Youth urged to bring talents to the countryside

Young Chinese people have shown an increasing willingness to learn skills that will help the country vitalize its rural economy — particularly through e-commerce.

"I wish to sell sweet apples from my hometown, Yunnan province, to more people in China and around the world through e-commerce. I believe e-commerce can help improve the socioeconomic development situation in my hometown," said 21-year-old Suo Chengyu, an e-commerce major who won a gold medal at a State-level skills competition in May.

Raised in Zhaotong, Yunnan, Suo is in her third year at Yunnan Technician College in Kunming, capital of the province.

"Many times, I've seen villagers who were worried about the sales of their produce, which were of very good quality," she said. "The rural areas need more e-commerce talent with skills in market planning, data analysis and advertisement."

Suo said she wants to contribute to the development of e-commerce in rural areas and become a teacher after graduation.

"I want to encourage or inspire more youths, especially those from rural areas, to use their strengths or skills to revive their villages," she said.