Apec Voice of the Future

APEC Voice of the Future

Y:  Dear audience, good evening. Welcome to this week’s Dialogue. I am Liu Yina. The annual national selection of representatives for APEC Voice of the Future is right around the corner. Known as the main platform for ‘Youth Voice’, it allows special teams of young people from the 21 APEC Economies to attend this APEC Summit. Today we invite one of the distinguished participants Li mengzhu from Communication University of China to share with us her APEC journey and her thoughts and gains. Mengzhu, welcome!

L:  Thank you!

1. You attended the 2014 APEC Voice of the Future and were successfully selected to be the final youth representative for China. When looking back, do you still remember your motion for this? I mean any inspiration that propelled you to be there?

L:  I guess it’s my curiosity. I learned from history book in high school that China took part in APEC in 1991, and held its first APEC Summit in Shanghai in 2001. Academic books stated a lot of its significance to Chinese economy and trade. I’d like to go and have a look. And I always wanted to be a part of something big. APEC Voice of the Future was my idealized platform to be that part of something big. I appreciated it.

1. Wow, so you must have your own findings. After you experience this, what’s your definition of APEC? Any new idea about this summit?

L: Yeah, as far as I am concerned, APEC is not only emerged as an important force for enhancing Asia-Pacific economy and global economic governance, but also means the ambition towards future, the passion of life, the enthusiasm for the world and the cooperation between the talented elites. It’s a place where everyone could dream together. Previously I considered it an official gathering of policy makers; well actually I discovered that all voices were respected regardless of nationality, age, gender and etc.

1. According to my understanding, you mean APEC is full of opportunities and possibilities since you’ve mentioned it’s actually a brain-storming gala. Lots of new ideas, innovation and… I would like to know what impressed you most when speaking of last year’s APEC in Beijing.  

L:  Deepest impression? En, let me see. I think my deepest impressions are something about an APEC-born proper noun, and that is APEC blue. APEC blue refers to the blue sky in Beijing due to a successful emission reduction campaign directed by Chinese government. Though it’s quite controversial because of its transience, it shows that Chinese air quality can be improved if we resort to some measures. Chinese people need that sort of confidence somehow. 稍微有点陡，希望加上一些中国的当今经济发展现状，和confidence有个承接。

1. You just mentioned about Chinese creativity during APEC. In terms of its participation in APEC all these years, how do you feel? Any personal opinion on that?  

L:  回答。。。。最后一句I was so lucky to have this chance to witness all of that.

1. Indeed, you are such a lucky dog to join this spectacular gathering. Apart from external factors or you mean good luck, we all know that winning this entrance isn’t an easy stuff. It requires lots of preparation and self-improvement. Was there any moment you think that maybe I‘ll just step down, maybe this is just too much?

L:  Well, it’s hard to say. Yeah, preparation, exhausted and sometimes even drove me crazy because of massive reading and recitation. But this is life, isn’t it? Once I decided to do sth, I would just go for it. Never to retreat, never to abandon is my life code.  

1. That sounds great! Why do you think that? Anything related to your personal experience?

L: I used to be in the school running team for 3 years. 开始编。。。。

7. What do you learn most from APEC?

L: 发挥空间大。可以多角度分开说，知识方面，人际交往，全球化视野等

8.  The 2015 APEC Voice of the Future is on the way, so far, the first phase of registration was   completed and the preliminary selection will be in a week’s time, do you have any advice for this year’s contestants?