About the 2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge

The China-Latin American Youth Responding to Global Challenges — 2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge was co-hosted by Tsinghua University, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, the University of Chile, the Universidad del Pacífico in Peru, Minera Las Bambas S.A. and other institutions. It attracted the participation of more than 310 teachers and students from 27 universities and enterprises in four countries: China, Brazil, Chile and Peru. The Challenge was divided into two stages: the Preliminary Competition and the Transnational Final, aiming to promote cross-cultural communication and collaboration, and inspire innovative thinking and practical abilities of global youth in the field of poverty alleviation.

On June 7, 2025, the Preliminary Competition of the 2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge was successfully held, with Tsinghua University as the offline main venue and participants from Latin American countries competing simultaneously in a hybrid online and offline format. After a fierce competition, 12 innovative teams stood out and advanced to the Transnational Final. In August 2025, the Transnational Final of the 2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge was held in Brazil and Chile successively.

In January 2026, 32 Latin American university students who advanced to the final came to China for cultural immersion activities, including face-to-face exchanges with Chinese teachers and students, visits to China's poverty alleviation bases and institutions, and Chinese cultural tours.

The 2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge received support from the Chinese Embassy in Brazil, the Consulate-General of China in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian Embassy in China, the Chinese Embassy in Chile, the Chilean Embassy in China, and the Chinese Embassy in Peru. We sincerely thank renowned domestic and foreign enterprises for their strong support for the event, including Envision Group, CGE, Minera Las Bambas S.A., China Mobile International (Chile), Kuaishou International Business (KSIB), and Banco BOCOM BBM S.A..

On the evening of January 18, 2026 (Beijing Time), the Ice-Breaking Meeting for the Study Tour in China of Latin American Teachers and Students of the China-Latin American Youth Responding to Global Challenges — 2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge was successfully held at Tsinghua University. This study tour was jointly organized by the Tsinghua University Center for Latin American Studies, the China-Latin America Management Research Center of the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management, the Center for Global Competence Development of Tsinghua University Students, and the Tsinghua University Rural Revitalization Workstation. More than 60 teachers and students from Chinese and Latin American universities and relevant enterprise personnel attended the event.

Distinguished guests present included: Professor Chen Taotao, Professor of the Finance Department of the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management, Director of the Tsinghua University Center for Latin American Studies, and Director of the China-Latin America Management Research Center of the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management; Zhang Runzhou, Deputy Director of the Center for Global Competence Development of Tsinghua University Students; Teachers Sun Zhiyuan and Li Yixuan; Hu Yuanyuan, Project Supervisor of the Tsinghua University Rural Revitalization Workstation; Paula Silva de Carvalho, Research Associate of the National Institute of Science and Technology for Public Policy and Development Strategies (INCT-PPED) at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; Maribel Florez, Director of Global Learning at the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile; Osvaldo Guzmán Núñez, Deputy Director of International Relations at the University of Chile; Nifta Lau Ibarias, Research Fellow of the China and Asia-Pacific Research Center at the Universidad del Pacífico in Peru; Hua Zhen, Translation Expert at Minera Las Bambas S.A.; Mercedes Victoria Andrés, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters and the Institute of Educational Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires, and Senior Visiting Scholar at the School of Public Policy and Management of Tsinghua University; and Lü Tianzhu, Director of Shenbang Intelligent Technology Group, Expert of the National Standard Drafting Group, Master's Supervisor, and Innovation Tutor at Tsinghua x-lab.

On the morning of the same day, Latin American teachers and students arrived in Beijing one after another with great anticipation and met with Tsinghua teachers and students. Subsequently, this exchange tour in China was officially kicked off with an ice-breaking meeting.

Group photo at the airport

Guest Speeches: Focusing on China-Latin America Cooperation and Youth Practice

In the opening speech session, Professor Chen Taotao, Director of the Tsinghua University Center for Latin American Studies, shared her insights on the significance of the development of China-Latin America relations and youth exchanges. She pointed out that Chinese and Latin American youth should learn from each other amid differences. The concept of "harmony" pursued by China's 5,000-year-old civilization and the experience China has accumulated in poverty alleviation practices over the past decades both provide important enlightenment for mutual learning and exchange between the two sides.

She encouraged young people to experience China's development practices with their own eyes and hearts, explore referenceable poverty alleviation experiences by observing facts and thinking logically. At the same time, Professor Chen Taotao expressed her gratitude to the Center for Global Competence Development of Tsinghua University Students, the Tsinghua University Rural Revitalization Workstation, the organizing universities and cooperating institutions of the 2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge (the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, the University of Chile, the Universidad del Pacífico in Peru, and Minera Las Bambas S.A.) for their active participation and support. She also extended sincere thanks to corporate partners and sponsors such as Envision Group, CGE, Minera Las Bambas S.A., as well as CGTN for its contributions in project support and publicity cooperation.

Professor Chen Taotao delivering a speech

Zhang Runzhou, Deputy Director of the Center for Global Competence Development of Tsinghua University Students, spoke from the perspective of global competence cultivation. He noted that the center is committed to cultivating students with a global vision, cross-cultural understanding and social responsibility. He emphasized that global challenges such as poverty alleviation require the joint efforts of young people from all countries, hoping that participants will gain an in-depth understanding of China, share Latin American perspectives and experiences, and open a new chapter of long-term cooperation between Chinese and Latin American youth.

Zhang Runzhou delivering a speech

Hu Yuanyuan, Project Supervisor of the Tsinghua University Rural Revitalization Workstation, introduced that the workstation was established in 2017 in response to the national rural revitalization strategy. Its core mission is to connect universities with society, academic theories with grassroots practices, and empower rural communities. She expressed the expectation that Chinese and Latin American youth will conduct in-depth research during the subsequent trip and produce meaningful and warm practical results.

Hu Yuanyuan delivering a speech

Introduction to the Study Tour and Practical Itinerary

Chen Mingrong, Project Supervisor of the Tsinghua University Center for Latin American Studies, introduced the overall itinerary arrangement of this study tour and practice. Through online connection, representatives of the Brazil Team, Chile Team and Peru Team shared their respective practical plans, covering the practice trips in Nanjian, Gaochun and Cili, with themes including rural development, industrial practice and community communication, demonstrating the characteristics of adaptation to local conditions and multi-integration of this China-Latin America youth practice project.

Chen Mingrong ntroducing the overall study tour and practice itinerary

"Pairing" Mechanism: Building a Bridge for Long-Term Exchanges

Sun Zhiyuan, a teacher from the Center for Global Competence Development of Tsinghua University Students, introduced the China-Latin America youth "Pairing" exchange mechanism. This mechanism aims to pair each international student with a Tsinghua student, who will act as a local guide, cultural consultant and collaboration partner to carry out cooperation during the field investigation from January 21 to 24. He also encouraged Chinese and foreign youth to maintain continuous contact during and after the project, and establish long-term and stable friendship and cooperative relations through academic exchanges, cultural sharing and cooperative practices.

Sun Zhiyuan sharing the "Pairing" mechanism

In the group photo session, the organizer prepared red Spring Festival couplet papers with the participants' Chinese names and blessing messages for them. Everyone held the couplets and froze this unforgettable moment in a relaxed and warm atmosphere. In the free exchange session, the participants deepened their understanding of each other and further narrowed the distance between Chinese and Latin American youth.

Free exchange among participants

Group photo of all participants

This ice-breaking meeting not only built a platform for communication and mutual understanding between Chinese and Latin American youth, but also created a good start for the subsequent study tour and practical activities. It is expected that in the following trip, Chinese and Latin American youth will further walk into the frontlines of China's grassroots development, deepen their understanding and build consensus through in-depth research and personal experience, and jointly explore practical paths for sustainable development.