Representatives from China and Russia discussed the digital economy, digital security and how youths from the two countries can strengthen exchanges and cooperation at an online and offline forum on Thursday.

The forum, whose offline version was held in Beijing, involved leaders of youth organizations, entrepreneurs, experts in fields including international relations and more than 100 young people from China and Russia.

Former Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui said at the forum the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era has maintained a high level of development.

He said the development momentum of China-Russia relations needs to be driven by youths from the two sides who can lead the world in the right direction.

Fu Zhenbang, vice-chairman of the All-China Youth Federation, said at the forum the young people of China and Russia should work together to be a new force forging friendship from generation to generation, a defender of multilateralism and a vanguard of common development.

Ma Bokai, a manager of Chinese internet security company 360, said the global internet is an interconnected cyberspace, and maintaining digital security is the responsibility of the whole world. While abiding by the cyberspace security order, more young people should take part in safeguarding the security of the global digital economy.

Liu Dian, associate researcher from Fudan University's China Institute, said young people from the two countries should actively discuss rules in the digital field, carry forward the common values of all mankind, resist hegemony, defend digital security and inject positive energy into global digital governance.

The forum is part of the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development.

It was hosted by the All-China Youth Federation and Russia's International Cooperation Leaders organization and co-hosted by China Foreign Affairs University.