A firefighting ship sprays water on the Huangpu River while nearly 3,000 young students from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Shanghai hold a dragon dance on Riverbank Boulevard (yellow in the background) as part of the Dragon in Shanghai program yesterday.

Aout 2,000 students - half from either Hong Kong, Taiwan or Macau - listened to lectures on how to prepare for globalization from leading politicians and business people at a youth form yesterday.

Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng; Hong Kong-based Pacific Century Group Chairman Richard Li, son of tycoon Li Ka-shing; Shui On Group President Vincent Lo; and renowned mainland entrepreneur Guo Guangchang were invited as keynote speakers at the forum, which was held at the Shanghai International Convention Center.

It was part of the Dragon in Shanghai program.

The forum was co-organized by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and the Shanghai Youth Federation. The Dragon in Shanghai program is part of the national Dragon Project, which aims to promote communication between Chinese youths from different regions.

"As the dragon is the symbol of the Chinese nation - full of vigor and spirit - we hope that all young people of Chinese descent take great courage and work together for the country's future prosperity," said Rosanna Wong Yick-ming, chairwomen of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.

It's the first time the Dragon Project has been held in the city since it was launched in Beijing in 2000.

Most participants were middle school and university students. Those from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan boarded a special train in Hong Kong and arrived on Saturday to join their Shanghai counterparts.

The four-day exchange also included a lion dance at the Riverbank Boulevard yesterday.

Sightseeing on the Huangpu River as well as tours of middle schools and universities were also scheduled.

Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan students will also visit Baosteel Group and Zhangjiang High-tech Park.

(Shanghai Daily April 17, 2006)