On 10 July 2013, ACC and the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Chinese Ministry of Culture co-hosted the “Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN-China Youth Artists’ Work Exhibition” at the ASEAN Hall of the ACC. Over 100 guests attended the event, including Ambassador Somdy Bounkhoum of Lao PDR, Ambassador Iskandar Sarudin of Malaysia, Ambassador Erlinda F. Basilio of the Philippines, and personage of culture and media. Mr. Zhang Aiping, Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Chinese Ministry of Culture, ACC Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang，and the representative for ASEAN young artists delivered remarks respectively.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Zhang Aiping said that China and ASEAN countries have made remarkable achievements in the area of cultural exchanges. Many collaborative cultural activities and interactions have been conducted over the years, which have presented to the peoples of ASEAN and China the rich and diversified culture of both sides, greatly increased the mutual understanding and friendship, and laid a solid foundation to the all-round elevation of cooperation between ASEAN and China. 

Secretary-General Ma Mingqiang said that, the year 2013 marks the 10th anniversary of ASEAN-China strategic partnership and the 22nd anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations. Great achievements have been made in ASEAN-China cooperation in the fields of trade, people to people exchange and all other fields. As the sole inter-governmental international organization between ASEAN-China, the ACC is mandated to promote ASEAN-China friendly cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, education, culture and tourism, and is ready to continue its efforts in the promotion of ASEAN-China cultural exchanges.

The representative for ASEAN young artists said that their journey to China have been impressive to them all. In the past few days, the ASEAN and Chinese artists toured and worked together, interacted with each other and forged friendship. They would bring back home the warm hospitality of Chinese people and beautiful memories about China.

The exhibition showcased the works of 50 paintings by 7 young artists from Brunei, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and 3 Chinese artists. The 10 young artists have been invited by the Chinese Ministry of Culture to take part in the “ASEAN-China Youth Artists’ Workshop”, one of the series activities initiated by the Chinese government to celebrate the 10th anniversary of ASEAN-China strategic partnership.