‍What do media and technology, biodiversity, the can-do spirit and greater human connections have in common?

Well, all of them are priority goals and visions as spelled out by China's millennials at a recent forum moderated by international lawyer and economist Laurence Brahm.

Speaking at the CGTN forum “How competitive are China's millennials?” African Ruqayya Basmah said technology and media represent a priority vision for her. That's because many people worldwide have negative impressions of Africa, often associating the continent with hunger, chaos and wars. Currently, a master's student studying in China, Ruqayya hopes that those images of Africa can be altered.

Founder of WildBound Yao Songqiao cited biodiversity as one of the goals that she embraces. An explorer and educator committed to solving ecological challenges, Yao said she hopes to see a future where forest coverage expands, plastic pollution declines and the loss of species discontinues. Describing the earth as an amazing classroom with different ecosystems, Yao said what the world needs isn't more growth but rather, quality growth.

The can-do spirit is a goal cherished by the bilingual host, writer, and internet celebrity Nurali Abliz. Expressing his hope of visiting the Antarctica one day, Nurali said his generation is generally imbued with the spirit that much of what they want to achieve is within reach so long as they continually work hard to fulfill their dreams.

TV hostess and performer JongMay Urbonya said she hopes the day will come when mainstream Chinese television will feature a foreigner without accentuating his or her inherent differences. She hopes to forge greater human connections and longs to meet people from all over the world so as to better understand their different and unique perspectives.

During the forum, China's millennials were loosely defined as people born after 1988, and who live, study and work in China.

"Forty years with Laurence Brahm: A marathon of experiences and ideas” is a special CGTN program on China's reform and opening up. The 10-episode series explores many sides to the reform and opening up over the years and offers a unique perspective on the seismic shifts that have rippled through China's economy, policies, and social fabric. The program is live-streamed at cgtn.com every day from November 15 to 25.