The APEC Young Entrepreneurs Conference opens on Sept 16 in Hangzhou. [Photo/Tide News]

The APEC Young Entrepreneurs Conference opened on Sept 16 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, bringing together some 200 young entrepreneurs, investors, and other representatives from APEC economies to exchange ideas and share their experiences on AI, entrepreneurship, and digital trade.

Under the theme "Entrepreneurship Engine, Youth-Led Change: for a Prosperous Asia-Pacific for All", the conference is a youth-focused event held as part of China's hosting of APEC in 2026. It aims to promote exchanges and practical cooperation among young people across the Asia-Pacific.

"The conference brings entrepreneurs from across the Asia-Pacific together to exchange industry knowledge and experience," said Zhang Zhendong, a young entrepreneur from a Thai technology company.

His company has served Thailand's power, oil, and gas industries for more than 30 years. Zhang said persistence and a refusal to quit are essential to entrepreneurship, as setbacks are inevitable and failure provides lessons for growth.

"Just like learning to walk, you fall, get up, and keep going. Companies grow in much the same way. The key is to never give up," Zhang said.