Top left: Young people from BRICS countries engaged in a "free hug" event on the streets of Kazan, Russia, on Sept 24. Top right: They explored the streets of Kazan. Above: They participated in the 2024 BRICS Young Leaders Forum on Sept 25. DONG MING/FOR CHINA DAILY

At the 2024 BRICS Young Leaders Forum in Kazan, youth leaders from BRICS countries highlighted the importance of language, cultural exchange, and friendship in fostering cooperation among nations.

When 24-year-old Chinese student Li Yunqing first met Iranian Abalfazl Delkhasteh, Li greeted him in Persian — a language he had learned in an elective course at university. This shared language quickly connected them, allowing for deeper conversations in English about culture, society, and the opportunities and challenges faced by young people in both countries.

"Sometimes, you don't have to be an expert or a professional translator to learn a language; it can still be the key that unlocks communication," Li said.

The two young men met at the 2024 BRICS Young Leaders Forum, held on Sept 25 in Kazan, Russia, the same location where the 2024 BRICS Summit will take place from Oct 22 to 24.

Themed "New Opportunities for a Shared Future", the event brought together 11 youth leaders and around 200 young audience members from BRICS countries to discuss the benefits of BRICS cooperation for youth and their contributions to the member nations.

As a language learner, Li is pursuing a master's degree in linguistics at the Higher School of Economics in Russia and is actively engaged in the Chinese language club and the Chinese literature club at the school. "In Russia, there is a strong demand for learning Chinese," he explained.

Pavel Sergeevich Kondrashkin, 28, a urologist at the Russian Railway Hospital, also noted that young people in the BRICS countries have a keen interest in each other's languages and cultures.

During his university years, he set up an online language club where native speakers from different countries taught each other their languages, fostering connections and integration among participants.

"Our online social network group now has nearly 2,000 members, many of whom are from BRICS countries," he said.

Delkhasteh, a 29-year-old who grew up in Iran and is now pursuing a graduate degree in China, sees the crucial role social media plays in cultural exchange among young people worldwide.

He is a social media content creator with over 25,000 followers on the Chinese video platform Bilibili and is dedicated to bridging the gap between Iranian and Chinese cultures by sharing content on technology, history, food, and everyday life in both nations.

"This will help build stronger connections that can positively influence both politics and the economy. It's something that can also be done in other BRICS countries," he said.

Delkhasteh believes that Iran's recent inclusion as a new member of the BRICS countries presents a valuable opportunity to enhance cooperation among member nations.

"The expanded BRICS represents nearly 45 percent of the global population and covers about 30 percent of the world's land area, making it a major player in global affairs," he said.

In addition to language, body language is another effective way to connect people. During their stay in Kazan, these young leaders hosted a "free hug "event on the streets, offering a unique and memorable experience for all participants.

Shannah Rose Erasmus, 27, a South African student of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), recalled a memorable moment when a group of young Russians noticed she was feeling shy about asking for free hugs in public. They approached her and hugged her, even though she couldn't speak Russian.

"It's a beautiful reminder that young people are willing to set aside our differences and come together to share a special moment like this," she said.

As a TCM enthusiast, Erasmus has seen how collaboration among BRICS countries enhances medical development and encourages exchanges among young doctors worldwide.

After completing her bachelor's degree in TCM and acupuncture at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa, Erasmus began her master's degree in acupuncture and tuina (a form of Chinese therapeutic massage) in 2021 at Zhejiang Chinese Medical University in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province.

In addition, since 2020, she has been working with the Confucius Institute for Chinese Medicine in South Africa, sharing TCM practices and Chinese philosophy with local youth.

"These exchanges allow for a nuanced appreciation of each other's cultures," said Erasmus.

Kondrashkin also participated in a one-month exchange program at Wuhan Union Hospital in 2017 in Central China's Hubei province. Working alongside a Chinese doctor, he was impressed by the doctor's outstanding medical skills and open-minded approach.

"It was my first experience in a BRICS country, and I really enjoyed it," he said.

Vitor Moura, a marketing director at the Brazil-China Business Association, noted that China, as Brazil's largest trading partner, has fostered strong cooperation between the two countries in areas like energy, agriculture, and technology, providing Brazil with technology transfers and infrastructure support.

"This model of cooperation, promoted by the BRICS mechanism, has become a successful example of collaboration among emerging market nations," Moura said, highlighting the unprecedented opportunities it creates for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as for young people.

"One of the main goals of the BRICS mechanism is to break down traditional economic barriers through multilateral cooperation, thereby creating new opportunities for global economic development," he explained. "The world needs BRICS because it needs alternatives."

Li has also observed substantial growth in trade between China and Russia in recent years. He recalls that on his flights to Russia, almost half the passengers were Chinese students studying there, while the other half were businesspeople attending exhibitions.

"With the 2024 BRICS Summit in Russia and this year marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, interactions between the two countries have become even more frequent," Li said.

After the event, the young leaders exchanged gifts. Li brought a ceramic panda for his friends and received Iranian saffron from Delkhasteh. Erasmus received chocolates and a traditional hat from her Russian friends, and, in return, gifted them Rooibos tea, which holds significance in South African culture and history.

"This experience showed me that BRICS isn't just about cooperation on global issues but also about building friendships and finding joy in connecting with people from around the world, which is just as important," Erasmus said.

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