On 20 September 2024, the 1st Exchange Conference for Jiangsu Province with Civil Organizations in ASEAN Countries was held in Yangzhou City of Jiangsu Province. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre, Vice Chairman Qian Wenhua of Jiangsu People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Director Kong Lingjun of the Standing Committee of Yangzhou Municipal People’s Congress, Education and Culture Counsellor Yudil Chatim of the Indonesian Embassy in China and Deputy Secretary General Ng Chin Long of Malaysia-China Friendship Association attended and addressed the event. The dignitaries and around 100 delegates representing civil organizations from Jiangsu Province, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam had an in-depth exchange of views, with the theme “Embracing Opportunities of the Era for Common Development”, on such issues as people-to-people exchanges, charities for general public and going-global for enterprises, and produced policy recommendations on advancing practical cooperation between Jiangsu Province and ASEAN countries.

     Shi Zhongjun stressed that, Jiangsu Province has been staying at the forefront of China’s opening up since 1970s, achieving remarkable progress in conducting exchanges and striking cooperation with ASEAN countries and enjoying brighter prospects in reaping in greater fruits in the future. In the process, the civil organizations on both sides has been and will be playing a significant role of a contributor. The Exchange Conference pooled together excellent and capable civil organizations, not only useful for further deepening traditional friendship between ASEAN and China, and exploring more opportunities for future cooperation, but also contributing more civil strength and wisdom in the purpose of promoting ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership in a long-term and steady manner, and building a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

     Secretary General Shi Zhongjun and the attending dignitaries launched the “Yangzhou Initiative” to reiterate the consensus at the Exchange Conference to leverage the role of civil organizations, collaborate to inject fresh impetus for common development, contribute to regional prosperity and stability, and serve the building of a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future. On the same day, Shi Zhongjun was also invited to attend and address the Yangzhou International Friendship Dialogue, which was held in the purpose of advancing ASEAN-China practical cooperation and people-to-people amity, drawing on the strengths in various sectors enjoyed by Yangzhou City.