Participants present their proposals at the competition.

Wuhan University (WHU) hosted the 10th Youth Innovation Competition on Lancang-Mekong Region’s Governance and Development on July 13, bringing together 34 teams from 17 universities across China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as experts, government officials, and representatives from international organizations.

Gong Wei, vice-president of WHU, highlighted the importance of integrating Lancang-Mekong cooperation into the university's international agenda, utilizing its expertise in smart water management, remote sensing, and international studies to build a robust network with regional institutions.

Zhou Lei, vice-president of Fudan University and co-organizer of the event, underscored the competition's role in nurturing innovation and cultural exchange among the region's youth.

The competition has expanded to five countries and eight cities in the Lancang-Mekong region, involving 28 partner universities and receiving over 650 innovative projects from more than 3,400 participants.

Throughout the five-day event, participants engaged in key activities such as project presentations, cross-national team collaborations, and cultural exchanges, showcasing academic posters detailing their proposals on resilient infrastructure.

The "Digital Micro-Consolidation Platform" from the National University of Laos stood out for addressing logistical inefficiencies following the opening of the China-Laos railway.

Fudan University's project, "FlowSure: Resilient Water, Shared by Communities", proposed reusing abandoned infrastructure for water storage and utilizing AI to optimize water distribution, addressing resource allocation concerns.

Meanwhile, Wuhan University's "FloodWISE & Community Co-Build" project advocated for a new flood management approach that integrates localized spatial design, cross-regional cooperation, and ecological flood prevention.

The competition advanced into a cross-national collaboration phase, where participants were reorganized into international teams to tackle selected high-scoring topics, which tested their cross-cultural communication and collaborative innovation skills.

Organizers also arranged cultural experiences for participants, including a dragon boat race on East Lake and a cultural tour exploring Wuhan's rich heritage.

Representatives from the six countries read the Youth Initiative on July 17, urging young people across the region to address contemporary challenges with innovation and to protect their shared home through cooperation.

Young people participate in a dragon boat race.

Representatives read the Youth Initiative.