The final of the Ninth Youth Innovation Competition on Lancang-Mekong Region's Governance and Development , or YICMG, kicked off in Hanoi city, Vietnam, on Monday, bringing together students from 26 universities across the six Lancang-Mekong countries to focus on the theme of education equity and quality in education.

In all, 403 students participated in this year's competition, with a total of 30 projects making the final list. The entries included innovative solutions like a "digital bridge" for e-commerce education, a "lighthouse" for career guidance targeting middle school students, and an "EduBus" to pioneer basic education in rural Cambodia by transforming buses into mobile classrooms equipped with digital tools and localized resources.

Such ideas shed light on integrating technologies with practical solutions, and underscored young people's growing role in shaping the region's educational future, said the event organizers.

Having engaged with more than 2,500 participants and generated more than 430 solutions since 2015, the competition, initiated by the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University, has positioned itself as a bridge for youth innovation, driving forward the shared vision of an inclusive and quality education system in the Lancang-Mekong region.

Since its inception, YICMG has evolved from an initial platform of nine universities to a network of 26 partner universities in what is the 10th anniversary year of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam.

Zhang Wenjun contributed to this story.