On the afternoon of December 19 2024, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) met with the visiting delegation of “Understanding China” ASEAN Young Leaders, consisting of young officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Education, Trade and Commerce, Science and Technology, Youths and Sports from ASEAN countries. Both sides had in-depth discussions on ASEAN-China relations and future cooperation directions.

Shi Zhongjun introduced the latest developments and the significant role of ASEAN-China exchanges and cooperation. He emphasized that, amidst an uncertain international landscape, it is crucial to enhance understanding and practical collaboration between ASEAN and China. With 2025 designated as the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, he encouraged the young leaders to serve as ambassadors for ASEAN-China exchanges and to take this visit as an opportunity to further explore cooperation potential, deepen mutual friendship, and contribute more to the ASEAN-China community of a shared future.

The delegation members expressed that ASEAN and China are close neighbors and partners with shared ties and mutual interests. They noted that ASEAN’s development is closely linked to mutual learning with China and expressed a strong desire to further enhance exchanges and cooperation with China across various fields, aiming to elevate the level of ASEAN-China collaboration for the benefit of both ASEAN and Chinese people. They also extended their gratitude to the ACC for its significant contributions to fostering exchanges and cooperation between ASEAN and China, as well as expressed hope for deeper collaboration with the ACC in the future.

The “Understanding China” ASEAN Young Leaders Delegation was organized by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC). It is one of the series projects of “Big Banyan Tree: ASEAN-China Youths Language Connectivity Programme”, aiming at enhancing mutual understanding and shared vision of Asian cultures among youths in the region.