The third Global Layout Program for Young Entrepreneurs was held in Beijing from Oct 9 to 11. The program, jointly organized by China International Youth Exchange Center (CIYEC), China-ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Association and China National Association of Metal Material Trade, brought together outstanding young entrepreneurs from sectors such as engineering construction, the building materials supply chain and the digital industry.

The session focused on intensifying practical cooperation in engineering in ASEAN, aiming to equip young entrepreneurs with the knowledge needed to precisely identify new investment opportunities in ASEAN's engineering sector and effectively mitigate risks in cross-border business operations through a systematic curriculum.

The program included in-depth lectures by experts from China Foreign Affairs University, the ASEAN-China Centre, the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce, the China Certified Tax Agents Association and leading enterprises such as Hargent Tax Consulting Co Ltd, and POWERCHINA. These lectures delved into core topics, including the RCEP rules, supply chain restructuring, country-specific investment policies and localization strategies. The program was designed not only to provide participants with a macro-level understanding of overseas market policies and a clear view of the market environment and cooperation opportunities, but also to address practical operational challenges in critical issues such as supply chain and procurement, compliance localization and cultural integration, as well as tax risks and the application of tax treaties.

Visits were organized for the participants to the Embassy of Indonesia in China, China Railway Construction Engineering Group, the Beijing Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, the China Headquarters of Charoen Pokphand Group and the Thai Chamber of Commerce in China. During these visits, exchanges were held on topics including country-specific investment, industrial development policies, laws and regulations and business cooperation. The participants learned about successful international engineering project cases and conducted on-site matchmaking for partnership resources.

During the exchange session, participants engaged in in-depth discussions and strategic simulations through roundtable and group discussions on themes such as from "going global" to "going local", and innovation and implementation strategies for international engineering cooperation in ASEAN.

Participants widely agreed that the program was well-structured and had rich content. It successfully integrated high-level coordination between government and business resources alongside in-depth analysis of real-world frontline cases, achieving an effective blend of "macro perspective" and "micro-level operations."

It was widely agreed among the participants that they had established a knowledge framework for the policy environment, investment opportunities and risk prevention and control of the ASEAN market, and that they also gained firsthand insights of the vitality and potential of regional cooperation through on-site exchanges and visits. Furthermore, the program significantly broadened the global perspective of the young entrepreneurs, deepened their understanding of localization in international projects, and provided actionable insights and pathways for their companies' future international cooperation, injecting fresh, robust momentum into their pursuit of high-quality global development.