World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
48 young entrepreneurs from five countries complete rural development program
A China-led rural development program trained 48 young people from Kenya, Laos, Tanzania, Uganda and Indonesia.
The participants studied and visited projects in Beijing and Yunnan, then received continued advice from Chinese agricultural mentors after returning home.
The program focused on practical ways to improve farming and build rural businesses.
In Kenya, Julius Waweru upgraded his seedling business with irrigation, improved growing methods and phone-based advice for farmers.
Participants are adapting ideas to local needs, including Indonesian coffee marketing, greenhouse farming in Tanzania and tourism projects in Laos.
Their work matters because it aims to raise farm production and incomes while giving rural young people more opportunities.
A new program group has begun training, with participants from five additional countries and courses that include digital tools and artificial intelligence.
A rural development program jointly launched by China Agricultural University and Tencent graduated 48 young participants from five countries.
The participants came from Kenya, Laos, Tanzania, Uganda and Indonesia.
They took part in 10 days of study and practical visits in Beijing and Yunnan, then received continued online and field guidance from Chinese mentors.
Participants have applied ideas in areas including agriculture, rural tourism and digital marketing in their home communities.
The graduation ceremony was held near Jinhai Lake in Beijing.
- Who
- 48 young participants from Kenya, Laos, Tanzania, Uganda and Indonesia.
- What
- They completed the 2025 cohort of the Global South Youth Rural Development Training Program.
- When
- The graduation ceremony was held shortly before the article was published on October 28, 2026.
- Where
- The ceremony was held near Jinhai Lake in Beijing. The participants studied and made practical visits in Beijing and Yunnan.
- Why
- The program aims to help rural youth develop their problem-solving and resource-integration skills and put local development ideas into practice.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The 48 participants were selected for the program.
Participants completed 10 days of study and practical visits in Beijing and Yunnan.
Chinese Agriculture University mentors provided online exchanges and field guidance to help participants develop their ideas.
A new cohort began training, with five additional countries included.
The 48 participants attended their graduation ceremony near Jinhai Lake in Beijing.
- Participants
- 48
- Countries represented
- Kenya, Laos, Tanzania, Uganda and Indonesia
- Study and practical visits
- 10 days in Beijing and Yunnan
- Mentors
- 15 China Agricultural University mentors
- Program partners
- China Agricultural University and Tencent’s Sustainable Social Value business unit
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What people are saying
We not only saw China's progress in agricultural technology, but also learned many project management methods. These experiences can help increase agricultural output, and are especially relevant to Indonesian coffee cultivation.
What I saw in China was not just technology, but the connection between technology, farmers and services.
Modern facility agriculture is not only about building greenhouses, but also about using scientific management, ecological cycles and precise production to balance increased agricultural output, farmers' incomes and environmental protection.