On 8 December 2020, the 15th China-ASEAN Cultural Forum was held in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Ms. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia, Mr. Thura U Aung Ko, Union Minister of Religious Affairs and Culture of Myanmar and Mr. Itthiphol Kunplome, Minister of Culture of Thailand delivered video speeches. Mr. Zhang Xu, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, Ms. Fan Xiaoli, Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Publicity Department of CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee, Mr. Zhao Leqin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the Secretary of CPC Guilin Municipal Committee, Mr. Myo Thant Pe, Ambassador of Myanmar to China, Mr. Arthayudh Srisamoot, Ambassador of Thailand to China, and consuls general or consulate general representatives of Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand in Nanning and Guangzhou attended the forum. Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) attended the forum and delivered remarks.

Mr. Zhang Xu highlighted in his speech that the exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China in the fields of culture and tourism have broad development potential and prospects. China will join hands with AMS to strengthen cooperation on archaeological excavations, cultural heritage conservation research, and cultural heritage digitalization, so as to protect the common spiritual wealth of mankind, and promote the common prosperity of the cultures of ASEAN and China.

Ms. Fan Xiaoli said that the China-ASEAN Cultural Forum is an important platform for enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between ASEAN and China. It is hoped that through the forum, the two sides will showcase the outstanding achievements in cultural heritage protection and inheritance, deepen exchanges and cooperation, break new ground for the cooperation in the fields of culture and tourism, and contribute Guangxi’s strength to the development of ASEAN-China friendly relations.

ACC Secretary-General Chen Dehai stated in his speech that people-to-people and cultural ties have grown to be the third pillar of ASEAN-China relations. As a special bond for friendly exchanges and an important platform for practical cooperation between ASEAN and China, ACC stands ready to work with all parties to deepen the two sides’ exchanges and cooperation in culture and tourism, and spare no effort to build a closer ASEAN-China strategic partnership.

Previously, on 7 December, Mr. Zhang Xu, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism of China, Ms. Fan Xiaoli, Member of the Standing Committee and Head of the Publicity Department of CPC Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee, Mr. Zhao Leqin, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the Secretary of CPC Guilin Municipal Committee, Mr. Li Bin, Vice Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, had a collective meeting with Mr. Myo Thant Pe, Ambassador of Myanmar to China, Mr. Arthayudh Srisamoot, Ambassador of Thailand to China, Mr. Pham Sao Mai, Ambassador of Viet Nam to China, and consuls general or consulate general representatives of Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand in Nanning and Guangzhou, exchanged views on further deepening the exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN and China in the fields of culture and tourism. Secretary-General Chen Dehai attended the meeting.

The China-ASEAN Cultural Forum was co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China and the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and saw an attendance of over 200 representatives from competent authorities, academics, industry associations and international organisations either online or offline. The participants had extensive and in-depth exchanges on the theme of protection and inheritance of cultural heritage and tourism development. During the forum, the first China-ASEAN Culture and Arts Week was held, where nearly 100 activities in six categories were held in Nanning, Guilin and other places, including theme concerts, drama, art education achievement exhibitions, dance, and film shows.

During his stay in Guilin, Secretary-General Chen Dehai also attended the Opening Performance of the China-ASEAN Culture and Arts Week, the China-ASEAN Forum on Digital Culture and Tourism Collaboration, the 15th China-ASEAN Expo Tourism Exhibition and the Opening Ceremony of the 10th Guilin International Scenery Culture and Tourism Festival.