Hainan tour gives US youth window into China's tech, trade and innovation sectors

Albert Vasquez, a data‑science student at the University of California, Berkeley, is still amazed by the speed of China's transport development on his third trip to the country.

"I've been to Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chongqing. Each time I’m astonished by how fast development is taking place here," he said.

Vasquez is among nearly 40 young US delegates taking part in the "Bridge for the Future" Sino‑US Youth Innovation Exchange Camp, held across Hainan from July 26 to August 1.

Organized by the American Flying Tigers Friendship Association, the program brings young US talent in science, technology, and business on-site to experience the Hainan Free Trade Port's innovation ecosystem.

On July 30, the group rode Sanya's Rainbow High‑Speed Rail for Albert's first‑ever high‑speed‑rail experience. He was struck by the carriage cleanliness, fast security screening and paperless ID‑based boarding – a sharp contrast to physical tickets still widely used in parts of the United States.

"The United States does not have a high‑speed rail system, and experiencing this really makes me wish that we did," Vasquez noted.

Recalling his college days commuting between Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area by expensive flights, he believes affordable high‑speed services would greatly ease long‑distance travel for American students. Smart rail infrastructure can lower barriers for cross‑border youth exchanges, he said.

Also on July 30, the delegation toured Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Hainan Free Trade Port's core hub for deep‑sea research, seed‑breeding innovation and AI industry development.

The participants visited laboratories and the Youth Innovation Valley, gaining firsthand exposure to China's deep‑sea equipment and research achievements.

Together with other US participants, including project manager Guan Gru He from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and architecture student Joan Sebastian Cubillos from California State University, Northridge, they discussed China's industry‑university‑research integration model and potential for Sino‑US academic and talent exchanges.

On July 31, the US youth visited Sanya International Duty‑Free Shopping Complex.

They sampled the convenient cross‑border products brought by Hainan Free Trade Port opening‑up policies.

The young delegates pointed out that Hainan serves as a key Asia‑Pacific pilot for open trade, which can advance APEC‑driven regional opening‑up and digital circulation cooperation across the region.

Many delegates said immersive field visits can change perceptions shaped only by online information.

More people‑to‑people youth exchanges can boost mutual understanding between Chinese and American young people, as well as Sino‑US collaboration in marine science, artificial intelligence, and trade‑related dialogues.

(All photos via CGTN)