On 29 January 2024, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) published a signed article on China Daily and its official website, and also gave an exclusive interview to China Daily, interpreting the important role played by ASEAN-China people-to-people exchanges in building a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future, and elaborating on the ACC’s sustained efforts in promoting ASEAN-China people-to-people exchanges and enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. The interview was carried by the website of China Daily on 31 January.

SG Shi Zhongjun stated that the friendship between ASEAN and China could be traced back to ancient times. Since ASEAN and China forged dialogue relations in 1991, people-to-people exchanges have been bearing rich fruits in such fields as education, culture, tourism, youth, sports and media, laying a solid foundation for the rapid development of ASEAN-China relations. The splendid and colorful events to be held in 2024 will definitely bring ASEAN-China people-to-people exchanges to new heights, promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, enhance mutual learning among civilizations, thus cementing public support for the sound and sustained development of ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

SG Shi Zhongjun stressed that the ACC will continue to play its role as an efficient platform and facilitating bridge between ASEAN and China by leveraging on its advantages as an intergovernmental organization, and carry out feature flagship projects in such fields as youth, education, culture, tourism and media, so as to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, garner stronger public support for ASEAN-China relations and contribute to the building of an even closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

Article link：

http://www.chinadailyglobal.com/a/202401/29/WS65b6fc6da3105f21a507ec3f.html

Interview link：

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202401/31/WS65b9f04ba3104efcbdae8ee6.html