Hello, welcome to Roundtable where we serve up piping hot debates on the issues that sizzle in China and beyond.
I'm Niu Honglin.
In the Asia Pacific, technology and sustainability have become the twin engines for growth.
From digital startups experimenting with AI and Web3 solutions to governments pledging carbon neutrality.
The region is defining what innovation means in an age of climate anxiety.
Within APEC, young entrepreneurs are not just participants, they are catalysts, turning ideas into bridges that link economies, industries and people.
Today in our APEC Youth Series special, we are talking to two young people who are deep in the industry, bringing their insights in today's show.
Now grab your virtual compass and follow us to the heart of the discussion.
Ask any young entrepreneur in the Asia Pacific what keeps them up at night, and you'll probably hear two words again and again technology and sustainability.
How to use the first to achieve the second?
That's the challenge and the opportunity.
And APEC, more than ever, has become a testing ground for that equation, where innovation meets responsibility and young visionaries meet global partners.
For this topic, I invited two distinguished guests.
Chen Xiaobin, delegate to the 2025 APEC Summit representing young entrepreneurs.
Also vice chair of 2025 Asia Pacific Entrepreneurs' Annual Forum.
And Laura Nguyen, funding partner at Gen AI Found, head of Vietnam at Ava Labs.
Thank you so much for joining the show.
I'm curious about your APEC stories.
I think both of you have been attended the APEC summit for different times and on behalf of different groups.
So can you tell me about your APEC story, Laura?
Yeah, hi.
Thank you for having me here today.
So I maybe just introduce a little bit about myself.
So I'm currently the founding partner at the GenAI Funds.
It's an early state venture capital investing AI startup across the region.
And at the same time, I'm the head of Vietnam for Avalap, which is leading the expansion of Avalanche ecosystem in Vietnam.
And then actually currently.
If you can see, I don't know if I should do that, but this is beautiful Busan right now.
So I'm actually in Busan to join the APAC meeting and then later today we're just going to head to what the young two for the APAC CO submit as well.
So I'm part of the Vietnam delegation. a pleasure to be here and then share more about our story.
How about you, Xiaobin?
Yeah, so I am an investor on AI and Web3 in the past few years and I'm previously an investment banker In China, and I was primarily an educator in a US college before I came to China for a role at an investment bank.
So, due to my experiences in entrepreneurship and investment, I was invited to attend the APAC Summit this year.
I think both of you have a lot of experience in the area of having technology helping entrepreneurs, helping different companies and industries to grow better.
And definitely when it comes to technology.
We talk about artificial intelligence.
We also talk about Web3, which is a new concept.
So Xiaobing.
For those who are not that familiar with the concept Web3, can you give us a brief introduction?
What is Web3 and how come it's significant to future Internet development?
Yeah, thank you for the question.
So it's pretty simple.
So Web2 is sort of like a centralized system where users' data and all the information related to the users will be gathered together and be utilized by the platform to realize certain, For example, when we are using ABVs like Uber or Didi.
The platform has everything about the users so that they can better facilitate the transportation for the users.
Or Douyin or TikTok they have all the data from the users, customize the content uh, you know, send to the users based on their personal preferences.
So the web 3 is more compared to web 2.
It's more like a decentralized platform where the user's information is kept more privately and also is built, you know, based on certain decentralized foundation, not controlled by a centralized platform like TikTok or Uber.
Yeah.
I think it's very interesting because Laura, for example, you are also working on setting up blockchain artificial intelligence related state strategy for your country.
And how do you think that the artificial intelligence and Web3 system works, have been or are, or is it being supported within the APEC framework?
Do you think, because we know APEC is more of a forum, of a platform allowing different economic entities to get together to talk about their agendas, to communicate, to probably find a way to cooperate?
Is it helping in the sense of developing technology, especially for AI and Web3?
Yeah, so i think that um, there's a no like strict answer to it, but i do believe that and it actually.
This is something that you also can take a look at the agenda this year as well.
They focus a lot on collaboration, like any other RPEC.
And then this year, if you look at the agenda, it's actually focused a lot on the uh, AI and also digital assess, which is like emerging tech.
You can see that a number of the speaker uh from a different player um, which is a represent nicely of the balance, and also the uh representative in the APAC area for both of the blockchain and digital assets, which is like a wet tree over there.
Yesterday actually, we did see a panel in APAC meeting where they share more about technology.
Actually not just even Web3 or not just even AI, it's also about data centers, it's about quantum AI.
So there's a lot of emerging tech.
I think that when it's talking about the collaborations, There is a shift toward the openness and regional collaboration right now.
We see the startup and enterprise working together across the border on the area, apply digital identity, AI power, logistic financial inclusion, which is like we talk a lot about.
One of the session working group yesterday talking about like inclusion finance, which is focused on ESG and also leveraging blockchain and the technology on that.
So I think this kind of partnership within you know, like APEC country, it really the thing that it will have to promote the collaboration And I think that is no longer about a competing country anymore.
So the team is a lot about like growing together to the share innovation.
I'm curious is there any cooperation examples or projects that you know of between China and Vietnam?
I think it's a lot, right?
I can tell you a story, right?
When, on my first trip to China, I actually sat to someone, and then he's the one who opened the business in Vietnam for five years already.
And then he just like go back to Vietnam and China a lot.
And then also during the trip that recently I joined with Selfing actually, and then we go to the Hubei province.
We actually went together with some startup from Vietnam and then some of the startup do the voice AI.
And another one do the robotics in Hubei province.
And then after that, they will also like establish a connection so that they can work together.
For example, one focus a lot on like voice, which is application.
The other one focuses more on like hardware.
And then they can just like combine together.
So that is one of the example.
And it literally just happened that month, last month, we are just like one meeting and one trip.
More than that, it's like so many other collaborations.
I know that there's a lot of companies like big companies in China like, for example TikTok, or other like Huawei.
Also they do have different projects and also the collaboration with enterprise and the startup in Vietnam as well.
So I think that a It's like countless number, I would say.
Just from one meeting, you already established a really quick collaboration.
So watch out from both countries to work closely with each other, especially in the innovation sector.
I enjoy the answer quite so much because we talk about regional development, we talk about work-together collaboration, but it is these kind of real examples and real stories that make us believe that what we do means something.
It is actually helping people, helping people from different countries.
And also...
In these days and age.
Of course, here in China, as well as the entire Asia Pacific area and around the world, technology is the key word in a lot of different areas.
And do you think technology has, in real life, really helped people better work together, opening more opportunities and allowing, for example, young Chinese entrepreneurs, who you kind of represent, Xiaobing as well to go globe, to go to other countries in the Asia-Pacific region and to be able to achieve things that they previously find challenging to do so?
I think the answer is absolutely yes.
So, first of all, through the platforms like Alibaba and TikTok, Chinese entrepreneurs can promote their products to the wider range of audiences across the globe, besides their audiences in China.
So people in a external world will be more aware of what they're doing, what they're building and the quality of their products and how their product quality as compared to the product that they're procuring from the other countries or within their country.
So yeah, so those will not happen without technology.
Yeah.
So I think obviously the technology enable higher level of transfer of information that further enables the high quality of China's products be sold more broadly in the world.
For example, there is a very famous hot pot brand called Haidilao in China.
They have a very special treatment for their customers whenever they visit the you know restaurant in person.
For example, if you are today's your birthday, if you go to a restaurant, they're going to sing a song for you to celebrate with you in a positive way uh, so that kind of like goes viral on social media like tick tock and youtube.
So people just like you know be their attention be caught by this restaurant so they are becoming more aware of this brand.
So all of these will not be possible without the development of technology, especially like those technology for short videos and 5G communication.
So yeah, the answer is absolutely yes.
Nowadays and I think, everyone talking about the technology, but technology can be understood from many layers, right?
Absolutely that.
When it comes to the adoption digitalization transformation, none of the countries say no, like even in Vietnam itself earlier this year.
We have a lot of the new uh resolutions coming out in which data focus a lot on innovation and you know like, how to apply technology.
Now how is that happening with the other?
You know young entrepreneurship from the other country.
So let's just say, like in the past right, If you're from other country.
And then let's just say China, and then you just wanted to come to Vietnam and then work with other Vietnamese company.
Of course you can.
It's a weekend.
But I think that of you, we need to navigate a little bit.
But then now, with the, even the country itself try to promote that of.
Hey, you know, you have to work on digital transformation, you have to work with innovation.
We open for all of the collaboration that you can come here, you can use the technology, you can help us.
To, you know, do a better job, to innovate, or like to try something new.
And then we are more than welcome you.
So that is like a very small example.
And that is an opportunity for young entrepreneurs, I would say.
And then also, Because of our team also, we work across ASEAN.
We actually spend a lot of the time traveling between.
And even recently, we also expand to Japan, which is like in the past, we never think that we will.
Why?
Because of you know, because the language barrier, or even we went to China recently and then we like okay in the past, we want because if we like okay language barrier is very difficult for us to you know tackle the market, that English is not the main language, which is like I believe that other countries also look into Vietnam the same way.
But because of we like oh, because we believe that you know, right now it's like with the technicalization collaboration, both from the, from the regional and also local.
So it's just a really good opportunity, I think, for leveraging on the technology to promote the collaboration across the region.
Definitely.
I think both of your examples are quite right when it comes to technology helping us curb the kind of problems we used to have and also opening new opportunities in different areas.
And another thing that technology can do, and is probably already doing very well, is moving industries to sustainable development front.
And we know sustainable development has been a key word in APEC as well.
So in your view, what major achievements or milestones stand out from these efforts?
So I think that when it comes to the sustainability, it also has environmental sustainability, finance sustainability, finance inclusions and a lot of the other sustainable growth as well.
So I think that most of the country nowadays also look into that, because they also understand that you know when you need to be able to to have the sustainable growth, instead of just you know like um hyper, grow and then and then stop over there.
Um, so I think that um, APEC spanner uh, or like even APEC countries, spend a lot of.
Um, I thought, even myself.
Yesterday, I joined a working group to talk about sustainability like, for example, how they can use the technology for bio or health care, how to use the technology to like, for example, work in carbon credits, carbon credit and what is a volunteer market for, or how to promote the volunteer carbon credit market for sustainability.
So there's a lot of topic on that.
And you're absolutely right.
It's like a key word.
People talking about that, you know, how to work together and how to promote the sustainability.
So I think that probably either in the next few days there's a lot of the report and also a lot of results for working group is going to be posted online about what is a you know achievement or what is a result out of this year, this working group working together for the sustainability working group.
I remember one more thing that I found super fascinating yesterday, when Singapore did a reporting section, and then they're talking about green skill workforce, which is I found that fascinating.
So a lot of people talking about like oh you know like, how can you make sure that you use the green energy right?
Which is like common, like people talk about that.
And then how you talk, how you make sure that create the or, like you know, finance for sustainability, or like inclusion finance.
But yesterday when I heard about workforce, it's been like how you can train the workforce to know about, like you know grants sustainability, green energy and so on.
That is on a Singapore section, which is I found that quite fascinating thing.
So, yeah, I think that make sure that I check it out and then you can see those updates from there.
Sustainable development is also big here in China.
We see many young people not only living a greener lifestyle, but also moving their companies into green development, sustainable development front.
So Xiaobing, do you have an example?
Yeah, I can relate to a lot of aspects you just mentioned and your sharing.
So I think under the APAC economic framework, a lot of work can be done across different countries.
But I'm currently advising a China's leading climate tech company that has been building infrastructures for the electrification on water transportation across different countries.
So I think that is another example of tech transfer. from China to another country.
So like on this particular project, I can see like there are multiple critical highlights.
So first of all, for the operations on financing.
So when the company is building the infrastructure overseas, for example in companies like Nigeria, is trying to secure fundings from multinational banks such as AIIB or ADB.
So with the collaborations on the financing those projects can be made possible and also the ideas and technology can be effectively transferred to facilitate the higher level of sustainability across the globe.
Another thing I want to highlight is, so this year's APAC theme is to build a sustainable tomorrow.
So I think sort of like the common sense. all countries across like APEC economies are striving for.
So yeah, the collaborations across different countries on financing tech transfer could be quite conducive and or is indispensable for building a more sustainable tomorrow for all human beings.
That is a really good example.
I like to see different countries working together to start with results or achieve win-win cooperation and good results benefiting all and at the same time, is also quite impressive to see these kind of examples happening in different areas.
And I was curious because our show targets young audience and many of them are looking to see what they can do, what they can achieve in the world.
So, In your opinion, both of you, you've been attending a lot of these different kind of summit in APEC and as well as in other international platforms.
Do you think what are young people's advantages and disadvantages in especially, for example technology, for example sustainable development or entrepreneur?
Do you think they have specific strengths?
And in the meantime, also something some weakness that they can, you know, work on?
Yes.
So the benefit is they're being young.
I do think that the biggest advantage of the, you know, young entrepreneur is actually the mindsets.
So, and then many young founders actually digital native, and digital native is needed when it's come to you know technology and innovation right.
So quick learner, embrace AI, embrace Web3, embrace new tools.
They see the opportunity in change.
But I think that also being young, you know, they have a long ways to go as well.
So I think the challenge for them is actually a lot about access, right?
So access to capital, access to the network, access to infrastructure.
So that is where the inclusion by finance and ecosystem support matter a lot for them.
That when we, you know, we level that playing field, their creativity and energy actually can tackle some of the world's most urgent issue, which is like we are seeing the young entrepreneurs and young founders leveraging on the technology already so that they can show the real world issues like sustainable healthcare, innovation and so on.
I think young people play a critical role in shaping the world in certain critical ways.
So, based on the estimates of the World Economic Forum, nearly half of the populations in the world now are young people under the age of 27.
So obviously, from this aspect it's a very critical force of the economy.
And second of all, like what Laura just mentioned, young people's mindset, you know, means a lot.
Like they have a Beginners mindset, they are more willing to take risks.
That is critically important in solving many pressing challenges faced by the go, such as climate change and sustainability.
Also the native technologies like AI and Web3.
They are more flexible when they come to those tools.
When those tools become more and more important in terms of solving the real-world problems is It's obviously that young people's importance is also increasing because they are the native users in those technologies.
And there could be a lot of a lot of possibilities can be built by using those technologies.
I'm curious.
If you have the chance to give advice to some young entrepreneurs, what would be your advice?
I'm going to say that I dare to try, right?
So if they, like you mentioned back to your example right, instead of thinking, should i try that, should i uh talk to the people about that, i mean, instead of just thinking in your head um, which is like a way about my motto, instead of thinking uh, i'm just doing right, so i'm just like, try And it's common, right?
It's common that a thing fail, which is like 90% or even 99% of the startup fail.
But it's a part of the learning and part of the process.
But you don't know until you try.
Instead of thinking that I don't want to do it because I may fail, at least that you know that it's either fail or win.
So I think that is really important.
However, having said that, it doesn't mean that I blindly do it anyway.
So if you wanted to do any stuff like, for example, you want to build startup, you want to build something that is really can tackle a certain problem, you want to build something that actually people need and people use that and people are willing to pay you for that, because that is how to keep it sustainable, you know, like keep it running.
So I think that when I say try, it's not like I blindly do something without thinking about that, but just more like if you don't know, you can talk to the people, especially those that are successful in the past, so that they can give you the advice.
And I think you're very much like a senior one, which is like, this is what I learned a lot.
When I work in tech, a lot of the time we think that you know like they're too high level, they're too senior.
I don't want to, I don't know if I talk to them, they will answer me.
But in fact right, many people actually have the urge or the need of giving back and they really wanted to see the young generations change, to try and then to learn from their mistake.
And they're very much willing to talk and then give back.
So I think that you know, make sure that if you try, make sure that you think before you try as well.
And don't do things blindly.
Everything needs a logic.
You need a vision when you start something.
So let's go back to this year's APAC a little bit.
You have already attending some of the talkings and meetings and summit.
And for you individually, both of you have your own agenda per se.
You're bringing different ideas and initiatives to the summit, to the occasion.
So.
What is it that you are proud to bring to APEC?
And also, what is it that you most look forward to?
So I think, you know, the team is a lot on the collaboration, right?
So I think when it comes to the collaboration, open mindsets is very much needed, trust is needed.
At the same time, you also need to understand about the certain markets when you want to talk about collaboration.
So I think that each of us, we come from different backgrounds.
We also, in tech, we need investment.
But at the same time for example, previously I was in education as well and then, of course, like we also bring in the local context, like what is vietnam doing, And then how is that to work with a Vietnamese company, and so on.
So I think that kind of thing is like a diversity, diversity background.
And I think that it will be helpful in this kind of forum.
Now, you know, like for, for the forum itself, it's actually, it's, it's, it's happening, right?
So.
Only the leader is coming, and I personally just quite excited to also hear about their view and also what they plan to do when it comes to the collaborations and then their views, you know, and how to make that happen.
I think there are two points I want to highlight.
The first, they share humanity.
So we are... all human beings, no matter our national identity or geopolitical differences.
So, because we are all human beings, we need to stand together to tackle with the most pressing challenges faced by the globe together, such as climate crisis or the other problems that we are currently facing.
So I think that is a topic that I would like to discuss with the other stakeholders and private sector or public sectors from across the globe how we can deepen our collaborations and what are the key agendas we need to face together in this increasing complex world faced by many different pressing challenges like those we just mentioned.
Yeah, so we have shared humanity, so we should stand together to solve those problems together.
And the second aspect I would like to bring to the table would be sustainable development.
We aim to launch Asia-Pacific Sustainability Forum under the framework of APAP next year, because China will host APAP forum next year.
We want to host a forum specifically dedicated to the cause of sustainability next year in China to facilitate deeper dialogue on how different countries can work together to handle the climate crisis from different standpoints, such as technology transfer, collaborations on financing, et cetera.
So I see this is one of the most critical areas the countries across APA economies to work on together.
And that's the initiative we aim to launch next year.
That was Chen Xiaobin, delegate to the 2025 APEC Summit, representing young Chinese entrepreneurs, and vice chair of 2005 Asia-Pacific Entrepreneurs' Annual Forum.
And Laura Nguyen, founding partner at GenAI Fund, head of Vietnam at Ava Labs.
Technology may provide the tools, but it's collaboration that gives them meaning.
APEC's challenge and opportunity lies in aligning innovation with sustainability and turning the region's diversity into its greatest competitive edge.
