Post by the amazing Michelle Monaghan from our Blogger Team.
I’m not going to lie. The current relationship between Australia and China is complicated, to say the least – well, only at the political level. However, at the youth level, it is a whole different story. When I first saw applications for the 12th Australia-China Emerging Leaders Summit (ACELS) appear on social media, I was curious but wary at the same time, given how relations had soured due to COVID19.
Being an international relations student only made my perspective on the whole situation more confusing. I have learned about China as part of my studies, but I don’t know much about the country. So, I took a leap of faith and decided to apply for ACELS12, and I am glad that I did.
The theme of the summit was ‘On-The-Road: Diverse Ties and Local Engagement’. It presented a unique and fresh perspective of studying relations at a local level rather than an international level. The project team did this in a fun way by encouraging delegates to meet in person in their local city chapters as the summit ran virtually due to the current climate. Furthermore, there were social activities and informal lunch sessions at ACELS12, which brought us closer together.
When it came to the actual summit, the panels and workshops were highly informative and engaging. We got to hear from Australian and Chinese experts from the fields the panels explored, and the post-workshops brought delegates together and got us to use our creativity to think outside the box. For example, a particular workshop gave each group an Australia and China sister-city relationship to provide a collaborative opportunity.
In my group, we were given Logan City in QLD and Chengdu in China’s Sichuan province. I saw that Chengdu had a Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and that Logan City Council had a nearby forest reserve inhabited by koalas. I pointed out this connection to my team. We came up with the idea that both cities could collaborate through a Koala-Panda Research and Protection Program as both species face the threat of possible extinction and deforestation.
Already, the summit demonstrated how simple it was for people from Australia and China to work together and have an impact. I felt this even more when I sparked the idea of creating an Australia-China Youth Environment Group and noticed the number of delegates who raised their hand to be in the discussion space I created on WeChat.
Overall, ACELS12 was an incredible experience, and it’s essential more than ever for young people to have a say and be involved in critical spaces where we can make a difference. I have made new friends and connections, which bring me joy and a space for cultural sharing and discussion. I have a unique perspective on China and my country’s relations, and I now want to learn Chinese to strengthen my engagement and cultural connections.
To apply for future opportunities and stay connected in the Australia-China space head to the Australia-China Youth Association’s (ACYA) website and Facebook page.
Website
http://www.acya.org.au/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/australiachinayouthassociation
Images from Michelle Monaghan.