On 15th December 2022, the Award Ceremony of the 5th ASEAN-China University Students’ Cultural Week was held in Haikou, Hainan Province. The event was held under the guidance of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province, organised by Haikou University of Economics, and co-organised by Haikou Municipal Foreign Affairs Office. H.E. Mr. Shi Zhongjun, Secretary-General of ACC, delivered video remarks. Mr. Chen Xiao, President of Haikou University of Economics, judges, winners, and representatives of teachers and students were present at the ceremony.

Mr. Shi Zhongjun pointed out in his remarks that the younger generation represents the future of ASEAN and China, and people-to-people exchanges are driving force for our friendship and mutual cooperation. He hoped the event would continue to build a bridge of friendship for the exchanges among young people, help cultivate outstanding talents, and bring hearts closer together. He also emphasised that ACC is ready to join hands with all parties to promote the sound and sustainable development of ASEAN-China relations and to contribute to the building of an amicable home between our people.

The 5th ASEAN-China University Students’ Culture Week was held both online and offline, consisting of three major parts, i.e., the Students’ Short Film Contest, the International Photography Exhibition and the Award Ceremony. The event aims at promoting cultural exchanges among university students of ASEAN Member States and China, as well as other countries along the Belt and Road, aiming at inspiring their creativity and widening their global vision. Experts and professors from countries such as China, Indonesia, Singapore and the Republic of Korea (ROK) were invited to be the judges. Students from dozens of universities from Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, as well as China, Japan and the ROK took part in the competition, with more than one thousand entries.