ASEAN-China Exchanges on Culture, Tourism and Youth Development Held in Changzhi

On 12 August 2024, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) co-hosted the ASEAN-China (Shanxi) Exchanges on Culture, Tourism and Youth Development with the People’s Government of Shanxi Province during the ASEAN-China Week 2024. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ACC, Vice Chairperson Xie Hong of the Standing Committee of Shanxi Provincial People’s Congress, Union Minister Thet Thet Khine of Hotels and Tourism of Myanmar and Acting Secretary General You Xiaowen of the Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center attended and addressed the event. More than 100 participants from both China and ASEAN countries, including experts, entrepreneurs and youth representatives exchanged views on cultural, tourism and youth cooperation between both sides. 

Shi Zhongjun stated that people-to-people exchanges constitute both vital spiritual bonds and solid foundation consistently strengthening relations between China and ASEAN countries and guarantee an even better future for all. Cultural, tourism and youth exchanges stand for the most dynamic and innovative part of people-to-people exchanges, playing a crucial role in strengthening ASEAN-China relations. The ACC will continue to serve as a facilitating bridge, to explore the potential in various fields and implement more practical cooperation projects, to promote the post-pandemic recovery and sustainable development of the regional economy, and make unremitting efforts to foster an even closer ASEAN-China community of a shared future.

Vice Chairperson Xie Hong stated that the friendship between Shanxi and ASEAN countries enjoys a long history, and the cooperation in economy, trade, culture and tourism boasts a sound momentum of growth. Shanxi is willing to further expand the breadth and depth of cooperation with ASEAN countries in the purpose of promoting win-win cooperation to mutual benefit at a higher level, and contribute "Shanxi strength" to the growth, prosperity and stability of this region.

Dr. Thet Thet Khine introduced the achievements of tourism cooperation between Myanmar and China, and stressed that young people can become envoys of harmony, sustainability and cultural understanding. Myanmar is looking forward to strengthening practical cooperation with China in various fields.

You Xiaowen said that safety is the foundation of and guarantee to the development of tourism-related industries. The Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center and the ACC will strengthen coordination with tourism authorities from relevant AMS countries, explore to establish a tourism safety pre-warning mechanism, and jointly build a safe Lancang-Mekong region for tourists.

Deputy Director General Zhang Zhiren of the Shanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, Vice Minister H? An Phong of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam, Secretary of State Prak Phannara of the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, Ambassador Rahmani of Brunei Darussalam, Ambassador Somphone of the Lao PDR, Ambassador Jaime of the Philippines, and Deputy Chief of Mission Parulian of the Embassy of Indonesia respectively made a presentation on the resources of the province or country which they represent, shared best experience and best practice, and explore future cooperation possibilities.

Mr. Song Xiaochun, Founder of Hangzhou Firestone Brand Building Company; Mr. Zhang Zhaoliang, a cyclist traveling seven ASEAN countries on his bike; Ms. Vu Thi Ngoc, a Vietnamese overseas student from Shanxi University and Mr. Liu Yunze, a famous tourism photographer, shared their stories on tourism and culture in China and ASEAN countries, and discussed innovative strategies and development paths for achieving high-quality development of cultural and tourism industries and friendly exchanges between Chinese and ASEAN youth in the new era. The unique and novel exchanges fascinated the dignitaries and participants from ASEAN countries.

During the Signing Ceremony, the ACC signed cultural and tourism MOUs on cooperation respectively with the Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center, Shanghai Bilibili Technology Co., Ltd, Shanxi Medical University and Shanxi Vocational University of Engineering Science and Technology.