ApplyForChina: Bridging China and Singapore for Future Growth
On Monday, July 21th, the New Youth · New Opportunities: Singapore-China Youth Internship and Future Development Forum collaborative event was hosted by G5 Capital, the NHTH 未来科技城·高促会, and ApplyForChina.
The forum aimed to build a bridge between China and Singapore by fostering dialogue, sharing experiences, and encouraging future collaboration between young talents and enterprises from Singapore to work in China. With Singapore and China growing closer in their business and innovation ties, this event provided a timely platform for youth to explore new possibilities in their career development, especially in the fields of entrepreneurship, technology, and cross-border exchange
A Diverse Panel of Speakers
The event featured a dynamic lineup of guest speakers from both Singapore and China, each bringing their unique insights and experiences to the table.
Ms Jiang Chengyun shows the participants the different courses that NTU offers
We first heard from Ms. Lim Sze Hui, Senior Manager at the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Singapore Management University (SMU). She spoke passionately about how Singaporean youth are increasingly looking outward, seeing China not only as a market but also as a fertile ground for innovation and mutual learning. She highlighted the importance of internships and immersive cultural exchanges in building global-ready talents. Then Ms Jiang Chengyun, Assistant Manager at NTU Entrepreneurship Academy, gave a compelling presentation on how NTU students are able to provide a global outlook and skills to Chinese Companies through the OEP programme. In addition, she talked about how there were students from many different courses of study at a high skill level, and encouraged companies to be open in nurturing international talent.
Ms. Ye Guifen, Senior Administrator at Nanyang Technological University, also shared her experience working closely with student interns from NTU who are currently working for her company. She recounted that she was blown away by how efficient her interns were and how they were able to hit the KPIs she set for them when others in the company did not believe that it was possible for them to do so. She pointed out that more and more Singaporean students are looking towards China for growth opportunities, and she encouraged companies in China to welcome these students with open arms.
Ms. Wang Haixia speaking about how Chinese Tech Companies need to pivot to a more global outlook
Ms. Wang Haixia, Deputy General Manager of Zhejiang Zitai Server Manufacturing Co., Ltd., offered a detailed look into the high-tech manufacturing industry and the type of talent they are actively seeking—innovative, globally minded, and adaptable individuals who are not afraid to work across cultures.
Mr Ru Fangjun explaining the need for global talent within Chinese Start up companies
Rounding out the panel was Mr. Ru Fangjun, Founder and CEO of HANGZHOU BLACKBOXCV CO.LTD, who shared his inspiring entrepreneurial journey as well as how the state of the globe is constantly changing, and the global outlook that the interns in his company offered to his company was invaluable.
Mr Jerel Ong , . a third-year student from NTU , was then invited up as a student intern speaker , sharing about his experience working in HANGZHOU BLACKBOXCV CO.LTD a 3D scanning tech startup in Hangzhou. Speaking on behalf of Singaporean student interns, Jerel reflected on his journey; from initially assuming he’d be doing simple outreach on LinkedIn to learning the deeper complexities of global communication and market understanding.
He highlighted the contrast between his past exchange in Canada and his current internship in China, focusing on how infrastructure, speed, and work culture can radically shape perspectives.
“You don’t really gain a global perspective by just reading about it—you earn it by working alongside people who live it every day,” he shared.
Jerel concluded with five thoughtful suggestions to improve internship programs, advocating for more integrated roles, real-world exposure, and better support systems for international students in China.
Ms Sabrina Zeng, who represented Apply for China, one of the event’s co-organizers. She shared how the organization is actively building bridges for Singaporean and international talent to access opportunities in China, for short-term internships and also for longer academic pursuits and university studies.
She also highlighted Apply for China’s role in streamlining the process for students—from visa support to internship matching—making it easier for youth from ASEAN countries and beyond to thrive in the Chinese ecosystem.
Her talk added an important layer to the forum, reminding everyone that behind every cross-border opportunity is a network of people working hard to make the exchange meaningful and accessible.
Reflections and Takeaways
The dialogue between institutions, entrepreneurs, and students from Singapore and China reflected a mutual respect and a shared ambition: to build a future where borders do not limit potential.
The future is increasingly interconnected, and this event was a meaningful reminder that youth from Singapore and China are well-positioned to lead the way.
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