By Shantel Guillaume
Jiangsu, China — For a week in eastern China, nearly 20 young professionals, researchers, and students from nine Latin American and Caribbean countries stepped beyond headlines and statistics to witness China’s modernization firsthand. What they encountered was a country where centuries-old traditions coexist with cutting-edge technology, offering a perspective that challenged long-held assumptions.
Held from July 2 to 8, the 2026 Latin American Youth “Discover Jiangsu” Summer Camp brought together emerging leaders from across the region to explore China’s economic development, scientific innovation, cultural heritage, and educational institutions. Organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Jiangsu Province in partnership with the China (Jiangsu)-Latin America University Consortium and Jiangsu Normal University, the initiative sought to strengthen people-to-people ties between China and Latin America.
Among the participants was Rodrigo Ventura, a member of the Andean Road Countries for Science and Technology (ARCST) and an Associate Editor of the Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture (JLASC). For Ventura, the experience went far beyond an academic exchange.
“You can read about China’s modernization, but seeing it firsthand changes your perspective,” Ventura said. “Walking through these cities, meeting students and researchers, and understanding how innovation is integrated into everyday life offers insights that no report can fully capture.”
A Journey Through China’s Past and Future 
The program began in Yangzhou, where participants attended the 2026 Latin America and the Caribbean Day and Jiangsu-LAC Cooperation and Exchange Meeting, joining diplomats and officials from several Latin American countries to discuss growing cooperation in education, science, and regional development.
Outside the conference hall, the delegation explored Yangzhou’s historic landmarks, including the Grand Canal, Slender West Lake, and the Guangling Youyan Cultural Block. Conversations with students from Yangzhou University provided an opportunity to compare educational systems, career aspirations, and the challenges facing young people on both sides of the Pacific.
The journey continued in Nanjing, where visits to the Nanjing Museum and the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre offered participants a deeper understanding of the historical experiences that continue to shape modern China.
In Xuzhou, attention shifted to innovation. At Huaihai Science and Technology City, participants explored advances in artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, and emerging technologies before participating in workshops on Chinese calligraphy, seal carving, and Wuqinxi, a traditional exercise rooted in classical Chinese medicine.
“What impressed me most was how naturally China connects innovation with cultural heritage,” Ventura said. “Modernization here is not about replacing tradition—it is about building on it.”
Beyond Cultural Exchange 
The program concluded at Jiangsu Normal University, where participants presented short videos and proposals reflecting on their experiences and discussing opportunities for future cooperation between China and Latin America.
Addressing the closing ceremony, university leaders emphasized the growing importance of educational and cultural exchanges in strengthening China-Latin America relations. Speakers encouraged the young participants to become long-term ambassadors for dialogue, scientific cooperation, and sustainable development.
For Ventura, those conversations have already opened new possibilities.
“The challenges we discuss in Latin America—sustainable development, technological innovation, education, and scientific cooperation—are also priorities here,” he said. “Different regions may follow different paths, but there is enormous potential to learn from one another.”
Investing in the Next GenerationAs China expands its engagement with Latin America through trade, technology, and education, initiatives such as the Jiangsu summer camp highlight another dimension of the relationship: investing in future leaders.
Beyond official meetings and cultural visits, participants spent a week sharing ideas, building friendships, and exploring opportunities for long-term collaboration. Those personal connections, many said, may prove to be the program’s most lasting outcome.
For Ventura, the experience reinforced the importance of dialogue in an increasingly interconnected world.
“International cooperation begins with understanding,” he said. “When young people have the opportunity to learn from one another directly, they build the trust needed to address shared global challenges. Those relationships will shape the future of China-Latin America cooperation far beyond this program.”
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