The launch of the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-people Exchanges aims to enhance the spiritual bonds between ASEAN member states and China and is considered the foundation that allows both sides to look toward the future.

Visitors at an exhibition during the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-people Exchanges kicked off in Fujian Province, China on February 2. Photo: Xinhua

Kicked off on February 2 in China’s Fujian Province with the participation of representatives from China and ASEAN member countries, the event covers art performances, exchange activities, cuisine festivals, and photo exhibitions featuring China and Southeast Asian countries in the bloc.

The program is expected to deepen cultural connections and promote greater interaction among the people, which plays a crucial role in fostering mutual understanding and friendship.

The launch is part of activities to implement the Chairman’s Statement of the 26th ASEAN-China Summit held on September 6, 2023, in Jakarta, Indonesia, to which, they reaffirmed the commitment to foster closer people-to-people exchanges including through culture, education, technical, and vocational education and training, tourism and media, with a view to promoting mutual trust and understanding between the people of ASEAN and China.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Shen Yiqin, state councilor and President of the All-China Women’s Federation, said the ASEAN-China relations are the most successful model in Asia-Pacific. She expected that the two sides would have more cooperation programs on youth, education, culture, tourism, communication, science and technology.

The cooperation, according to her, will consolidate the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to benefit more than two billion people on both sides.  

On behalf of ASEAN, Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, Deputy Prime Minister of Lao – the ASEAN Chair in 2024, spoke highly of the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-people Exchanges and expressed ASEAN’s commitments to connecting people of both sides, which then results in fruitful economic ties. People connection is expected to contribute to better economic and trade ties, pushing up the economic recovery.

Vietnam participated in the program with a delegation led by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet. He said Vietnam always highly appreciates people-to-people links between China and ASEAN. He believed that the relationship, which is formed on the basis of geographical and cultural similarities of the people of ASEAN and China, would be an indispensable catalyst for the relations.

Vietnam, an active member of ASEAN, will continue promoting the exchanges of visits at all levels, creating motivation for the relationship, and making the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership effective.

Also in the statement released at the ASEAN-China Summit in September 2023, they affirmed that ASEAN’s unity and solidarity were strengthened, ASEAN Centrality consolidated, and ASEAN’s active contribution to regional peace and stability duly recognized in accordance with ASEAN’s values and principles.