Over 50 politicians, experts, scholars and youth representatives from China and Europe attended the culture sub-forum of the 2026 China-Europe Talent Forum themed “China and Europe: Shaping a Shared Future through Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations.” Held in Beijing on September 21, the forum was co-hosted by the Beijing Talent Work Bureau and Switzerland’s Adecco Group, and its culture sub-forum was organized by the CICG Center for Europe and Africa (China Today), with guidance from the China International Communications Group (CICG).
Yu Tao, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), addresses the culture sub-forum.
Yu Tao, vice president of CICG; Liu Guangyi, deputy director of the Beijing Talent Work Bureau; and Jacobo Pombo García, president of the Global Youth Leadership Forum, delivered opening remarks at the event. The culture sub-forum was moderated by Zhao Lijun, president of the CICG Center for Europe and Africa (China Today).
In his speech, Yu Tao said that China-Europe relations are driven by strong internal momentum for development, and that people-to-people exchanges, as a vital pillar of this relationship, call for talent cooperation to play an even bigger role. He then offered three recommendations: first, promoting dialogue between civilizations to deepen mutual understanding between Chinese and European talent; second, advancing collaborative innovation and cultivating versatile talent with technical expertise, cross-cultural understanding, and a global vision; and third, championing openness and inclusiveness by improving talent evaluation systems and aligning policies to build high-level talent hubs.
Liu Guangyi, deputy director of the Beijing Talent Work Bureau, addresses the culture sub-forum.
Liu Guangyi said that China and Europe are both cradles of civilization, and that cultural exchange depends on understanding each other’s historical traditions, social life, and values. Talent is the most active and enduring force in mutual learning among civilizations. Beijing will provide the best possible environment and help China-Europe cooperation evolve from “a one-time gathering” to “a long-term partnership,” he said.
Jacobo Pombo García stated that the future of Europe-China relations rests on mutual understanding and the active engagement of young people. He stressed that talent lies at the heart of 21st-century competition, and that blending diverse cultures holds the key to prosperity. To this end, he called for a shift from “cultural presentation” to “cultural participation,” encouraging the younger generation to strengthen the Europe-China comprehensive strategic partnership through mutual respect and cooperation, and to work together in building a shared future based on respect, dialogue, and collaboration.
Jacobo Pombo García, president of the Global Youth Leadership Forum, addresses the culture sub-forum.
In-depth discussions among Chinese and foreign participants at the sub-forum were held, featuring Friedrich Todenhöfer, secretary-general of Die Gerechtigkeitspartei – Team Todenhöfer, German writer, and public communication strategist; Xu Chuanhua, dean of the European School at Beijing International Studies University; Sébastien Périmony, researcher at the Schiller Institute in France and international affairs expert; Kosima Weber Liu, German photographer; Xiao Lianbing, former secretary-general of the International Exchange, Cooperation, and Communication Center, Guangming Daily; Ole Döring, German sinologist and philosopher; Xia Yu, soprano at the China National Opera House; Zhou Wenxia, vice president of the Beijing Institute of Talent Development Strategy, professor at the School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China; Chris Nash, former chairman of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding; Pan Qingzhong, executive vice dean and professor of Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University; and Andrea Lorenzo Baldini, Changjiang scholar chair professor at the School of Arts, Peking University.
Their discussion focused on three key topics: “Chinese Culture through a European Lens,” “Bringing Chinese Culture to Life in Europe,” and “Shaping Future Sino-European Cross-Cultural Talent in the AI Era.” The participants provided valuable insights and suggestions for promoting talent exchanges and cooperation between China and Europe.
Chinese and European guests launch the “Comprehensive Competency Assessment System for International Talent” at the culture sub-forum.
During the sub-forum, Zhao Lijun, Zhou Wenxia, Jacobo Pombo García, and Bettina Schaller, president of the World Employment Confederation, global head of Public Affairs of the Adecco Group, and honorary dean of Beijing Institute of Talent Development Strategy, jointly launched the “Comprehensive Competency Assessment System for International Talent.”
The assessment system focuses on seven core aspects: foreign language and cross-cultural communication skills, AI literacy, understanding of internationally applicable technical standards, global vision and strategic thinking, global science and technology governance rules, global narrative and international communication, and global leadership. It aims to establish a scientific, comprehensive, and quantifiable benchmark for talent evaluation.
Chinese and European guests pose for a group photo at the culture sub-forum of the 2026 China-Europe Talent Forum.
