This year was unforgettably different from any other for Li Yaxuan, a ninth-grader at the Middle School Affiliated with Tsinghua University in Beijing.

In late July, the 14-year-old was selected from among hundreds of participants in the 2017 Model APEC Junior competition. As a reward, she got the opportunity to travel to Da Nang, Vietnam, from Tuesday to Friday, along with three college students, to experience some of the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Week as a representative of Chinese youth.

At the event's CEO Summit on Friday, Li listened to speeches and dialogue from the leaders of different economies, including President Xi Jinping. Earlier, she met face-to-face with business elites and scholars.