As Australia and China celebrate 45 years of diplomatic relations, it was inspiring to meet leaders in their respective fields participate in the Australia-China Youth Dialogue. The diversity, energy and dynamism of the delegates and speakers reflect the future of our strong, complementary and growing bilateral relationship.

The ACYD is a very meaningful program, providing a fantastic platform for Chinese and Australian outstanding youth to exchange. Abundant topics and diverse experiences in the past 4 days really inspired a lot of spark, which might affect people for whole lifetime in some circumstances. 

I truly enjoyed ACYD 2017, which is a fantastic forum for thinking minds, with speakers, delegates, organisers and alumni contributing different views of current bilateral relations in trade, education, research, health and environmental issues, enlightening in embracing a broad vision and big picture of future Australia-China relationships. 

Exposure. Experience. Entrepreneurship – These are my key impressions about the ACYD 2016, which brought a group of excellent young talents from China and Australia from different walks of life together, each having his or her unique contribution of mind pumping into the great cause of the Australia-China relationship in a variety of aspects. I highly recommend ACYD for its richness of the content, the diversity of topics discussed, as well as the people-to-people connectivity created during the well-designed programs and provided by the alumni community for all these fantastic speakers, delegates and organizers.

Enlightening, Transformative, and Phenomenal! The quality of ACYD is reflected not only in the comprehensive program,thought-provoking sessions and prestigious guest speakers, but also in very high calibre of delegates whose positive character fuels them in their extraordinary personal journey and whose leadership drives change in their chosen field in their 20s and 30s.

I cannot highly recommend ACYD enough as, most importantly, it has been enhancing the existence of human capital within the Australia-China youth community by providing alumni with life-long access to the broadest and deepest Chinese-Australia expertise of their peers passionate about creating blueprint for bilateral relationship between Australia and China.

The commitment of Australia's and China's youth to close relations between the two countries is so clearly reflected in the energy, optimism, candour and thoughtfulness which delegates (and organisers) bring to the ACYD.  With the bilateral relationship facing so many opportunities (and a few challenges), people-to-people links have never been more important, and the ACYD forges thousands of them every year.  The ACYD proves that the Australia-China relationship is about far more than trade dollars, and that diplomacy is not just the realm of diplomats.

ACYD introduced me to individuals with a wealth of experience and depth of knowledge that is rare. To have a whole community of these individuals, sharing similar goals for the Australia-China relationship, was incredibly empowering to my own sense of purpose. I look forward to contributing to this relationship with a host of diverse peers who are open-minded, optimistic and dedicated.
 

2015 delegate, Strategic Policy Division, Department of Defence. The 2015 ACYD was a mind-broadening journey of intensive learning, lively discussion and new friendships. I arrived expecting to meet young Australians and Chinese who wanted to contribute to a brighter future. Instead, I met a collection of young people who are already doing just that, showing great leadership in a remarkable range of ways. I returned from the ACYD feeling energised and optimistic about the future.

2015 delegate, advisor, Rio Tinto China. The well designed sessions enable rich and meaningful dialogue and create fun. I am deeply impressed and inspired by all the speakers, delegates and organizers.