A few days ago, the 2024 ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges officially opened. The continuous and in-depth development of relevant activities will surely set off a new round of people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, and lay a deeper foundation of public opinion for building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
China and ASEAN countries are linked by mountains and rivers, share people-to-people ties, and have a long history of friendly exchanges. Since the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN in 1991, the two sides have always respected each other, treated each other as equals, and embarked on a path of unity and win-win cooperation. As the most successful and dynamic partnership in Asia-Pacific regional cooperation, China-ASEAN cooperation plays an irreplaceable role in promoting regional prosperity and development, leading world economic recovery, and promoting world peace and development. At present, China has reached important consensus with Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and other ASEAN countries on jointly building a bilateral community with a shared future.
People-to-people exchanges are the third pillar of ASEAN-China relations, in addition to political, security and economic cooperation. Over the years, exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in the fields of culture, tourism, education, think tanks, sports, youth and other fields have continued to blossom and bear fruit. In September 2023, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of President China's proposal to build a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future, China and ASEAN jointly announced that 2024 would be designated as the "ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges". A few days ago, the 2024 ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges officially opened. The continuous and in-depth development of relevant activities will surely set off a new round of people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, and lay a deeper foundation of public opinion for building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
Deepen exchanges of traditional culture and promote the common prosperity of civilizations. China and ASEAN countries have a long history, unique and diverse cultures, and together they constitute an inclusive and splendid Asian civilization. The two sides should continue to cultivate the fertile soil for exchanges and cooperation in traditional culture, expand cooperation in the fields of folk art, cultural and museum exhibitions, intangible cultural heritage protection, archaeology, and traditional Chinese medicine, and create a model for exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations.
Strengthen personnel exchanges and tighten people-to-people ties. People-to-people bonds are the most basic, solid and lasting connectivity. In recent years, China and ASEAN have continued to innovate people-to-people exchange mechanisms and platforms to facilitate people-to-people exchanges. Not long ago, China and Thailand signed a mutual visa exemption agreement, which will officially enter into force on March 1. China and Singapore announced that they have reached a 30-day visa exemption arrangement, and Malaysia will implement a 30-day visa-free policy for Chinese citizens. These measures will promote people-to-people exchanges between the two sides and bring the people of China and ASEAN countries closer together.
Promote youth exchanges and renew traditional friendships. Youth are the future of China-ASEAN relations. China and ASEAN countries have carried out multi-level and multi-field education cooperation. More than 200,000 students have been sent to each other, most ASEAN countries have incorporated Chinese into their national education systems, and 42 Confucius Institutes and 39 Confucius Classrooms have been established in ASEAN countries. It is believed that through platforms such as the ASEAN-China Youth Exchange Week, the ASEAN-China Elite Scholarship and the Luban Workshop, as well as projects such as the "ASEAN-China 1,000-School Cooperation Program" and the "10,000-person Research and Seminar Program", youth exchanges between the two sides will be closer and reserve strength will be accumulated for the traditional friendship to be passed on from generation to generation.
A lone branch is not spring, a hundred flowers bloom in spring. China and most ASEAN countries are both developing countries, and they are both in an important stage of national rejuvenation and national development. The two sides will continue to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning in the fields of governance, poverty alleviation, anti-corruption, green development, and public policy, so as to be fellow travelers and good partners on the road to modernization, and jointly write a new chapter in regional development in harmony and diversity.
ASEAN-China Centre is the only international organization jointly established by China and the 10 ASEAN countries. In 2024, the Center will continue to implement the important consensus of the leaders of China and ASEAN, play the role of a one-stop information hub and a bridge of activity centers, and hold exchange activities in youth, education, culture, tourism, and other fields with the 2024 "China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges" as the main line, so as to unite the friendly forces of China and ASEAN from all walks of life, deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, promote the in-depth development of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, and build a closer China. The ASEAN community with a shared future has made greater contributions.
The author is Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre).