SZ’s Gen Z to take the mic at APEC 2026

International visitors designated as “Shenzhen Global Communication Ambassadors” receive certificates during the HiShenzhen & HiQianhai International Community Carnival and the “Amazing Shenzhen” Global Gen Z Creative Story Contest Awards Ceremony in Qianhai on Friday. Lin Songtao

THE narrative of next year’s APEC summit will be shaped not only by seasoned journalists but also by a new generation of storytellers.

On Friday, at the lively HiShenzhen & HiQianhai International Community Carnival and the “Amazing Shenzhen” Global Gen Z Creative Story Contest Awards Ceremony, the International Communication Center of Shenzhen News Group (SNG) unveiled its latest venture: the Z10 Global Action Plan for 2026.

One highlight is the APEC Z-Lens, an initiative designed to put university students at the forefront of international reporting as Shenzhen will host the 2026 APEC summit.

Central to this new media movement is the Z10 Club, a youth collective that began as a campus talent search across 10 Shenzhen universities in early 2025. What started as a small task force has since grown into what members fondly call a “mini-U.N.,” comprising about 80 students from 24 countries and regions.

In just one year, the Z10 Club has organized nearly 20 events — from a sustainability-focused road trip across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to hosting international influencers and showcasing Shenzhen’s innovative spirit at expos abroad.

Now, the club is setting its sights on 2026 with a three-part action plan. The cornerstone is the APEC Z-Lens. Members will serve as on-the-ground correspondents, producing vlogs, social media content, and multilingual reports that connect APEC’s global themes with life in Shenzhen — from its tech hubs and green initiatives to its cultural spaces.

Alongside this flagship program, the club will launch a Z10 Pickleball Youth League aimed at building community through sport and cross-cultural exchange, as well as a Global Gen Z Tech Workshop offering hands-on sessions with tech firms. Recruitment for all initiatives is open now.

A video work titled “Shenzhen’s Driverless Future” by Weszely Bence Tamás, a Hungarian student at the Peking University HSBC Business School, won the third prize in the “Amazing Shenzhen” Global Gen Z Creative Story Contest.

Weszely commented, “Shenzhen is a fantastic city. Beyond technology, I hope to showcase more of its entrepreneurial ecosystem and natural environment in my future works.”

Behind the scenes, SNG provides a robust support system through its three specialized platforms: UGC Creators for global content co-creation, Shenzhen Next for telling the stories of local enterprises expanding worldwide, and IP Shenzhen, a digital repository of high-quality visual assets.

Together, they equip the young broadcasters with professional tools, training, and distribution channels, integrating their output into SNG’s wider international strategy, which includes partnerships with foreign media.

The carnival also celebrated winners of the “Amazing Shenzhen” Global Gen Z Creative Story Contest, where young creators from around the world shared their impressions of Shenzhen through short films and digital art.

Meanwhile, the event also honored several Shenzhen Global Communication Ambassadors — international advocates who have long helped share the city’s story with the world. (Shenzhen Daily)