On 18 May 2023, H.E. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) delivered a video message at the opening ceremony of the 6th China-ASEAN Youth Symposium (CAYS).

Secretary General Shi Zhongjun stated that ASEAN and China, linked by mountains and waters, share deep-rooted cultural links and common future of prosperity. Since the establishment of dialogue relations between the two sides in 1991, ASEAN and China have set a role model in exercising peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation among neighboring countries, big or small, strong or weak. In 2021, ASEAN-China relationship was elevated to comprehensive strategic partnership, embracing more opportunities, greater potential and broader prospects. The promising future of ASEAN-China partnership actually lies in the hands of the younger generations from both sides. As the inter-governmental organization co-founded by ASEAN Member States and China, the ACC will be committed to promoting exchanges among the peoples, especially youths, so as to inject sustained vigor and vitality into ASEAN-China relations.

On the same afternoon, more than 30 CAYS delegates from both China and AMS paid a field visit to the ACC. The young students exchanged views with government officials, administrative assistants and interns of the ACC, on various topics such as ASEAN-China relations, the Belt and Road Initiative, digital economy, sustainable development, youth exchanges and media cooperation. The amicable discussions were followed by a heated Q&A session, which the students found both informative and helpful. They all looked forward to participating in more ACC activities in the future, thus making due contribution to the growth of ASEAN-China relations.

The CAYS was launched by the Institute of Area Studies of Peking University and organized by the Southeast-Asian Association of Peking University, attracting nearly 200 students from both Chinese and AMS universities this year.