Hong Kong and Macao youth are set to benefit from eight new supportive measures unveiled on Thursday with more opportunities for education, employment and exchanges on the Chinese mainland.

The measures were put forward by the All-China Youth Federation, a national youth organization. They were announced on Thursday during a symposium in Hong Kong held to explain the new steps.

The initiatives include providing 15,000 internship positions and 30,000 exchanges opportunities in the mainland for Hong Kong and Macao youth in five years.

The measures also promise to offer 12,000 jobs for the SAR youngsters, and support no less than 120 youth entrepreneurship projects initiated by Hong Kong and Macao youths in five years.

Besides, the youth will have more opportunities to apply for scholarships and awards offered by mainland organizations, and participate in national youth technology competitions, according to the new steps.

A designated hot line will also be established to offer consultation service for the youth to integrate into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The Thursday symposium was attended by local youth representatives and scholars, as well as officials from central authorities and Hong Kong government.

The symposium was jointly held by the Hong Kong Youth Association, Secretariat of the All-China Youth Federation, the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Department of Youth Affairs of the Central Government Liaison Office in Hong Kong SAR.