This year marks the China-ASEAN Year of Cultural Exchanges. Media cooperation is an important part of cultural exchanges and a significant driving force for promoting friendship and mutual trust. The forum, held on June 21st, was guided by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and organized by the China Foreign Languages Bureau and the China-ASEAN Center. It was hosted by the People’s Government of Dezhou City and the International Communication Development Center of the China Foreign Languages Bureau.
More than 150 Chinese and foreign guests attended the forum, including Du Zhanyuan, Director of the China Foreign Languages Bureau and member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Wang Yihua, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Shandong Province, Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune, Deputy Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism of Laos, Han San A, Deputy Secretary of State of the Ministry of Information of Cambodia, Jimmy, Ambassador of the Philippines to China, Shi Zhongjun, Secretary-General of the China-ASEAN Center, Aladdin D. Rillo, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, Chen Wei, Counselor of the Asia Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tian Weidong, Secretary of the Dezhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and Director of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People’s Congress, as well as diplomats from ASEAN countries, representatives from government agencies, media, think tanks, and international organizations.
To further strengthen media exchange and cooperation between China and ASEAN and promote cooperation in the field of humanities, the forum released the “Initiative for Jointly Promoting China-ASEAN Media and Cultural Exchange Cooperation.” It called for enhanced cooperation between the media of both sides in building a “heart-to-heart connection” between China and ASEAN, promoting the new development of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, cultivating a new generation of friendly forces between China and ASEAN, strengthening the technological empowerment of China-ASEAN media development, and building a network of media cooperation between China and ASEAN. The initiative aims to better leverage the role of the media in promoting the development of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and advancing the construction of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
During the forum, the ASEAN Regional Promotion Session of the Second “New Era, New Images” China-Foreign Joint Creation Program was also held. Chen Shi, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the China Foreign Languages Bureau and Director of the International Communication Development Center, introduced the basic situation of the program and stated that the second edition of the program would continue to promote it in the Asia-Pacific region, especially among ASEAN countries. Through activities such as dedicated creation and exchange, and the screening of results, more opportunities for communication and cooperation would be provided for Chinese and ASEAN creators, writing a new chapter of beautiful and harmonious China-ASEAN cooperation through the language of images.
Since its establishment in 2018, the China-ASEAN Media Cooperation Forum has been successfully held for six sessions. It has become a mechanized platform for media exchanges and cooperation between China and ASEAN and a true reflection of China-ASEAN friendly exchanges. As part of this year’s forum, the organizers will also hold the 10th China-ASEAN Joint Visit Activity on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road from June 22nd to 26th. ASEAN ambassadors to China, media representatives, and others will visit various locations in Shandong, enhancing communication and understanding while experiencing the concept of “harmony” in Chinese culture.
