About the 2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge
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 and Minera Las Bambas S.A., the China-Latin American Youth Responding to Global Challenges — 2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge attracted the participation of more than 310 teachers and students from 27 universities and enterprises across four countries: China, Brazil, Chile and Peru. The Challenge is divided into two stages: the Preliminary Competition and the Transnational Final, aiming to promote cross-cultural communication and collaboration, and inspire the innovative thinking and practical capabilities 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 January 20, 2026, teacher and student representatives from Tsinghua University and the Universidad del Pacífico in Peru, as well as representatives from Minera Las Bambas Copper Mine of China Minmetals, visited China Minmetals Non-Ferrous Metals Co., Ltd. and China ENFI Engineering Technology Co., Ltd. for enterprise visits and exchange activities. The event aimed to deepen Latin American youth's understanding of the operation models and international practice of Chinese enterprises, and build a dialogue bridge between China and Latin America in the fields of resource economy and corporate social responsibility.
Participants in the event included Zuo Geng, Chief Analyst of China Metal Mining Economic Research Institute; Zhu Yue, Director of the Party-Mass Work Department of China Minmetals Non-Ferrous Metals and youth employee representatives of the company; Liu Mengfei, Deputy Director of the Corporate Culture Department of China ENFI; 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.; Qiao Ziti and An Haozhen, PhD candidates at the Tsinghua University Center for Latin American Studies; and Song Jifei, Research Assistant at the Tsinghua University Center for Latin American Studies.
1. Visiting China ENFI: Understanding the Development of China's Non-Ferrous Metal Engineering Technology
On the afternoon of the 20th, the delegation arrived at China ENFI Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., kicking off an exploration tour themed "Green and Innovation".
At the China ENFI Corporate Exhibition Hall, the visiting teachers and students experienced the company's technological and engineering strength in non-ferrous metal development and extraction, environmental protection, new material R&D and preparation through an immersive display system. From technology introduction in the early days of the People's Republic of China to the gradual realization of independent innovation, from "following" and "keeping pace" to leading the industry in many fields, precious historical pictures and vivid physical models showed how China's non-ferrous metal industry has stepped to the forefront of the world step by step.
Explanation of the historical evolution
Staff from the South America Department of China ENFI's International Business Division giving explanations in Spanish
During the visit, Latin American youth had enthusiastic discussions and interactions with on-site staff on topics such as engineering and technological innovation and international project management.
Visit and exchange
Group photo for memory
2. Visiting China Minmetals Non-Ferrous Metals: Focusing on Corporate Practice and China-Latin America Cooperation
Subsequently, the delegation went to the Erligou Office Area for a special exchange activity. Zhu Yue, Director of the Party-Mass Work Department of China Minmetals Non-Ferrous Metals, delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the company. In the speech, Zhu Yue briefly introduced the overall development of China Minmetals and China Minmetals Non-Ferrous Metals, the distinctive highlights of actively fulfilling corporate social responsibility, and especially shared the practical experience of Las Bambas Copper Mine in Peru. Zhu Yue's speech gave Latin American youth a more comprehensive and clear understanding of China Minmetals.
Representative of China Minmetals Non-Ferrous Metals delivering a speech
Later, teacher and student representatives from the Universidad del Pacífico in Peru and Minera Las Bambas Copper Mine, as well as some young employees of China Minmetals Non-Ferrous Metals, made self-introductions in turn. Combining their experience of participating in the 2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge and the content of the visit on that day, they enthusiastically shared their observations and learning experiences from their respective perspectives.
The two sides conducted in-depth and frank exchanges on issues such as sustainable mining development, the fulfillment of corporate social responsibility and the practice of specific poverty alleviation projects. The young people especially thanked for this valuable learning and exchange opportunity, and all said that the visit made them see the practical role of Chinese enterprises in promoting local economic development and people's livelihood improvement, and they will apply what they have seen and learned to the poverty alleviation cooperation and practical experience sharing between Chinese and Latin American youth.
Forum exchange
3. Summarizing the Exchange Achievements
At the end of the event, Zuo Geng, Chief Analyst of China Metal Mining Economic Research Institute, delivered a concluding speech. He stated that the exchange and practical teaching between Chinese and Latin American youth are an important part of bilateral cooperation, which helps to promote in-depth exchanges and cooperation between China and Latin American countries in more fields, and encourages young people to increase their knowledge and abilities in practical projects.
Forum exchange
Mr. Zuo Geng delivering a concluding speech
The Chinese and Latin American participants said that they look forward to the young people taking this opportunity to embrace global responsibilities, transform what they have seen, learned and felt into practical actions, and boost the exchanges and cooperation between China and Latin America in the fields of resource economy and social responsibility with professional empowerment.
Group photo of all participants
