SHENZHEN - Youths from European Union and China on Thursday discussed the youth's participation in policy-making in South China's Shenzhen, which is going to host the 26th Summer Universiade.

"Building decision-making abilities in young people not only empowers them when it comes to making informed decisions about their own life and their future, but also has immersed benefits on a societal level," Pascal Lejeune, Head of Unit, Youth in Action Programme, Directorate General for Education and Culture of European Commission, said in the forum.

Four scholars and officials delivered keynote speeches on topics like conditions for youths' involvement in civic and social issues and youth participation in policy-making, in which the youths from EU and China were both engaged in discussing about the youth's roles and ways to participate in public affairs.

Nevedalova Katarina, member of European Parliament and vice president of European Youth Forum, quoted the slogan of the upcoming Shenzhen Universiade to encourge the youths and said, "Let's start to make friends here, continue our efforts , and we can make a difference to the world."

The forum is part of the 2011 Universiade Youth Festival and one of the flagship events in the 2011 China-EU Year of Youth, which is promoted by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

The EU youth delegation arrived in Shenzhen on Tuesday and joined a world university student beach concert on Wednesday night. They will watch the opening ceremony of the 26th Summer Universiade on Friday evening. Then they will visit other Chinese cities.