The 2024 China-ASEAN Youth Culture Week and 7th China-ASEAN Youth Symposium started at Peking University (PKU) in Beijing on March 28.

Themed mutual learning of civilizations, the event featured academic and cultural exchange activities for youths from China and the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), aiming to build a platform for youth exchanges to deepen mutual understanding and promote China-ASEAN relations. 

Lu Cairong, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), delivered a video speech to the launching ceremony. He said that cultural exchanges play an important role in promoting friendly cooperation between China and ASEAN, and are also an important proof of the everlasting friendship between the two sides. 

He hoped that the youth cultural exchanges between China and ASEAN could actively build platforms, innovate forms of exchanges, consolidate value foundations, and add youthful color to the joint development of the region in the future.

Svay Nakry, deputy state secretary of the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia; Dr. Choltis Dhirathiti, executive director of the ASEAN University Network; Liu Ruiqi, chairman of Boya Group; Zhai Kun, deputy director of the Institute of Area Studies and professor at the School of International Studies of PKU, delivered speeches at the ceremony respectively. 

They all believed that the younger generation will be the main promoter of China-ASEAN cooperation, and the culture week can effectively promote China-ASEAN people-to-people and cultural exchanges. In addition, they also hoped that the youth representatives would make full use of this precious opportunity to strengthen communication and cooperation and inject vitality into China-ASEAN relations.

Yong Kai Qing, a representative of the 2024 China-ASEAN Youth Culture Week, said in his speech that young people have great power to shape the future of society and promote practical changes. On behalf of the young people attending the event, she issued an initiative: young people in China and ASEAN countries should seek resonance in diversity, promote regional dialogue and cooperation, make a voice in regional affairs and policy formulation, and contribute to cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.

This initiative was echoed by the young people attending the event, and was also confirmed in the subsequent I Show ASEAN China-ASEAN Youth Storytelling Event. Thepmoukda Phetsalath and Phouxay Vongphachanh from Laos, Nyar Khant from Myanmar, and Kimpor Huoth from Cambodia shared with the audience about their experiences related to Chinese enterprises, individuals and culture.

Their stories not only reflect the contribution of Chinese enterprises to the local economy and society, but also reflect the people-to-people ties, mutual learning between civilizations, and the shared beauty of China and these countries.

More than 100 young representatives from China and ASEAN countries are expected to deepen their understanding of the cultures of both sides through academic discussions and field visits in four days, and play the role of friendly envoys between China and ASEAN.

This event was jointly organized by the Center for International Cultural Communication of CICG, PKU Southeast Asian Association, the Institute of Area Studies of PKU, and Boya Group. It was a people-to-people and cultural exchange event carried out on the occasion of the "2024 ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges."

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