visit for meetings, conferences and exhibitions.
For Huawei Technologies, a leading Chinese global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, the new policy is also conducive to its many international training programmes that are helping to nurture global talent and drive innovation for the future.
The company has just finished the latest round of its global Seeds for the Future programme, which saw a group of university students from 18 European nations travel to Guangdong province and Beijing in January for an enticing week of Chinese cultural, educational and collaborative activities.
The “Seeds for the Future European Grand Finale” enabled the students to take part in illuminating sessions with technology experts, examine the realms of connectivity and innovation, and contribute to insightful panel discussions on hot topics such as diversity, green skills and sustainability.
Huawei launched this flagship corporate social responsibility programme in Thailand in 2008, with the mission to select bright young talent from universities in various countries to participate in short-term training, global competitions and continuing alumni activities centred around digital technology.
The goal is to give them exposure to practical industry knowledge and ability and cross-cultural experiences that will help to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit. The programme embraces diversity and inclusivity as its core values, and at least one-third of participants are women students