On 1 February 2024, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of China and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) co-hosted the Launching and Awarding Ceremony of Logo for 2024 ASEAN-China Year of People-to-people Exchanges (ACYPPE) in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. The top winners of the Logo Design Contest for 2024 ACYPPE were announced and awarded certificates and trophies. 

Executive Vice Governor Wu Wei of Shanxi Province, Vice Governor Lin Wenbin of Fujian Province, Mayor Chen Xiangyang of Changzhi City, Vice President Yuan Mindao of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Deputy Director-General Fang Hong of the Asian Affairs Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China attended the event. High-ranking officials and diplomatic envoys from ASEAN Member States (AMS), including Union Minister U Tin Oo Lwin of the Religious Affairs and Culture of Myanmar, Minister Nelyo Isaac Sarmento of Youth, Sports, Art and Culture of Timor-Leste, Ambassador Somphone Sichaleune of Lao PDR to China, Ambassador Rahmani of Brunei to China, Ambassador Djauhari Oratmangun of Indonesia to China and Ambassador Norman Muhamad of Malaysia to China were invited to the event.

Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ACC appreciated the active support from all parties to make the event possible and underlined that the contest, kicked off last December, has collected around 1,300 entries from both ASEAN and Chinese sides in less than one month, showcasing the young designers’ professional dynamism, inspiring wisdom and lasting enthusiasm in advancing ASEAN-China friendship and partnership. SG Shi highlighted that ASEAN and China share a natural bond of affinity as close neighbors linked by mountains and waters. People-to-people exchanges between both sides, which has enhanced mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, strengthened mutual learning among civilizations, and cemented the foundation for practical cooperation between ASEAN and China, have played an irreplaceable role in advancing ASEAN-China relations and building an even closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future. He believed that, with the concerted efforts from both sides, ASEAN and China will bring into full play the role of people-to-people exchanges, so as to inject new momentum to ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

Ambassador Somphone spoke highly of the role of the Contest in advancing ASEAN-China people-to-people exchanges. He stressed the contribution of vibrant ASEAN-China cooperation to significantly promoting regional and global peace, stability and development. As the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2024, the Laos will continue to enhance ASEAN-China cooperation through various activities under the framework of 2024 ACYPPE. He encouraged all participants and stakeholders to actively engage in the “2024 Visit Laos Year” to further expand exchanges, deepen friendship and enhance mutual trust. Executive Vice Governor Wu Wei stressed that Shanxi Province stands ready to expand cooperation and forge synergy with AMS through deepening industrial cooperation and enhancing people-to-people exchanges, towards achieving a higher level of economic integration, seeking common development and better serving the building of an even closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

After fair and professional appraisal and voting by the representatives from MFA of China, the CPAFFC, ASEAN Secretariat, ten AMS Embassies to China and the ACC, as well as renowned artistic designers, eight top winners from China, Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia were chosen as first, second and third prize winners, among whom the top three winners received awards on site from the invited dignitaries. 

At the end of the ceremony, the invited dignitaries from both AMS and China witnessed the official unveiling of the logo of 2024 ACYPPE.

The logo embodies the initial letters "A" and "C" respectively representing ASEAN and China as the main visual elements, forming a dragon-shaped appearance as Year 2024 happens to be the year of the dragon, which well implies that AMS and China are linked by mountains and rivers. The arched stripes also resemble bridges and roads, standing for the quality Belt and Road cooperation between ASEAN and China. The colours of red, green, orange, yellow and blue symbolize the harmony between AMS and China and their efforts in building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home.