As a Chinese saying goes, “Plant the parasol tree, and the phoenix will come.” Initiated by Xi’an Jiaotong University in 2015, the Silk Road International Symposium for Distinguished Young Scholars is a premier platform for career development and academic exchange for outstanding young scholars worldwide. It promotes substantive collaboration between visiting scholars and the University’s faculties and disciplines, and serves as an important initiative for attracting exceptional young talent to Shaanxi and Xi’an Jiaotong University. Over the past 12 sessions, the Symposium has invited more than 2,500 outstanding young scholars from over 30 countries and regions, becoming a signature platform for Xi’an Jiaotong University to gather distinguished young talent from around the world. In 2026, Xi’an Jiaotong University will host the 13th Silk Road International Symposium for Distinguished Young Scholars and cordially invites outstanding young scholars worldwide to join us, explore frontier developments in science and technology, and shape a bright future together.