Competitors at the awards ceremony of the 2016 China-US Youth Maker Competition. [Photo/bjwzb.gov.cn]

More than 270 young people in 64 teams shared their insights and innovative ideas during the final contest of the 2016 China-US Youth Maker Competition held in the China Millennium Monument in Beijing from August 14 to 18.

Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of China's Ministry of Education Xu Tao, Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy Beijing David H. Rank, Executive Director General of the Beijing State-owned Cultural Assets Supervision and Administration Office (SOCASAO) Zhou Maofei, and Deputy Director of Beijing's Haidian District Yu Jun attended the awarding ceremony.

Xu delivered a message from Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong saying that the China-US Youth Maker Competition is a highlight of China-US people-to-people exchanges, as it offers young people in both countries an opportunity to share their intelligence while fostering an innovative spirit among youth.

Zhou Maofei said during a speech at the ceremony that the competition will not only promote mutual understanding and cooperation among young people in China and the US, but is also an important international contest that encourages technology innovation research and application. The competition has strategic importance to Beijing's vision of serving as China's cultural, international communication and science and technology innovation center.

Zhou stressed that the SOCASAO, the sponsor of the competition, will provide long-term support and service to the event.

The China-US Youth Maker Competition has been held successfully for three years. It allows makers in the two countries to create innovative products focused on community development, education, environmental protection, energy, transportation and other areas of sustainable technologies.

The event helps promote friendship and further stimulates the enthusiasm of innovation between the young people of China and the United States.